| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-55 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from winter deep water locations to transitional structures, particularly around points
- Aggressive feeding behavior during warming trends, especially during afternoon hours
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays, especially those with transition from rock to gravel
- Secondary points in 8-15 foot depth range with access to deeper water
- Rocky shorelines with southern exposure that warm faster
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom contours of points
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs worked methodically on point transitions
| - Minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Young-of-year perch in shallow warming bays
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning into spawning mode, moving from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning flats and staging areas near points
- Males are actively patrolling and preparing nests in protected areas, while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and territorial as water temperatures rise, defending spawning areas
| - Protected shallow bays with gravel or small rock bottom, especially near points
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 foot depth
- Transitional areas between winter haunts and spawning flats, particularly around rocky structure
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas and transition points
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing identified beds
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Crayfish becoming more active as water warms
- Small perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on points, likely using these areas as staging locations between spawning flats and deeper summer haunts
| - Main lake points, especially those with a mix of rock and transitional bottom composition
- Secondary points near spawning bays with access to deeper water
- Rocky shoreline areas in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Wacky Rigs worked with a slow fall and slight twitches around points
- Ned Rigs worked along rocky transitions
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for suspended fish
| - Minnows - primary forage as noted in fishing reports
- Crayfish - becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
