| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 53-60 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding to build energy for spawning. Fish are relating to bottom structure but will suspend to chase bait schools.
- Most active during periods of wind-generated current, especially on points and windblown banks, with aggressive feeding behavior when shad schools are present.
| - Windswept points at the mouth of spawning pockets in 12-17 feet of water
- Rock piles and boulders in 20-30 foot range, especially near deeper water
- Wind-blown banks with hard bottom structure
| - Blade Baits worked vertically over rock piles
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along windblown banks
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on points and near structure
- Damiki Rig suspended 4-6 feet off bottom for suspended fish
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Crawfish becoming active on rocky bottom areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, following bait schools (particularly shad) and feeding heavily to prepare for spawning
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior in 15-25 foot zones, particularly around structure and bait concentrations
| - Points and cuts/pockets off the main channel where shad schools are congregating
- Brush piles and dock pilings in 15-25 foot depth range
- Rocky main lake points and islands with good deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through or under bait schools
- Drop Shot around dock pilings and brush piles
- Football Jigs slow dragged along rocky points and islands
- Hover/Mid-Strolling technique through bait balls
| - Shad (primary forage based on multiple recent reports)
- Crawfish (secondary forage, particularly around rocky areas)
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Fish staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from deeper winter holding areas to transitional depths of 12-18 feet, following primary channel edges and points
| - Brush piles in 15-20 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with gradual slopes leading to spawning areas
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
| | - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Males staging on transitional rock piles and points in 8-15 foot range, preparing spawning beds
- Females holding in slightly deeper water (15-25 feet) near spawning areas, making periodic moves shallow to assess bed sites
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior as spawning approaches, particularly from males guarding beds
| - Hard bottom areas with mixed rock and gravel in 5-12 foot range, especially near points
- Secondary points with gradual slopes leading to deeper water
- Protected pockets and coves with rock or gravel bottom
| - Tubes worked slowly along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations around bedding areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for deeper pre-spawn females
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
- Juvenile shad schools beginning to form
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning flats and protected coves. Males are establishing and guarding nests while females stage nearby.
- Fish are more aggressive during this period, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. They're especially responsive to sight-feeding opportunities in the moderately clear water.
| - Protected shallow coves and pockets with hard bottom, particularly those near deeper water access
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, especially those with mixed rock and brush
- Docks in 4-8 foot depth range that provide overhead cover near spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shorelines and across points
- Spinnerbaits around shallow cover and wind-blown areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill moving shallow with warming temperatures
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 62-68 | - Actively staging and spawning with water temperatures in mid-60s, utilizing brush piles in 15-18 foot range as pre-spawn staging areas
- Transitioning between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, with increased feeding activity during stable weather periods
| - Brush piles in 15-18 foot depth range serving as primary staging areas
- Protected coves and spawning pockets near shore
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around brush piles
- Crappie Dock Shooting towards shallow cover
- Crappie Spider Rigging for suspended fish
| - Shad - primary forage base confirmed by lake reports
- Small sunfish and juvenile baitfish in spawning areas
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Relating strongly to current and wind-driven prey on points and structure
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones following bait movements
| - Wind-blown main lake points in 8-15 foot range
- Rock piles adjacent to spawning flats in 12-20 foot range
- Shallow brush piles near deep water access
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically to mimic disoriented baitfish
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on points and rock piles
| - Crawfish emerging and active on rocky structures
- Young-of-year shad beginning to school
- Small bluegill in shallow brush areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-65 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas, becoming more active and establishing summer feeding patterns. Fish are actively feeding around docks and rocky areas in the 4-10 foot range.
- Fish are showing increased reaction to moving baits, particularly during windy conditions, suggesting more aggressive feeding behavior
| - Boat docks, especially those in wind-blown areas
- Large boulders and rocky areas in coves near the dam
- Wind-blown points on the main lake
| - Bladed Jigs worked around docks and points
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along rocky areas
- Grass Jigs dragged near dock areas
| - Crawfish actively moving in rocky areas
- Crappie in dock areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning back to deeper water, actively feeding to recover energy after spawning. They're holding tight to brush piles in 16-20 foot range during daylight hours, with increased activity as water warms throughout the day
- Fish are showing structure-oriented behavior, particularly relating to brush piles, and responding positively to warming water temperatures in the low 60s
| - Brush piles in 16-20 foot depth range
- Main lake points with brush or woody structure
- Deeper dock areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with tandem jigs
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles
- Crappie Spider Rigging for covering water between productive brush piles
| - Shad (primary forage base confirmed by lake profile)
- Small sunfish recovering in shallow areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
