Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are actively staging near spawning areas, feeding heavily to build energy reserves
- Fish are transitioning between winter and spawning areas, utilizing staging points like rock piles and laydowns
| - Laydowns leading into spawning pockets
- Rock piles and boulder fields in 12-20 foot range
- Ledge transitions near spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked over rock piles
- Spinnerbaits near laydowns
- Bladed Jigs around transition areas
- Texas Rigs with stick worms on ledges
| - Crawfish becoming active on rocky structure
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter locations to pre-spawn staging areas, actively moving along migration routes between deep basins and spawning grounds
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive, staging on structural elements in 10-20 foot depth range, particularly focused on rocky transitions
| - 45-degree banks with chunk rock and transition areas, focusing on 10-15 foot depth range
- Main lake points between deep basins and spawning areas
- Steeper banks with mixed chunk rock and fallen timber
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses along rocky banks
- Drop Shot rigs worked methodically on main lake points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) bounced off rocks in 12-20 foot range
- Spinnerbaits worked along steep banks with timber
| - Alewife gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 52-65 | - Moving from winter deep water haunts to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, especially near channel edges and creek arms
- Becoming more active with warming temperatures, feeding opportunistically as metabolism increases
- Utilizing rocky structure and brush piles as transition points between deep winter areas and spawning flats
| - Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot range
- Brush piles near creek arms in 15-20 foot depth
- Rocky points and boulder areas that warm quickly in spring sun
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations near structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through transition areas
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming water
- Bottom-dwelling prey like crawfish becoming more active
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegills are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively on insects and small invertebrates in preparation for spawning
| - Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Deeper dock areas adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with small hooks and split shots for a natural presentation
- Bobbers suspended 2-4 feet deep over emerging vegetation
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly near structure for finicky fish
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Tiny crustaceans in shallow areas
- Small worms and invertebrates becoming active in warming shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are in various spawn stages, with largemouth beginning to move shallow while some smallmouth are already post-spawn. Fish are less aggressive due to spawning focus, requiring slower presentations
- During cold fronts or wind, fish hold tighter to structure and become more bottom-oriented, requiring precise presentations to deep rock and brush
| - Outside points leading into spawning areas, especially those with large rocks in 8-12 foot depth
- Brush piles in 10-20 foot range near docks
- Laydowns in protected areas
| - Drop Shot with light weights and minimal movement, especially effective in brush piles
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) when wind is present
- Wacky Rigs around laydowns during calm conditions
| - Crawfish, especially around rocky areas
- Shad, particularly on windy points and near brush
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning or preparing to spawn, with males guarding nests in shallow water areas. Fish are highly territorial and aggressive during this period.
- Fish are moving between staging areas and spawning flats, with water temperatures (58-65°F) indicating peak spawning activity
| - Docks on main lake and secondary points, especially those with good skip-casting access
- Rocky points with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats
- Protected shallow areas with hard bottom composition
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) skipped under docks with slow retrieval
- Hard Topwater (Walking) worked around points and shallow structure
- Drop Shot targeting transitional areas between deep and shallow water
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent fishing reports
- Crawfish - becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish moving into shallower spawning areas (5-15 feet) near shore, especially around rock piles and laydowns as water warms
- Males actively guarding nesting sites in cavities near structure, while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, followed by decreased feeding during actual spawning
| - Rocky areas and boulder piles in 5-15 foot depth range, especially near shoreline
- Laydowns and brush piles in shallow to moderate depths
- Protected coves and creek arms with stable temperatures
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near spawning areas
| - Shad moving into spawning areas
- Bluegill becoming more active in shallows
- Benthic organisms in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in coves and protected pockets with firm bottom
- Males constructing and guarding nests in colonies, while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
- Feeding actively between spawning activities, targeting insects and small invertebrates
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation
- Sandy or gravel bottom areas near shoreline structure
- Back areas of pockets where water warms first
| - Bobbers with small jigs or live bait suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through spawning areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved at moderate speeds parallel to spawning areas
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Tiny baitfish fry
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 64-73 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, showing aggressive reaction strikes particularly around laydowns and woody cover
- Fish are most active during early morning and evening periods, being more cautious during bright conditions due to clear water
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in shallow to moderate depth zones
- Trash mats and other surface cover providing shade
- Points and creek arms with wood cover
| - Hard Topwater (Walking) worked around laydowns with long casts due to clear water
- Spinnerbaits with white double willow blades deflected off cover for reaction strikes
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around cover during bright conditions
| - Shad becoming primary forage as evidenced by multiple fishing reports
- Crawfish still active in rocky areas and around wood cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding and recovering, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts along migration routes
- Fish are utilizing rocky points and 45-degree banks as feeding stations, making frequent foraging runs into 8-12 foot depths
| - Main lake points between spawning bays and deep water basins
- Rocky 45-degree banks with access to deeper water
- Transition areas with mixed rock and brush in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Tubes worked along rocky transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to banks
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for pressured fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Small shad schools in transition areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-72 | - Post-spawn catfish becoming increasingly active, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower feeding zones
- Fish transitioning to more aggressive feeding patterns as water warms, particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
| - Rocky points and boulder areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Brush piles near channel edges in 15-20 foot range
- Laydowns and woody cover in shallow feeding areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along structure transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') near brush piles
- Carolina Rigs dragged through rocky areas
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallow
- Bluegill spawning in protected areas
- Benthic organisms active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegill are recovering and actively feeding, primarily in shallow to mid-depth areas near cover
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper resting zones
- Most active during morning and evening hours, utilizing weed edges and dock areas for feeding
| - Submerged weed edges in 4-8 feet of water
- Protected dock areas with nearby vegetation
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Live Bait Rigs with light tackle
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along weed edges
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|