| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 40-60 | - Staging on deeper break lines (15-22ft) adjacent to spawning flats, actively feeding during pre-spawn period
- Responding strongly to wind-blown areas and showing increased activity during sunny conditions
- Exhibiting both reaction strike and ambush behaviors, with fish positioning on break lines and color changes
| - Deep break lines adjacent to spawning flats (15-22 feet)
- Deeper docks with nearby brush
- Wind-blown areas with distinct color changes
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow rolled along breaks
- Swim Jigs with compact profile and grub trailer
- Bladed Jigs in wind-blown areas
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses on break lines
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter to spawning locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are moving along break lines and staging near spawning flats, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
| - Main lake break lines adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Deep dock areas near transitional depth changes
- Rocky points and shoreline structure in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Tubes worked slowly along break lines and rocky areas
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near staging areas
- Blade Baits for actively feeding fish in slightly deeper water
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to warming shoreline areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-58 | - Pre-spawn transitional behavior with fish following but not actively striking, indicating they're moving between winter and spawning areas
- Fish are likely staging near spawning areas but not fully committed due to cooler water temperatures (45°F)
- Showing interest in reaction baits but with reduced aggression, typical of early spring pattern
| - Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with deeper water access
- Break lines and ledges near potential spawning areas
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to trigger following fish
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') with stop-and-go retrieve
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Smallmouth bass are in their spawning phase, actively moving into shallow zones and preparing bedding areas near hard bottom and structure
- Males are aggressively defending territories while females stage nearby, making them susceptible to sight fishing and reaction strikes
| - Docks with hard bottom and nearby deeper water access
- Main lake points with gradual slopes
- Break lines adjacent to spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around docks and spawning areas
- Tubes dragged along break lines and hard bottom areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill and perch in shallow zones
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-74 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing drop-offs and ledges adjacent to spawning flats as recovery zones
- Wind-driven patterns are significant, with bass taking advantage of wind-blown areas for feeding opportunities
| - Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially those near deeper water
- Submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
- Wind-blown points and break lines with access to deeper water
| - Swim Jigs worked through submerged vegetation and along dock lines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and targeting actively feeding fish
- Texas Rigs (Worming) for slower presentations around vegetation and docks
| - Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to dock structures
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass actively feeding on crawfish in moderate depth zones (15-25ft), with increased activity during warming trends
- Fish transitioning between spawning areas and summer haunts, using breaklines and structure as movement corridors
| - Main lake breaklines in 15-25 foot depth range
- Laydowns and woody structure near depth transitions
- Rocky points and areas with crawfish-holding structure
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom in 20ft zones
- Drop Shot with crawfish-style baits
- Ned Rigs dragged through transition areas
| - Crawfish
- Small baitfish around structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
