| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to warmer, shallower transitional areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Relating strongly to emerging vegetation and hard structure that maintains warmth
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays, especially those with emerging vegetation
- Protected shallow coves with harder bottom composition
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around points and vegetation edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in transition areas
| - Bluegill congregating near emerging vegetation
- Small baitfish in warming shallow areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Fish moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly protected coves and bays where water warms first
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning phases
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with fish more likely to strike out of defense than hunger
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom composition, especially near lily pad roots
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended pre-spawn fish
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing bedding bass
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper water, especially during weather changes
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Shallow lily pad fields near deeper water access
- Protected coves with developing weed growth
| - Swim Jigs worked through emerging vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along secondary points
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near cover
| - Bluegill concentrating near developing weed growth
- Small baitfish schools moving into warming shallows
- Young of year panfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
