| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, staging in pre-spawn locations near spawning flats
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased aggression during warming trends
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow vegetation edges in 4-8 feet, particularly near milfoil and coontail beds
- Protected coves with docks providing staging areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near vegetation edges
- Lipless Crankbaits ripped through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked slowly around docks and points
| - Alewives schooling in pre-spawn patterns
- Perch relating to vegetation edges
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, staging on transition points and first break lines
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increasing aggression as water warms
- Moving along shoreline structures during warming trends, retreating to deeper water during cold fronts
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays, especially those with mixed rock and vegetation
- First break lines in 8-15 foot depth range near shallow flats
- Protected coves with gravel or rocky bottom composition
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along break lines and points
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses over points and weed edges
| - Yellow Perch congregating on break lines
- Alewives schooling in pre-spawn patterns
- Juvenile bluegills in emerging weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in coves and protected areas with vegetation
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning activities
| - Protected shallow coves with mix of milfoil and coontail in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Docks providing shade and protection near spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and vegetation
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn females on secondary points
| - Bluegill congregating near spawning areas
- Young perch in emerging vegetation
- Alewives starting to move shallower
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) and establishing nesting sites near hard bottom areas and structure
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water (8-15 feet) near spawning flats
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and scattered vegetation
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow rock and gravel areas near deeper water access
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near potential nest sites
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for staging females
| - Small crayfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Young of year perch in shallow areas
- Small baitfish (alewives and minnows) moving shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding on bluegills and alewives near shallow cover and points, showing aggressive topwater strikes in early morning
- Fish are transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing shoreline cover and dock areas as primary feeding zones
| - Long tapering points adjacent to spawning bays and marinas
- Docks with deep water access, especially those near points
- Shallow vegetation mats and grass beds in 2-6 feet of water
| - Frogs/Toads worked slowly over vegetation early morning
- Hard Topwater (Walking) with slow, methodical retrieves near docks
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting vegetation mats during midday
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas and around docks
- Alewife moving along points and shoreline breaks
- Various minnow species relating to vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively recovering and feeding, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth zones, making frequent movements between shallow feeding areas and adjacent deeper water recovery zones
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays, especially those with submerged vegetation
- Weed edges in 8-15 foot depth range where milfoil and eel grass meet deeper water
- Secondary points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic action along weed edges
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on points and transitions
- Drop Shot targeting suspended fish near structure
| - Yellow Perch gathering along weed edges
- Alewives moving into post-spawn areas
- Small bluegills in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
