Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas, following warming trends and preparing for spawn
- Actively feeding during warming periods to build energy reserves for spawning
- Relating strongly to sun-warmed areas and protected pockets that warm first
| - Secondary points leading into spawning coves and creek arms
- Rip rap banks receiving afternoon sun
- Shallow brush and laydowns near deeper water access
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs around shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 49-58 | - Fish transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Following shad schools while gradually moving towards spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
| - Brush piles in 8-12 feet of water near spawning flats
- Secondary points and creek channel bends leading to spawning coves
- Deeper dock edges in protected coves
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools transitioning to shallower water
- Small baitfish in staging areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving along migration routes from main lake points toward spawning flats, stopping at transitional structure
| - Rocky main lake points adjacent to spawning flats
- Bridge pilings and rip rap in transition areas
- Secondary points in major creek arms
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom contours
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky structure
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
| - Shad schools staging in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn bass staging on secondary points and moving into spawning pockets, actively feeding before bedding
- Males creating and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between staging and spawning areas
- Fish become more aggressive and territorial during nest defense
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and cover for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow areas near docks and laydowns in 2-6 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for staging fish near points
- Spinnerbaits along transition areas between staging and spawning zones
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill moving shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 47-58 | - Moving into shallow brush piles for spawning with water temperatures around 49°F, following typical spring warm-up pattern
- Actively feeding on shad in pre-spawn staging areas, with fish congregating near spawning locations
| - Shallow brush piles in 0-9 feet of water, particularly in protected coves
- Secondary points with cover leading into spawning areas
- Protected shoreline areas with complex structure
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively seeking spawning areas in shallow water near hard bottom and protected areas
- Males staging on pre-spawn areas and preparing nests, becoming increasingly territorial
- Feeding opportunities increase as fish move shallow and become more aggressive
| - Rocky points and rip rap areas in 2-8 feet of water
- Protected coves with gravel or rocky bottom
- Bridge pilings in spawning depth range
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements around staging areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Small bottom-dwelling prey fish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are showing preference for afternoon activity in marina coves, likely due to warming water temperatures and increased bait activity
| - Marina coves and dock areas, especially towards the back sections
- Points and bridge pilings near spawning flats
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly with subtle shaking action
- Soft Jerkbaits worked around dock posts
- Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged through dock areas
| - Shad beginning to group up in marina areas
- Bluegill moving shallow around docks
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish beginning to school up and suspend near structure, following shad movements in the water column
| - Secondary points and brush piles in 8-15 feet of water
- Deeper dock edges near spawning bays
- Suspended schools near creek channel edges
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along depth transitions to locate active schools
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') for suspended fish near brush piles
| - Shad schools beginning to form in open water
- Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish in brush piles
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, focusing on high-protein forage around transition areas between spawning flats and summer habitat
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones throughout the day, following baitfish schools and utilizing current breaks
| - Rocky points near river channels with depths transitioning from 8-15 feet
- Rip rap areas and bridge pilings adjacent to deeper water
- Main lake points with access to both shallow flats and deeper water
| - Drop Shot worked methodically along structure transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing shad
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas
| - Shad schools gathering in transition areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|