| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Transitioning from winter deep water to spawning areas, actively feeding during pre-spawn staging
- Highly visible and spooky in clear water (4.3m Secchi), requiring long casts and stealth approaches
- Relating strongly to hard-bottom areas and boulders as they prepare for spawning
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in pre-spawn staging areas
- Laydowns adjacent to deeper water
- Points and breaks leading to potential spawning flats
| - Finesse Hair Jigs with long casts for spooky fish
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Drop Shot with natural presentations for clear water
| - Perch
- Small bottom-dwelling crayfish
- Native baitfish in clear water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from pre-spawn staging to spawning areas, with males preparing and guarding nests in shallow water (2-8 feet) while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
- Fish are highly territorial and aggressive during this period, but remain sight-sensitive in the clear water conditions (4.3m Secchi depth)
| - Hard bottom areas near points and cuts in 2-8 feet of water, especially those with scattered boulders for nest building
- Secondary points and transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water (8-15 feet)
- Protected bays and coves with firm bottom composition, particularly on the northern shorelines that warm first
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along hard bottom areas and around boulders
- Drop Shot with light weights (1/8-1/4 oz) for skittish fish in clear water
- Tubes dragged and hopped on transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Yellow Perch
- Crawfish
- Small Baitfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting perch and other baitfish in transition areas between spawning flats and summer haunts
- Fish are becoming more aggressive but still spooky in clear water, requiring longer casts and stealth approaches
| - Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep weed edges forming near shore in 12-15 foot depth range
- Transition areas between shallow flats and main lake drops
| - Drop Shot worked with subtle movements in clear water
- Ned Rigs dragged slowly along bottom structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to transitions
| - Perch gathering along weed edges and rock transitions
- Small baitfish schools moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
