Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-54 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter areas to spawning grounds, actively feeding to build energy reserves. They're relating heavily to rock structure where surfaces warm quickly in spring sun.
- Fish are showing increased aggression and feeding activity when water temps reach upper 40s to mid-50s, particularly around main lake points and riprap areas.
| - Main lake riprap with laydowns, particularly where rock meets deeper water
- Grass flats with gravel bars, especially on the eastern side where morning sun warms water faster
- Pocket entrances with emerging vegetation
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly along riprap and rocky areas
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through emerging grass
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around rock piles
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along main lake structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation, actively moving on hard bottom areas
- Shad schools staging near primary points and riprap
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow near emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from deeper winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are suspending near vertical structure and gathering in large schools near staging areas
| - Bridge pilings and adjacent deeper water transition areas
- Standing timber in 10-15 foot depth ranges
- Brush piles near spawning coves and creek channels
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Small minnows near brush and timber
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 55-65 | - Catfish beginning to move from winter deep-water locations to warmer, shallower flats and channels as water temperatures rise, staging for spawn
- Actively feeding during warming trends, especially during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Showing increased activity around structure that maintains heat, such as rocky areas and shallow wood cover
| - Shallow flats adjacent to deeper wintering holes, especially those with submerged vegetation or woody cover
- Rocky shorelines and points that warm quickly in afternoon sun
- Channel edges and creek mouths where depth transitions occur
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations near bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along channel edges and transition areas
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Shad schools congregating in warming shallows
- Bluegill moving to pre-spawn staging areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn striped bass are actively staging near spawning tributaries and moving into shallower water as temperatures warm
- Fish are aggressively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, often chasing shad schools in open water and along channel edges
| - Main lake points and channel swings near tributary entrances
- Shallow flats adjacent to deep water in 8-15 foot range
- Standing timber and brush piles along migration routes
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended fish schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along channel edges
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near structure
| - Shad schools congregating near spawning areas
- Small sunfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-68 | - Actively transitioning from pre-spawn to spawning phase, moving from staging areas to nesting sites in shallow protected areas
- Males aggressively defending nesting territories while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
| - Brush piles in protected coves and pockets near spawning flats
- Hard bottom areas with rock or gravel in 2-6 foot depth range
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation leading into spawning bays
| - Bladed Jigs worked around brush piles and through spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and spawning beds
- Swim Jigs around transition areas between staging and spawning zones
| - Bluegill moving shallow and beginning to spawn
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and around brush
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn to spawning activity with fish moving from deeper staging areas to shallow spawning zones near cover
- Males establishing and guarding nests in protected shallow areas while females stage nearby
- Feeding actively but opportunistically between spawning activities
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation and brush piles
- Bridge pilings and adjacent shallow flats
- Standing timber in 5-12 foot depths
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small minnows concentrated in spawning areas
- Young shad beginning to school in warming waters
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish are transitioning to spawning behavior, seeking warmer waters in shallow bays and coves, particularly near woody structure and rocky areas
- Males beginning to establish and guard nest sites in cavities near submerged logs, brush piles, and undercut banks
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with submerged timber and brush piles (3-8 feet deep)
- Rocky areas and riprap banks that warm quickly in spring sun
- Areas near creek channels that provide access to spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings positioned near spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentation around woody cover
- Bobbers for suspended presentations in shallow spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving into tributary areas and shallow flats with good current. Fish are aggressive and actively feeding to build energy for spawning.
- Schools are breaking up into smaller groups, with larger females staging in slightly deeper water adjacent to spawning areas
| - Main tributary arms with current and rock/gravel bottom
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water staging areas
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through staging areas and along points
- Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) cast to actively feeding fish
| - Pre-spawn shad schools
- Yellow perch in shallow areas
- Bluegill near shoreline structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-78 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in shallow water areas, particularly around flooded brush and bushes as evidenced by recent reports
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior with willingness to strike topwater and reaction baits, indicating recovered energy levels after spawn
| - Flooded brush and bushes in shallow water, particularly evident from multiple recent success reports
- Shallow cover areas near spawning flats where post-spawn fish are recovering
- Brush piles adjacent to deeper water, providing transition areas
| - Frogs/Toads worked over flooded brush, supported by recent successful catches
- Bladed Jigs (Jackhammer) worked in front of brush
- Wacky Rigs for a slower presentation when fish are less aggressive
| - Shad, actively being targeted by bass as reported
- Bluegill, mentioned in recent catches
- Crawfish, typical forage in brush areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-72 | - Crappie schools are suspending in open water areas, particularly around vertical structure like bridge pilings, as they transition from spawning areas
- Fish are actively feeding but maintaining specific depth zones, suspended at mid-depths (around 10ft) over deeper water
| - Bridge pilings and vertical structure in 30-40ft depths with fish suspended at 8-12ft
- Secondary points and deeper brush piles adjacent to spawning areas
- Shaded areas under docks and man-made structures in 15-25ft of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked horizontally through suspended schools
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations around vertical structure
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) to locate active schools in open water
| - Shad schools suspending at similar depths as crappie
- Small minnows around vertical structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-72 | - Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, moving from spawning areas to feeding zones near abundant forage
- Fish are becoming more active with warming water, transitioning from deeper wintering areas to shallower feeding grounds
| - Submerged vegetation edges near brush piles in 8-15 feet of water
- Rocky shorelines and points adjacent to deeper water
- Standing timber and laydowns in coves and along irregular shoreline
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along structure edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged through vegetation and timber
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near brush piles and timber
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Shad schools moving into shallower water
- Bluegill beginning to concentrate near vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to recover energy, following shad schools in the upper water column
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to main lake feeding zones, utilizing points and current breaks
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Submerged brush piles in 10-20 foot depth range
- Current breaks near bridge structures
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended fish schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) for imitating shad schools
- Hard Topwater (Walking) for early morning surface feeding
| - Shad schools moving to main lake areas
- Smaller baitfish congregating around brush piles
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|