| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass are transitioning into spawning areas with most fish in shallow water (2-8 feet). Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly around wind-blown areas and structure.
- Fish are showing increased activity during warming trends, with females staging on points and near spawning pockets while males begin preparing beds.
| - Windblown riprap banks and main lake points
- Shallow pockets with stumps and laydowns near deeper water
- Lily pad fields and matted grass areas in protected coves
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly along riprap and points
- Spinnerbaits slow-rolled through cover and along banks
- Bladed Jigs worked around vegetation and structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in heavy cover and vegetation
| - Shad schooling in pockets and around points
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas and riprap
- Bluegill in shallow vegetation and around cover
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are following shad schools while gradually moving toward shoreline staging areas, particularly utilizing channel swings and points
| - River channel points and transition areas where deep water meets pre-spawn flats
- Secondary points with riprap or submerged vegetation near spawning pockets
- Offshore structure adjacent to spawning bays where bait balls are present
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas where fish are staging
- Bladed Jigs around submerged vegetation and riprap
- Shakey Heads on secondary points and channel swings
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from deeper winter areas to shallower transition zones, particularly along creek channels and ledges
- Most active during early morning periods due to the turbid water conditions
| - Creek channel ledges adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-15 foot depth range near spawning areas
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Shad (primary forage base)
- Small sunfish
- Young of year baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-67 | - Bass are actively spawning with males guarding shallow nests and females moving between staging and spawning areas
- Fish are most active in protected areas with water temperatures between 60-68°F, particularly around emerging vegetation
| - Lily pad fields in 2-3 feet of water, especially where new growth is emerging
- Protected backwater areas with minimal current and stable temperatures
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through pad fields
- Carolina Rigs with 18-24 inch leaders around pad stems
- Bladed Jigs in stained to muddy water conditions
| - Shad congregating in spawning areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to spawning flats and staging areas
- Males are aggressively defending nesting sites while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Feeding activity increases during stable weather patterns, with dawn and dusk being prime periods
| - Protected pockets and coves with gravel or riprap bottom composition
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- River channel swing areas near spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning flats and transition areas
- Shakey Heads for targeting pre-spawn staging fish
| - Shad schools in transition areas
- Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Small bluegill near spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near lily pads and brush, with males staging and preparing nests
- Most active during early morning periods due to turbid conditions, with fish tightly relating to visible structure edges
- Aggressive territorial behavior from males guarding nests, while females stage slightly deeper near spawning areas
| - Protected shallow coves with lily pads and submerged vegetation in 2-8 feet of water
- Creek channel intersections with flats, especially where brush piles are present
- Shallow brush piles near shoreline points and protected pockets
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small Shad
- Small Baitfish
- Aquatic Insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-79 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning flats to early summer patterns, actively feeding but somewhat scattered
- Fish are relating to the 5-7 foot depth range, especially around vegetation and stumps
- Most active during early morning and late evening due to the turbid water conditions
| - Submerged vegetation (coontail and sawgrass) adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake ledges transitioning from spawning areas
- Lily pad fields with nearby deeper water access
- Stumps and brush in small cuts off main creek channels
| - Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation with ripping action when contacting grass
- Neko Rigs around stumps and newly forming grass
- Football Jigs on main lake ledges
- Lipless Crankbaits around lily pads
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent reports
- Crawfish - particularly around ledges and rocky areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are actively recovering and feeding heavily, moving between shallow and mid-depth zones following shad schools
- Fish are utilizing points and channel breaks as transition routes, with increased activity during morning and evening periods
| - Main lake points and secondary points adjacent to river channels
- Submerged vegetation edges in 5-15 foot depth range
- Riprap banks with access to deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to structure edges
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along points and riprap
- Spinnerbaits around vegetation edges in low light conditions
| - Shad schools in transition areas
- Bluegill in vegetation edges
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning to deeper water, actively feeding to recover energy but still relating to shallow structure
- Fish are suspending near vertical cover and edges of vegetation, particularly during low light periods
| - Outer edges of lily pad fields in 6-12 feet of water
- Brush piles near creek channel ledges
- Submerged vegetation edges near deeper water access
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along vegetation edges and channel breaks
- Crappie Spider Rigging near brush piles and suspended fish
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around visible cover during early morning
| - Young-of-year shad starting to school
- Small bluegill and sunfish near vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
