| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to shallow staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are following a gradual warming trend, moving from deeper winter haunts to intermediate depths near spawning flats
- Feeding activity increases during stable weather, with fish particularly active during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with submerged vegetation
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
- Dock areas in 5-15 foot depths that provide both cover and quick access to deeper water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
| - Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
- Shad schools in transition areas between deep and shallow water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 38-48 | - Yellow perch transitioning from winter deep-water schools to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Schools beginning to break into smaller groups, moving towards shallow spawning areas near vegetation and structure
- Feeding activity increasing as metabolism rises with warming water temperatures
| - Transition areas between deep winter holes (20-25 feet) and shallow flats (8-12 feet)
- Areas near emerging weed growth in 6-15 foot depths
- Protected coves and bays with gradually sloping bottoms
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows and shad
- Aquatic insects
- Young-of-year perch
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper staging areas to shallow flats and protected coves to establish nesting sites
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between shallow and slightly deeper water during the spawning process
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation and hard bottom areas ideal for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays where pre-spawn fish stage
- Shallow dock areas adjacent to spawning flats providing cover
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning flats
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and locating active fish
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Actively moving to shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near vegetation and protected bays as water temperatures rise
- Pre-spawn feeding increases, with schools targeting small baitfish and invertebrates near transitional areas
| - Protected bays with submerged vegetation in 2-8 foot depths
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning areas
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows worked slowly near bottom
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through transitional areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small jigs tipped with minnows
| - Small baitfish (shad) transitioning from winter schools
- Aquatic invertebrates becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones with heavy cover
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around submerged vegetation and rip rap, as evidenced by reaction strikes on moving baits
| - Submerged vegetation in 4-7 feet of water, particularly on the north end of the lake
- Rip rap banks with adjacent deeper water
- Grass flats with patchy vegetation creating edge habitat
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in heavy vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to rip rap and vegetation edges
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through sparse vegetation
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Minnows around rip rap and vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 52-65 | - Post-spawn yellow perch are actively feeding and recovering, moving from shallow spawning areas to transitional depths
- Schools are beginning to form again after spawning, particularly around the edges of weed growth and near points
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-15 foot depths
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small jigs
| - Small minnows and juvenile shad
- Aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Small crayfish becoming active with warming temperatures
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
