| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass moving from winter deep water locations to warming shallow areas, staging near pre-spawn locations
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warm fronts
- Relating strongly to transitional areas between deep wintering areas and shallow spawning flats
| - Secondary points and ledges adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with emerging cabbage growth
- Deep-shallow transitions near primary points
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Blade Baits along transitional ledges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
| - Bluegill in emerging weed areas
- Baitfish schools along points and ledges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and around emerging vegetation
- Males preparing and guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths, while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with increased response to intrusive baits
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow areas adjacent to lily pad stems from previous season
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly in spawning pockets
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed more aggressively, transitioning between spawning areas and early summer haunts
- Fish are utilizing shoreline cover and emerging weed growth, particularly cabbage beds, as they follow bluegill movements
| - Emerging cabbage weed beds in 4-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points and ledges in 8-15 feet near spawning bays
- Protected coves with developing lily pads, especially on the northern shoreline where water warms faster
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and points
- Soft Jerkbaits with twitching retrieve near cover
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow areas with emerging vegetation
- Young of year perch beginning to appear in weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
