| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving from deeper winter haunts towards shallower staging areas, particularly along transition zones near spawning flats
| - Dam area drop-offs and adjacent staging points
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Brush piles in 15-23 foot range near spawning flats
| - Umbrella Rigs worked along drop-offs and points
- Underspins with paddle tail swimbaits
- Finesse jerkbaits worked slowly through staging areas
| - Schools of sand bass indicating presence of shad
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 52-62 | - White bass are beginning to stage for their pre-spawn migration, concentrating near deeper channels and staging areas adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving from winter deep water patterns to transitional depths
- Schools are starting to break up from tight winter groups into smaller, more mobile feeding units
| - Points and channel swings near spawning areas, particularly near the dam where deeper water access is available
- Submerged timber in 15-20 foot depth range along migration routes
- Secondary points with access to both deep water and shallow spawning flats
| - Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily along channel edges
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through standing timber
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass transitioning to spawning areas, staging on secondary points and moving into shallow protected areas
- Males actively preparing and guarding nests while females move between staging and spawning areas
- Actively feeding during pre-spawn, with decreased feeding during actual spawn phase
| - Flooded brush in protected spawning pockets (confirmed by recent reports)
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
- Shallow grass edges near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) - proven effective by recent reports
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn staging fish
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing spawning bass
| - Shad - confirmed primary forage in recent reports
- Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 58-68 | - White bass are making spawning runs into shallower areas, particularly around points and tributary areas near the dam, actively feeding in preparation for and during spawning
- Fish are moving in large schools, aggressively pursuing shad in the upper water column during pre-spawn feeding periods
| - Secondary points and shallow flats leading to spawning areas, especially near the dam
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper water staging areas
- Shallow brush piles and timber in 5-15 feet of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to points and spawning flats
- Inline Spinners retrieved at medium speed through schooling fish
- Lipless Crankbaits worked along transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Small baitfish gathering in warming shallow waters
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-78 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing grass edges at 10-12 feet and brush piles as recovery areas, making frequent feeding moves to shallower water
| - Grass edges in 10-12 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles in 15-20 foot range near points
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along grass edges
- Swim Jigs parallel to grass lines
- Shakey Heads near brush piles and points
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn period
- Bluegill starting to bed in shallower areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 62-72 | - Actively schooling in the upper water column, chasing shad in coves and along points during post-spawn feeding frenzy
- Moving frequently between feeding zones, using the irregular shoreline features to trap and ambush bait
- Most aggressive during early morning and evening periods, following shad schools in predictable patterns
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning coves where shad are congregating
- Shallow brush piles in 8-15 feet of water near creek channels
- Dam area where post-spawn fish stage before summer patterns develop
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked at varying speeds to match shad movement
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to points and retrieved steadily
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through schooling fish when surface activity is spotted
| - Shad schools concentrated in the upper water column
- Young-of-year baitfish gathering around brush and timber
- Small bluegill in shallow areas near spawning coves
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
