| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass actively staging on shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas, feeding aggressively on larger prey
- Fish moving between deeper staging areas and shallow flats based on daily temperature fluctuations
| - Shallow flats with scattered cover near spawning bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Deep water access points adjacent to spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly across flats
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near staging areas
- Lipless Crankbaits burned across emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Shad schools in transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Staging in shallow areas near spawning locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving between deeper pre-spawn staging areas and shallow feeding zones based on daily temperature fluctuations
- Concentrating around emerging vegetation and woody cover in 2-4 feet, especially during warmer parts of the day
| - Shallow bays with emerging reed beds in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected coves with laydown wood structure
- Windward shorelines with warming water during afternoon hours
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around cover
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked vertically near structure
| - Aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Small minnows in shallow areas
- Newly emerging aquatic vegetation
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, with males preparing and guarding nests while females move in waves to spawn
- Most active during warmer parts of day, particularly in shallow protected areas where water warms fastest
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Areas near deep water access where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible bed fish and shallow cover
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-65 | - Panfish actively moving into shallow spawning areas (2-4 feet) around reed beds and laydowns due to 61°F water temperature
- Fish are sight-feeding in the shallows, with males beginning to establish and guard spawning beds
| - Shallow reed beds with laydowns in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Windward shorelines with warming water
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs under bobbers
- Bobbers with suspended live bait or small plastics
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for sight fishing spawning beds
| - Minnows in shallow spawning areas
- Small insects and larvae around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow and mid-depth zones, particularly active during morning and evening
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Emerging weedlines in 8-10 foot depth range
- Shallow structure near deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to emerging weedlines
- Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged through transition areas
- Spinnerbaits worked along secondary points
| - Bluegill in spawning patterns
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-72 | - Transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively feeding to recover energy post-spawn
- Establishing loose schools around key structure in 8-12 foot depth range, with frequent movement between feeding areas
| - Weedline edges in 8-10 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
- Deeper dock areas near spawning bays
| - Hover/Mid-Strolling with light jigs around weedline edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near dock posts and vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with smaller presentations
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in weed beds
- Recently hatched minnows
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
