| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, focusing on laydowns and rip rap areas as they prepare for spawning
- Fish are becoming more active and feeding opportunistically, especially on crawfish near hard structure
| - Laydowns in protected areas, especially those close to potential spawning flats
- Rip rap banks that warm quickly and hold crawfish
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly around laydowns
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') with slow retrieve along rip rap
- Bladed Jigs worked parallel to transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 55-65 | - Catfish transitioning from winter patterns, becoming more active as water warms and starting to stage near spawning areas
- Feeding activity increasing with primary focus during dawn and dusk periods, taking advantage of turbid conditions for daytime feeding
- Moving along channel edges and staging near structure that provides both cover and access to deeper water
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Laydowns and woody structure along shorelines
- Channel edges near spawning flats
- Protected coves with gradual slopes
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around wood cover
- Carolina Rigs dragged through transition areas
| - Shad schools beginning spring movements
- Bluegill becoming more active in warming shallows
- Crawfish emerging from winter shelter
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Moving from winter holding areas to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming periods
- Gathering in schools near transition areas between deep and shallow water
| - Secondary points and creek channels leading to spawning coves
- Submerged brush and laydowns in 6-12 foot depths
- Rock piles and rip rap areas warming quickly in afternoon sun
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools moving into warmer, shallower water
- Small bluegill in and around vegetation
- Various minnow species relating to structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-70 | - Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) and beginning to create beds near cover such as laydowns and vegetation
- Fish are transitioning between pre-spawn feeding and spawning behavior, with males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby
| - Protected shallow coves with laydowns and emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Hard bottom areas near shoreline cover in 2-6 foot depth
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Jerkbaits
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Shad moving into warmer, shallow water
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish moving into shallower warming areas (2-8 feet) for spawning, particularly around hard structure like rock piles and rip rap
- Males actively guarding nest sites in cavities near wood cover and laydowns
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, followed by decreased feeding during actual spawning
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas in 2-8 foot depths
- Laydowns and woody structure near shoreline
- Protected coves with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs with weight adjusted for depth
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near spawning areas
| - Shad schools in warming shallows
- Bluegill near spawning areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are moving into shallow spawning areas around laydowns and submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Males are establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making frequent trips to spawning areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nests, with fish more likely to strike out of instinct rather than hunger
| - Shallow coves with submerged vegetation and laydowns in 2-6 feet
- Protected areas between docks where spawning beds are sheltered
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad fry beginning to emerge
- Small bluegill
- Aquatic insects active in warming waters
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-70 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to wood cover in 3-8 foot depths
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior during this recovery period, willing to chase moving baits like soft jerkbaits
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in 3-8 foot depths, especially those near shoreline transitions
- Secondary points with wood cover
- Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas with wood cover
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with twitching action around wood cover
- Finesse Jigs worked slowly around laydowns
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to wood cover
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent fishing reports
- Crawfish - active in shallow water during this period
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 60-73 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, primarily during dawn and dusk periods in shallow to moderate depths
- Utilizing current breaks and structure edges as feeding zones, especially in areas with good forage concentration
- Moving between deeper daytime holding areas and shallower feeding zones during low light conditions
| - Wood laydowns and submerged timber in 5-10 foot depths
- Rock piles and riprap areas, especially near shoreline points
- Edges of emerging vegetation where it meets deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings positioned near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') working steep breaks and wood cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover in shallow water
| - Shad schools congregating near structure
- Bluegill in and around emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie transitioning to early summer patterns, staging near deeper cover adjacent to spawning areas
- Actively feeding to recover from spawn, targeting shad and bluegill in the upper and middle water column
- Most active during morning and evening hours, seeking shaded areas during bright conditions due to low water clarity
| - Laydowns and submerged vegetation in 6-12 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
- Shaded dock areas with brush or structure
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along depth transitions
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around visible cover
- Hover/Mid-Strolling near suspended fish
| - Shad schools in upper water column
- Young bluegill near vegetation edges
- Small insects and invertebrates around cover
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
