| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Bass actively moving from winter depths to warmer, shallow staging areas near spawning flats
- Feeding increases as water warms, with fish targeting bluegill and other forage in emerging vegetation
| - Shallow flats with emerging milfoil adjacent to deeper wintering areas
- Protected points and shallow bays where vegetation growth begins earliest
- Secondary drop-offs in 8-12 foot range serving as staging areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated cover and early milfoil patches
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along transition areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in warming shallows
- Various smaller baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-60 | - Pre-spawn crappies are actively feeding and staging near spawning areas, particularly around submerged vegetation in the 4-10 foot range
- Fish are showing increased activity with warming water temperatures around 56°F, transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow pre-spawn locations
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-10 foot depth range, particularly where it intersects with harder bottom
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation near spawning flats
- Shallow bays with remaining winter vegetation that warm first
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation
- Bobbers with minnows or soft plastics suspended at key depths
- Hover/Mid-Strolling along weed edges to cover water efficiently
| - Minnows, particularly small shiner species
- Small bluegills and juvenile panfish
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bluegills transitioning to shallower waters, staged near emerging vegetation and targeting small insects and zooplankton
- Fish becoming more active as water temperatures rise, with feeding periods increasing in duration and intensity
| - Healthy milfoil patches in 4-8 foot depth range, especially those adjacent to spawning flats
- Inside weed edges where new vegetation is emerging
- Protected shallow bays with early-growing vegetation
| - Bobbers - suspended presentations 2-4 feet deep near emerging vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs - worked slowly through transitional areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - especially effective during warming trends
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Zooplankton concentrating near vegetation
- Small minnows in vegetated areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - During spawn period, largemouth bass are moving into shallow, protected areas near weedlines for spawning activities
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby structure, making multiple trips between deeper and shallow water
| - Inside weedlines in protected areas, especially where milfoil is present
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points near spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked around weed edges
| | - Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are actively seeking shallow, warmer waters with vegetation for spawning, typically staging in pre-spawn areas around 4-8 feet before moving to spawning zones 2-4 feet deep
- Males are establishing and guarding nests while females move in and out of spawning areas, creating periods of intense activity followed by brief lulls
| - Shallow vegetation beds in 2-4 feet of water, particularly areas with new growth milfoil
- Staging areas near spawning flats in 4-8 feet of water
- Protected pockets with stable bottom composition for nest building
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around spawning areas
- Bobbers with small jigs or live bait suspended at specific depths
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for precise presentation to bedding fish
| - Small minnows gathering in spawning areas
- Young-of-year bluegill fry
- Small insects and larvae around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-68 | - Staging in shallow, vegetated areas near spawning sites, particularly around healthy milfoil patches where water temperatures are warming
- Males beginning to create and defend nesting sites in protected areas with firm bottom, while females stage slightly deeper
| - Inside weed edges in 2-4 feet of water, especially areas with healthy milfoil patches
- Protected shallow bays with firm bottom composition
- Transition areas between shallow flats and slightly deeper water
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at 1-3 feet
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or insects
| - Small minnows
- Aquatic insects emerging in warming water
- Zooplankton in vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass are actively feeding on bluegill pods around healthy milfoil patches, with 6-10 fish often schooling together per patch
- Fish are holding in isolated vegetation patches rather than spreading throughout the lake, indicating a pattern of concentrated feeding activity
| - Healthy, isolated milfoil patches, especially those with bluegill schools present above or on edges
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Points with developing weed growth
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated milfoil patches
- Grass Jigs worked through vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing bluegills
| - Bluegill - primary forage base confirmed by multiple reports
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are gathering in loose schools near submerged vegetation edges, particularly in 8-12 foot depth ranges
| - Outer edges of milfoil patches in 8-12 foot depths
- Deeper vegetation transitions near the average lake depth of 11.3 feet
- Sparse vegetation areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weed edges to locate active schools
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) when fish are located in specific areas
- Hover/Mid-Strolling with light jigs when fish are suspended near vegetation
| - Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges
- Young-of-year bluegill beginning to emerge
- Small invertebrates in the vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from shallow spawning areas to nearby feeding zones, actively foraging in and around vegetation
- Fish suspending near weed edges during daylight hours, moving between 4-8 feet depths depending on light conditions
| - Healthy milfoil patches adjacent to spawning flats
- Inside weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range
- Transition areas between spawning bays and deeper feeding grounds
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at varying depths near weed edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') working through the water column
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) when targeting specific weed pockets
| - Small minnows and baitfish
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
