| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Fish moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower structure, especially on sunny days when water temperatures rise
| - Rock and gravel transitions near deeper wintering areas
- Dock pilings with nearby access to deeper water
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel composition
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses
- Tubes dragged slowly on bottom structure
| - Minnows in shallow to mid-depth ranges
- Small crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively seeking shallow spawning areas near hard bottom and cover during warming trends, particularly in protected bays and coves
- Males guarding nests aggressively once water temperatures stabilize in the optimal spawning range
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increases as fish stage near spawning areas
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and nearby deeper water access
- Areas near pilings that offer both spawning habitat and quick escape routes
- Shallow weed edges adjacent to harder bottom areas
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential nest sites and staging areas
- Ned Rigs finessed along transitions between hard and soft bottom
- Drop Shot with smaller profile baits for pressured fish
| - Minnows moving into shallow spawning areas
- Small crayfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily focusing on shallow to mid-depth areas near spawning flats
- Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer patterns, using various structure as stopping points
| - Secondary points and rock piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow weed edges in 4-7 foot range with access to deeper water
- Dock pilings and man-made structure in transition areas
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom near structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for pressured fish
| - Small minnows in shallow to mid-depth ranges
- Young of year perch beginning to show up
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
