| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass are in pre-spawn transition, moving from winter areas to spawning flats, holding in staging areas near spawning coves
- Fish are becoming more active but still temperature dependent, most active during warmer afternoons
| - Brush piles near spawning flats and transition areas
- Protected docks in spawning pockets
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Bladed Jigs worked through and around brush
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around docks and staging areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around cover
| - Crawfish emerging as water warms
- Bluegill in shallow brush and around docks
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Moving from winter deep water areas to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to prepare for spawn
- Congregating around brush piles and structure adjacent to shallow spawning areas
- Becoming increasingly active during warming trends, with peak activity during stable weather
| - Brush piles in 8-15 feet of water near spawning flats
- Bridge pilings with access to deeper water
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation near spawning coves
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish relating to brush piles
- Young of year panfish near vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-65 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving from deeper winter haunts to shallower transition areas, particularly along creek channels and rocky points
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning pockets and creek channels
- Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range near spawning flats
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation in creek arms
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around brush and laydowns
- Shakey Heads on rocky points
| - Shad schools gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
- Bluegill starting to move shallower
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass actively moving shallow and preparing spawning beds, with some fish still in transition areas as noted in recent reports
- Fish showing aggressive behavior towards moving baits like bladed jigs, while others are beginning bedding activities
| - Shallow matted grass areas and transition zones leading to spawning flats
- Submerged vegetation in protected coves and pockets
- Secondary points and staging areas near spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation and transition areas
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear water scenarios
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting bass around shallow cover
| - Shad moving shallow with warming water
- Crawfish becoming more active in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 56-65 | - Crappie are moving into shallow areas (2-8 feet) near vegetation and brush piles for spawning, with males preparing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper
- Fish are actively sight-feeding during daylight hours, particularly during early morning and evening periods
- Males become aggressive and territorial around nesting sites, making them more likely to strike at intrusive baits
| - Shallow areas with lily pads and submerged vegetation, especially in protected coves
- Community brush piles in 6-12 feet of water near spawning areas
- Bridge pilings and dock areas providing vertical structure near spawning flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting for targeting fish holding tight to structure
- Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around visible cover
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations to visible beds
| - Shad (primary forage base)
- Small sunfish and juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects and larvae
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Spotted bass moving into shallow spawning areas near rocky points and protected coves with water temperatures rising
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning waves
- Aggressive territorial behavior around spawning sites, particularly near brush piles and laydowns
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning pockets with depths of 2-6 feet
- Protected coves with brush piles and laydowns
- Creek channel transitions near spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Bladed Jigs worked parallel to spawning banks
- Shakey Heads for finesse presentations to bedding fish
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Bluegill in spawning areas
- Shad schools in creek channels
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding to regain energy, showing preference for shallow cover and edges of lily pads
- Fish transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing lily pads as primary ambush points
| - Outer edges of lily pad fields where they meet slightly deeper water
- Shallow vegetation in protected coves and pockets
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation near spawning areas
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with twitching action around pad edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through gaps in vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked parallel to pad edges
| - Bluegill gathering around lily pad fields
- Minnows cruising pad edges and shallow vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 54-62 | - Post-spawn crappie are actively feeding to recover energy, concentrating around brush piles at moderate depths
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on shad, with a preference for structure-oriented presentations
| - Community brush piles in moderate depths
- Submerged vegetation edges near deeper water
- Secondary points with man-made structure
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad
- Small baitfish around brush and vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 65-75 | - Spotted bass transitioning to post-spawn feeding patterns, actively pursuing baitfish and crawfish in transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Fish becoming more aggressive and territorial, utilizing brush piles and laydowns as ambush points
| - Secondary points and creek channel intersections near spawning flats
- Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet of water
- Submerged vegetation edges adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around brush and laydowns
- Spinnerbaits along vegetation edges and points
- Shakey Heads worked slowly through transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Shad schools moving into creek channels
- Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
