| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are staging near spawning areas, holding on depth transitions between 1-5ft, actively feeding before spawn
- Fish are responding well to stop-and-go presentations, showing aggressive reaction strikes during feeding periods
| - Shallow water depth transitions near spawning flats (1-5ft drops)
- Matted grass edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Hard Jerkbaits with 2-4 second pauses over depth transitions
- Spinnerbaits worked along grass edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near cover
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Snakehead | 58-72 | - Pre-spawn snakeheads are beginning to move from winter holdover areas to shallower spawning grounds, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, particularly during mid-morning and afternoon periods when waters warm
| - Shallow coves with emerging vegetation, especially areas with matted grass in 1-4 foot depths
- Shoreline brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected shallow bays with lily pad stems starting to emerge
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along vegetation edges
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved steadily through sparse vegetation
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure
| - Shad schools moving into warming shallows
- Bluegill beginning to stage in pre-spawn areas
- Yellow Perch in transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-68 | - Bass transitioning from pre-spawn staging to spawning activity, actively moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones near vegetation and hard cover
- Feeding actively but sporadically, with focus shifting between spawning activity and opportunistic feeding on shad and bluegill
| - Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats
- Laydowns and overhanging trees in shallow water
- Rip rap banks with nearby deeper water access
| - Bladed Jigs slow rolled near cover
- Neko Rigs skipped under overhanging cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked steadily along bottom
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Snakehead | 65-75 | - Actively spawning and defending nests in shallow, vegetated areas with water temperatures reaching optimal range
- Males guarding fry become extremely aggressive, striking at threats to protect young
- Feeding intensity increases pre and post-spawn, targeting abundant forage in shallow zones
| - Matted grass and lily pad fields in 1-4 foot depths
- Shallow coves with abundant vegetation and woody cover
- Protected shoreline areas with duckweed and submerged vegetation
| - Frogs/Toads worked slowly over vegetation mats
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved near vegetation edges
- Hard Topwater (Walking) for aggressive reaction strikes
| - Bluegill and small sunfish
- Young of year shad
- Small perch in vegetated areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Bass are in post-spawn recovery mode, moving from spawning areas to early summer patterns, feeding actively but in shorter windows
- Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth cover, with reports showing activity around laydowns in the 1-8 foot range
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in 1-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
- Depth transitions near spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns
- Shakey Heads along depth transitions
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallows
- Shad schools in transition areas
- Perch along vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Snakehead | 65-75 | - Post-spawn snakeheads are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly targeting shallow areas with dense vegetation and woody cover
- Fish are establishing feeding territories near spawning areas, showing aggressive behavior towards prey
- Most active during early morning and evening hours, utilizing the moderate water clarity for ambush hunting
| - Matted grass and lily pad edges in 1-4 foot depths
- Laydowns and brush piles near shoreline vegetation
- Shallow coves with submerged vegetation and woody debris
| - Frogs/Toads worked slowly across matted vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved near cover edges
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to vegetation lines
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Shad schools in creek mouths and coves
- Small perch along vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
