| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly targeting larger forage
| - Secondary points and staging areas adjacent to spawning flats with hard bottom
- Deep edges of reed beds near primary lake channels
- Protected coves and bays with emerging lily pad growth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along reed edges and through sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Minnows congregating near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Moving from winter basin areas to transitional staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming water
- Gradually shifting to shallower water, particularly during warming trends and around midday
- Beginning to form pre-spawn schools, often relating to the first available cover near deep water
| - Secondary points and channel bends adjacent to spawning bays
- Deeper edges of emerging reed beds in 8-12 feet of water
- Protected bays with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Small minnows and juvenile perch
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small freshwater shrimp
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass actively seeking spawning areas in shallow water, particularly in 20'x20' lily pad patches surrounded by rice and other weeds
- Fish are exhibiting aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, striking at intrusive baits like frogs and stickbaits
| - Small lily pad patches (20'x20') surrounded by rice and other weeds
- Reed beds with firm bottom substrate
- Protected shallow bays with mixed vegetation
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly through pad openings
- Frogs/Toads worked across lily pad surfaces
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in pockets between vegetation
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Minnows around vegetative cover
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies moving into shallow areas (2-8 feet) near emergent vegetation and woody cover for spawning
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making multiple trips to spawning areas
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods due to moderate water clarity (8.9 ft Secchi)
| - Reed beds and wild rice areas in 2-6 feet of water
- Lily pad fields and emerging vegetation in protected bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around visible cover
- Bobbers with light jigs near spawning areas
- Crappie Dock Shooting when fish are relating to docks near spawning areas
| - Small minnows and juvenile fish gathering in warming shallows
- Aquatic insects emerging in vegetation
- Young-of-year panfish in protected areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to nearby deeper structure
- Fish are establishing early summer patterns, relating strongly to reed beds and lily pad edges as primary feeding zones
| - Reed bed edges adjacent to deeper water
- 20' x 20' lily pad patches with access to deeper water
- Points and inside turns with mixed vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked through and around reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in lily pads and dense cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to vegetation edges
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Minnows schooling around vegetation edges
- Young of year baitfish emerging in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are recovering and transitioning to early summer patterns, moving from shallow spawning areas to nearby deeper structure
- Fish are actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with moderate clarity (2.7m Secchi) encouraging feeding in low light conditions
| - Secondary points and edges of reed/wild rice beds in 8-12 feet of water
- Outer edges of lily pad fields, especially where they meet deeper water
- Suspended fish relating to deeper basin edges near spawning bays
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along vegetation edges and point transitions
- Crappie Spider Rigging for suspended fish near deep water transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through scattered vegetation
| - Young-of-year baitfish emerging in vegetation
- Small invertebrates near vegetation edges
- Juvenile perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
