| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass staging in transition areas between wintering holes and spawning flats, making short movements into shallower water during warming trends
- Actively feeding during stable weather patterns, with increased activity during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays, particularly those with rock-to-weed transitions in 8-12 feet
- Protected northern shorelines that warm first, especially near deeper water access
- Deep weed edge transitions in 15-22 feet that provide staging areas near spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges and through transition areas
- Football Jigs dragged slowly along rock-to-weed transitions
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegills in warming shallows
- Perch schools near deep weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Beginning transition from winter deep water areas to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Feeding increases in preparation for spawn, with fish moving along transitional areas between deep wintering areas and shallow spawning locations
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transitions from deep water to gravel/rock flats in 6-12 foot range
- Protected coves with rock or gravel bottom near deeper water access
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Male bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) to create beds, with females staging slightly deeper on nearby points and channels
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish targeting crawfish and starting to respond to moving baits
- Fish becoming more aggressive and territorial around bedding areas, especially during peak spawning
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Areas where deep weeds from 15-22 feet transition to shallower flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
- Spinnerbaits worked along transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill and perch in shallow areas
- Baitfish schools relating to warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near rock or gravel transitions as water temperatures rise
- Males aggressively guarding nests, making them territorial and more likely to strike defensive baits
- Pre-spawn feeding heavily before nesting, post-spawn recovery in slightly deeper water
| - Rock-to-weed transition areas in 2-8 foot depth range with gravel or small rock bottom
- Protected shallow coves with hard bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations near potential nest sites
- Soft Jerkbaits for aggressive pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
- Young of year panfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing the deep weed edges (15-22ft) as primary transition routes while opportunistically feeding
| - Secondary points with access to both spawning bays and deep weed edges
- Emerging weed growth in 8-15 foot depth range
- Deeper coontail patches on humps in 13-17 foot range
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Shakey Heads fished along transition areas
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges in low light conditions
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Young of year bluegill in emerging vegetation
- Small perch along weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing transition areas between spawning flats and deeper summer holding areas, often staging at the first break line
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Grass-to-rock transitions in 6-12 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading to deeper summer holding areas
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along transition areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
