| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-68 | - Bass are transitioning from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, seeking warmer water temperatures
- Fish become more active as water temperatures rise, with aggressive feeding periods during stable weather
- Males begin moving shallow first to scout spawning areas, while larger females stage slightly deeper
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Deep weed edges in 9-13 feet transitioning to spawning flats
- Protected coves with early-warming water and emergent reeds
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging weed edges
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools relating to warming areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass transitioning to rocky structures in preparation for spawning, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish staging near spawning areas but holding in slightly deeper water, making feeding forays into shallower areas during warming trends
| - Rock piles in 10-18 feet of water, particularly those adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Transition areas where rock structure meets deeper water
- Secondary points with boulder structure leading to spawning bays
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock piles
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near deep rock edges
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over rocky structure
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools staging near rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-70 | - Bass actively moving into spawning areas, particularly in and around reed beds where water temperatures are reaching optimal spawning range
- Fish are staging between pre-spawn and spawning phases, with some beginning to establish nesting sites in protected areas
| - Reed beds in protected areas, especially where they meet slightly deeper water
- Secondary points near spawning flats with vegetation
- Shallow weed edges in 5-8 foot depth range where they transition to spawning flats
| - Grass Jigs worked slowly through reeds and vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around cover
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly in openings between vegetation
| - Bluegill starting to move shallow and become more active
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Watermelon
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, particularly focusing on rock and gravel areas in 4-8 feet of water for bed building
- Males are aggressively defending nesting sites while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning activities
| - Rocky flats and gravel areas in 4-8 feet of water near shoreline points
- Adjacent deeper rock piles in 10-18 feet for staging fish
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition
| - Tubes worked slowly around spawning areas
- Ned Rigs dragged along bottom near beds
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for wary fish
| - Crayfish emerging from winter locations
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
- Young of year bluegill starting to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed more aggressively, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structure
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, relating heavily to the deep weed edges (9-13 feet) and using points as migration routes
| - Deep weed edges in 9-13 feet where vegetation meets deeper water
- Points with access to both shallow and deep water
- Secondary points near spawning bays with emerging vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits for active fish
- Wacky Rigs for pressured fish holding tight to cover
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Crawfish active in warmer waters around vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between spawning flats and early summer locations
- Fish are moving along weed edges and rock transitions, particularly during morning and evening feeding periods
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 10-18 feet of water
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Points and transition areas where rock meets emerging weed growth
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits worked slowly along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged through boulder fields
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to weed edges
| - Crayfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Small baitfish relating to newly emerging weed growth
- Young of year bluegill beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
