| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-68 | - Moving from winter deep weed locations to shallower warming bays, staging for spawn
- Actively feeding during warming trends, especially during mid-morning to afternoon periods
- Forming loose pre-spawn schools near spawning areas in 4-8 foot depths
| - Protected bays with emerging weed growth in 4-8 feet
- Transitions between deep winter weeds and shallow flats in 8-12 feet
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet below surface
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small finesse presentations
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through staging areas
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans in weed beds
- Tiny baitfish fry beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving from deeper winter holdover areas to shallow feeding zones
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot range
- Deep weed edges in 8-10 foot range that maintained growth through winter
- Protected bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot range
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along deep weed edges and transition areas
- Bladed Jigs worked through emerging vegetation and around points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and locating active fish
| - Baitfish schools congregating near deep weed edges
- Bluegills moving shallow as water warms
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-72 | - Actively moving into shallow bays and protected areas for spawning, with males establishing and guarding nests in 2-4 feet of water
- Pre-spawn fish staging in slightly deeper water (6-8 feet) near spawning areas, feeding aggressively on emerging insects and small baitfish
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation in 2-4 feet
- Weed edges in 6-8 feet adjacent to spawning areas
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly over spawning areas
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked methodically along weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms for pre-spawn fish
| - Emerging aquatic insects, particularly mayflies and midges
- Small crayfish in shallow areas
- Juvenile baitfish near weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Prespawn bass moving to shallow flats and staging areas near spawning locations, displaying increasing activity levels as water warms
- Males actively creating and guarding nests in protected areas while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with increased feeding activity during pre-spawn phase
| - Protected shallow bays with weed growth in 4-8 feet of water
- Hard bottom areas near weed edges in 8-12 feet
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting emerging weed clumps and protected areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to spawning flats
- Spinnerbaits worked through staging areas and around points
| - Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Emerging crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Juvenile panfish in weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively pursuing insect larvae and small crustaceans in weed edges
- Fish becoming more aggressive in their feeding patterns as they recover from spawning, with peak activity during morning and evening hours
| - Weed edges and transitions in 8-12 feet of water, especially where deep weeds meet sparse vegetation
- Secondary points and inside turns with vegetation in 6-10 feet
- Deeper pockets within weed flats, particularly in 4-8 foot range with mixed vegetation
| - Hover/Mid-Strolling with light jigs worked through weed tops
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') focusing on precise presentations in weed pockets
- Bobbers with suspended baits positioned just above weed tops
| - Aquatic insect larvae and nymphs
- Small crustaceans and zooplankton
- Newly hatched minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding while recovering in thick weed clumps, using vegetation as ambush points
- Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior at optimal 68°F water temperature, striking various presentations throughout the water column
| - Thick weed clumps in 4-12 foot depth range on weed flats
- Edges of weed flats where they transition to deeper water
- Protected bays and points with established vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and targeting active fish
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along weed edges
- Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation
| - Minnows - primary forage based on fishing reports
- Young of year panfish emerging in weed areas
- Crayfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
