| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-58 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding on crawfish and shad in preparation for spawning
- Fish are showing two distinct patterns: shallow feeding in dirty water areas near creek mouths, and suspended behavior under bait in main river channels
| - Rip rap areas with stumps and laydowns in 8-12 foot depth range
- Creek mouths with chunk rock and dirty water
- Main river channels near suspended bait
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along rip rap and bridge areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in areas with dirty water and chunk rock
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around shallow rip rap points
- Finesse Jigs worked around rocky structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas
- Shad schools in main river channels and near structure
- Bluegill around shallow cover and structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-65 | - Transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding while staging near spawning flats
- Following shad schools while maintaining proximity to pre-spawn staging areas
| - Main lake points with transition from rock to spawning flats
- Secondary points in major coves with rocky structure
- Riprap areas near spawning pockets
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near structure
- Shakey Heads worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved steadily through staging areas
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn transition areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Moving from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallow flats (2-8 feet) as water temperatures rise
- Beginning to stage near spawning areas but still actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Congregating near structure that provides both warming opportunities and protection
| - Protected shallow coves with brush piles and laydowns
- Rock piles and rip rap areas that warm quickly
- Creek mouth transitions near spawning flats
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near structure
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around brush and rocks
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked vertically through brush pile zones
| - Small insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Tiny shad and baitfish fry
- Plankton concentrations in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are moving into spawning areas, focusing on shallow protected bays and coves with hard bottom. Pre-spawn fish staging on nearby points and rip-rap
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between spawning flats and slightly deeper staging areas
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with hard bottom, particularly near rip-rap
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Creek mouths leading into spawning pockets
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds and cover
- Shakey Heads for working pre-spawn staging areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
| - Crawfish emerging as primary forage on hard bottom areas
- Shad starting to move into spawning pockets
- Small bluegill becoming more active in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass moving into spawning areas, staging on adjacent points and rock structure before locking onto beds
- Males guarding nests while females move between shallow and deeper water, making frequent feeding forays
| - Rocky points and rip-rap areas in 2-8 feet of water with nearby deeper water access
- Protected coves with gravel or rock bottom substrate
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible bed areas and rocky structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to spawning areas
- Shakey Heads worked slowly through staging areas
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill actively moving into shallow protected areas (2-6 feet) to establish spawning beds and defend territory
- Males becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial around nesting sites, while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
| - Protected coves with firm bottom and shallow flats for spawning
- Areas near rip rap and laydowns in 2-6 feet of water
- Creek mouth areas with brush piles for staging fish
| - Bobbers with light presentation in spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly around bedding areas
- Micro Crankbaits for targeting staging fish
| - Small insects and larvae near spawning areas
- Plankton concentrations in creek mouths
- Small crustaceans around rip rap and brush
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-75 | - Actively feeding throughout the water column, especially during early morning periods with surface activity
- Transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, utilizing stumps and other structure as staging areas
| - Stumps and woody cover in 8-12 foot depth range
- Rip rap areas near bridges and causeways
- Points with hard bottom structure transitioning to deeper water
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly around stumps and structure
- Hard Topwater (Walking) during early morning hours
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing shad
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent reports
- Crawfish - still active in rocky areas during post-spawn
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad in transitional areas
- Fish are moving from spawning areas to summer holding spots, using points and rock structure as transition zones
- Spotted bass are becoming more aggressive and will chase bait in the upper water column, especially during overcast conditions
| - Main lake points with rock structure, especially where they intersect with deeper water
- Secondary points in major creek arms with rip rap or boulder fields
- Shallow rock piles adjacent to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked along rock transitions for actively feeding fish
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around rocky points for more pressured fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match the prevalent shad forage
| - Shad schools gathering in post-spawn transition areas
- Smaller baitfish utilizing rocky structure
- Crawfish becoming more active in warmer water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 68-78 | - Post-spawn bluegill are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on plankton and small insects near submerged vegetation and brush
- Fish are moving between deeper sanctuary areas and shallow feeding zones, particularly during morning and evening hours
| - Protected coves with brush piles in 8-15 feet of water
- Shallow flats near creek mouths with emerging vegetation
- Rip rap areas where insects gather
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at varying depths
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or crickets
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked vertically around brush
| - Small insects and larvae
- Zooplankton
- Tiny shad fry
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
