| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn crappies are transitioning from deeper winter haunts to shallower staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish become increasingly active during warming trends, moving into 6-12 foot depths near spawning areas
- Given the moderate clarity and reported aggressive behavior, expect fish to be actively chasing prey during prime feeding windows
| - Secondary points adjacent to shallow spawning bays in 8-12 foot depth
- Deeper edges of emerging weed growth in 6-10 foot depth
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation, especially on the northern shore where water warms first
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Hover/Mid-Strolling
| - Small bluegills and juvenile sunfish
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are moving from winter holding areas to warming shallows, staging near spawning areas
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, focusing on feeding to prepare for spawning
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays and coves
- Shallow flats (8-10ft) with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between deeper winter holes and spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs near points and transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in the 8-12 foot range
| - Bluegills congregating near emerging vegetation
- Crappies in pre-spawn staging areas
- Smaller baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Warm Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-62 | - Transitioning from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding during warming trends
- Moving to points and emerging vegetation in 8-12 feet, with increased activity during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Points with remnant vegetation in 10-18 feet, especially those adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points and inside turns where emerging vegetation is beginning to grow
- Protected shallow bays with early vegetation growth, particularly during warm afternoons
| - Live Bait Rigs with small jigs and waxworms worked slowly near vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs around emerging vegetation
- Bobbers with suspended baits positioned just above vegetation
| - Insect larvae and small invertebrates in emerging vegetation
- Small aquatic insects near vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies moving into shallow areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline vegetation and points for spawning, with most active periods during morning and evening
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, moving up periodically to spawn
- Aggressive feeding behavior during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 foot depth range
- Points adjacent to spawning flats in 6-8 foot range
- Protected areas near lily pad roots where noted in summer (likely emerging now)
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around shallow cover
- Bobbers with suspended baits at varying depths to find active fish
- Crappie Dock Shooting when targeting fish under docks near spawning areas
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects in vegetation
- Young-of-year sunfish in similar areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Actively seeking shallow, warmer areas for spawning, particularly in protected coves and near vegetation
- Males guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Jerkbaits
| - Bluegills in shallow spawning areas
- Crappies transitioning through pre-spawn areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-72 | - Male bluegills moving into shallow areas (2-6 feet) to establish spawning beds near vegetation and protected areas
- Females staging in slightly deeper water (6-10 feet) near spawning areas, moving in periodically to spawn
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior from males guarding nests
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near vegetation in 2-6 feet
- Points with remnant vegetation in 8-12 feet for staging fish
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 1-2 feet off bottom
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around bedding areas
| - Small insects and larvae
- Aquatic invertebrates
- Zooplankton
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are beginning to suspend near submerged vegetation edges and points, showing increased schooling behavior
| - Outer edges of lily pad fields in 6-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water (8-15 feet)
- Submerged vegetation edges where weeds are beginning to establish
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with warming waters
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
- Small bluegills sharing similar habitat
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper transition areas
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, relating strongly to emerging weed growth and utilizing the abundant panfish forage base
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot range, especially near points
- Shallow flats with developing lily pad growth (4-8 feet)
- Secondary points and inside turns with access to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along weed edges and points
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish near cover
| - Bluegills gathering in emerging weed growth
- Crappies transitioning from spawning areas
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to appear
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively foraging on insects and small invertebrates during warming periods
- Fish showing increased activity during afternoon hours as water temperatures rise, particularly around vegetation edges and points
| - Points with remnant vegetation in 10-18 feet of water
- Edges of lily pad fields where they transition to deeper water
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation in 6-10 feet
| - Live Bait Rigs with small jigs suspended at key depths
- Bobbers worked slowly around vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light tackle around structure
| - Aquatic insect larvae and emerging insects
- Small invertebrates around vegetation
- Zooplankton in open water areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
