| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn bass moving from winter areas to warming shallow flats, staging near spawning areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warmer parts of day
- Relating heavily to emerging vegetation and warmer pockets in protected areas
| - Protected shallow flats near complex shoreline features, especially in coves
- Emergent vegetation in 2-3 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs with slow, steady retrieves near cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and shoreline irregularities
| - Small baitfish (primarily young-of-year from previous season)
- Early season crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Crappies are transitioning from winter deep-water locations to warmer, shallower staging areas near spawning locations
- Fish are becoming more active and feeding more aggressively as water temperatures rise, particularly during afternoon hours
- Schools are beginning to break up from tight winter groups into smaller pods as they move toward spawning areas
| - Protected bays with emerging vegetation, especially on the north side of the lake where water warms first
- Transition areas between the basin and shallow flats, particularly in 6-10 foot depth range
- Areas near shoreline breaks with wood cover or brush
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Bobbers
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallow areas
- Emerging aquatic insects in vegetation
- Young-of-year panfish in shallow zones
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn to spawning behavior with males preparing and guarding nests in shallow areas, typically 2-4 feet deep due to the turbid conditions
- Females staging on nearby deeper structure, moving in and out of spawning areas based on temperature stability
| - Protected shallow coves and pockets with firm bottom, especially near complex shoreline features
- Shallow flats adjacent to shoreline points, particularly those with emerging vegetation
- Secondary breaks between spawning flats and slightly deeper water (4-6 feet) where females stage
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and locating active fish
- Spinnerbaits worked slowly around emerging vegetation and shoreline features
| - Crayfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish (likely shad and young-of-year crappie) in spawning areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow with warming trends
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies are moving into shallow bays and areas with emergent vegetation for spawning, typically holding in pre-spawn staging areas near these locations
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak activity during morning and evening hours
| - Protected shallow bays with emergent vegetation and shoreline cover
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) along emergent vegetation edges
- Crappie Dock Shooting when fish are relating to docks near spawning areas
| - Small invertebrates and insects around vegetation
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation beds
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shallow flats and weed edges near spawning areas
- Fish are most active during early morning and evening, moving to slightly deeper water or shade during bright midday periods
- With the turbid water conditions, bass will stay relatively shallow and rely more on lateral lines than sight to detect prey
| - Shallow flats adjacent to complex shoreline features, especially where emerging vegetation is present
- Protected coves and points with 2-4 feet of water depth
- Shaded areas under overhanging vegetation or near dock structures
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and dock areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along points and shoreline transitions
| - Young-of-year panfish (particularly crappie fry)
- Crawfish emerging in shallow areas
- Small baitfish schools in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are showing increased activity levels during morning and evening periods, suspending near emerging vegetation and structure during midday
| - Emergent vegetation patches in bays and along shoreline breaks
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Shallow brush piles in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows and fry gathering around emerging vegetation
- Aquatic insects becoming more active in warming waters
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
