| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding and moving from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, following creek channels and points
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water warms, with feeding activity increasing during sunny afternoons
| - Secondary points and creek mouths adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles and standing timber in 8-12 foot depth range
- Protected coves with gradual slopes leading to spawning areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near staging areas
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through brush tops and along transitional areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly through visible cover
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in shallow areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Fish are beginning to school up more tightly and feed more aggressively as they prepare for spawn
| - Secondary points and creek channel bends adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot range
- Brush piles along creek channels in 10-20 foot depths
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 5-10 foot depths
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bluegill and sunfish near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning phases, moving from staging areas to shallow spawning flats
- Fish are becoming more aggressive but can be affected by cold fronts, as noted in recent reports
- Bass are transitioning between deeper points and shallow spawning areas, showing increased activity in flooded brush
| - Flooded brush in shallow spawning areas, as evidenced by recent fishing success
- Points adjacent to spawning flats, confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Secondary points in creek arms with nearby spawning flats
- Protected shallow coves with good sun exposure
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - proven effective in recent reports for working flooded brush
- Texas Rigs (Worming) - successful pattern shown in fishing reports
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - effective for covering water between spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits - ideal for cloudy days and working points
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow water (2-8 feet) around spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and near brush
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, creating multiple fishing opportunities
- More aggressive feeding patterns during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Protected coves with brush or wood cover in 2-8 foot depth
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
- Shallow brush piles near creek channel intersections
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small shad
- Young of year baitfish
- Small aquatic insects
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Warm Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 75-82 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding during low-light periods, particularly late evenings as evidenced by recent reports
- Fish are relating to shallow cover and transitional areas, moving between flooded brush and dock areas throughout the day
| - Flooded bushes and brush piles in shallow water, particularly in coves
- Docks providing shade and ambush points
- Areas with submerged vegetation adjacent to deeper water
| - Hard Topwater (Prop) during late evening hours
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked around docks and brush
- Structure Jigs flipped to flooded brush
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas around cover
- Young shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn period
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Warm Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near vertical cover and along channel edges, showing increased feeding activity during morning and evening periods
| - Brush piles positioned along creek channel edges in 10-15 foot depths
- Secondary points with submerged timber near spawning coves
- Suspended cover near deeper dock structures
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along channel edges with small jigs
- Crappie Spider Rigging near brush piles and suspended cover
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structures
| - Shad (primary forage base showing in fishing reports)
- Small sunfish in shallow transitional areas
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
