| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from winter depths to warming shallow areas, particularly on sunny days
- Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, but still relatively lethargic in cold periods
| - Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Transition areas between deep winter holds and shallow spawning flats
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly along depth transitions
- Lipless Crankbaits through emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits with long pauses
| - Bluegill in warming shallows
- Minnows along vegetation edges
- Small crappie schools in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn bass moving from winter locations to shallow spawning areas, staging on first break near spawning flats
- Males actively searching for and preparing nest sites in protected shallow areas with firm bottom
- Females moving between staging areas and spawning flats, becoming increasingly territorial
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation, especially in areas with firm bottom
- Points and breaks adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow coves protected from prevailing winds
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with subtle twitches near staging areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically along transition areas
| - Bluegill establishing their own spawning areas
- Small minnows in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow vegetation and slightly deeper adjacent areas, particularly during morning and evening hours
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-6 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water pockets
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits with twitching pause retrieve
- Shakey Heads worked along vegetation edges
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallows
- Small minnows in emerging vegetation
- Young of year panfish in protected areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
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