Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as they prepare for spawning
- Fish are actively feeding on crawfish in rocky areas and around shallow cover, as evidenced by recent success with crawfish patterns
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in pre-spawn staging zones
- Shallow wood cover and brush piles near spawning flats
- Main lake points with mixed rock and brush
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly around rocky areas
- Shakey Heads worked methodically through staging areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are actively schooling in pre-spawn transition, suspending in mid-depth ranges and following shad movements
- Fish are becoming more active with warming water temperatures, staging near spawning areas but still maintaining deeper water access
| - Mid-depth open water basins near spawning flats (10-19 feet)
- Brush piles and woody cover along channel ledges
- Deeper coves with submerged vegetation near spawning areas
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Hover/Mid-Strolling
| - Shad (primary forage base according to lake reports)
- Minnows (successful when used as live bait enhancement)
| - Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving from deeper winter haunts to transitional areas, following creek channel edges and staging on secondary points
| - Secondary points with rock piles near creek channels
- Stump flats adjacent to deeper water access
- Creek channel bends with brush piles in 8-15 foot range
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along transition areas between shallow and deep water
- Bladed Jigs around shallow stump flats and points
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along rock transitions and channel edges
| - Shad schools congregating in creek arms and around points
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky areas as water warms
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 55-64 | - Actively feeding and following large schools of shad in pre-spawn pattern, most aggressive during dawn and dusk periods
- Moving progressively shallower as water warms, staging near tributary mouths and main lake points
- Showing increased aggression and schooling activity in the moderately stained water conditions
| - Main river channel bends and associated points where pre-spawn staging occurs
- Tributary mouths and creek channels where bait schools concentrate
- Secondary points and shallow flats adjacent to deep water access
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional depths
- Umbrella Rigs mimicking shad schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled along channel edges
| - Shad schools concentrated in pre-spawn areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn transition period with fish actively cruising shallow areas but showing selective feeding behavior
- Males guarding fry in shallow areas while females beginning to move toward summer patterns
- Heightened activity during early morning and late evening periods
| - Docks with adjacent spawning flats, particularly those with deeper water access
- Shallow brush piles and laydowns near spawning areas
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around shallow cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and laydowns
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising fish
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow areas
- Small bluegill and sunfish
- Shad moving into spawning areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 55-65 | - Crappie actively moving into spawning areas in 6-15 foot range, staging on structure near spawning flats
- Fish becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, feeding heavily before spawning
| - Protected coves and creek arms with submerged vegetation in 6-15 foot range
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow ledges near spawning areas with woody cover
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Dock Shooting
| - Shad (primary forage based on reports)
- Small sunfish and juvenile baitfish in spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass are in spawning mode, staging and nesting in protected pockets and coves near deeper water access
- Males actively guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths, while females move between spawning areas and nearby feeding zones
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, particularly responsive to intrusive baits
| - Protected shallow pockets with hard bottom near creek channels
- Stump flats in 2-6 foot depths adjacent to deeper water
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover in spawning pockets
- Shakey Heads worked slowly through nesting areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising females between spots
| - Shad schools staging in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 55-64 | - Striped bass are in pre-spawn to spawn mode, actively moving into tributary arms and river channels, congregating in large schools near spawning areas
- Fish are making frequent transitions between deeper river channels and shallow flats, following shad movements and responding to daily temperature changes
| - Main river channel intersections with major creek arms where spawning typically occurs
- Secondary points and ledges adjacent to spawning areas
- Current-swept flats near channel swings where shad congregate
| - Umbrella Rigs worked along channel edges and through bait schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled near spawning areas
- Lipless Crankbaits worked aggressively through shallow flats when fish are actively feeding
| - Large schools of pre-spawn shad
- Secondary forage including small bluegill and perch near shoreline areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-68 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, showing aggressive behavior towards shad and other baitfish as evidenced by recent success with moving baits
- Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing both shallow cover and nearby deeper structure
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 5-15 foot depth range, as indicated by recent fishing success
- Stump fields adjacent to spawning flats, where recent catches have been reported
- Boat docks providing shade and ambush points, particularly later in the day
| - Bladed Jigs worked around boulders and structure
- Lipless Crankbaits for covering water and targeting active fish
- Swim Jigs with paddle tail trailers for imitating shad
- Texas Rigs (Worming) for working docks and deeper structure
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent reports
- Crawfish - naturally present in the system during spring
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning back to deeper water, actively feeding to recover energy after spawning while relating to submerged vegetation in 6-15 foot depth range
- Fish are forming loose schools following shad movements, becoming more structure-oriented as they settle into summer patterns
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 6-15 foot depth range
- Dock areas with good depth and shade
- Channel ledges with brush or stumps transitioning to deeper water
| - Crappie Dock Shooting - confirmed effective in recent reports
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') for suspended fish
| - Shad - primary forage confirmed in reports
- Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 68-78 | - Spotted bass are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery, focusing on shad schools and moving between shallow and mid-depth zones
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, relating heavily to structure and transitioning to more predictable feeding windows
| - Main lake points with stumps and rock piles near channel swings
- Shallow stump flats adjacent to creek channels
- Brush piles in 8-15 foot depth range near baitfish schools
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to points and through stump fields
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along channel edges
- Shakey Heads worked through brush piles and rock piles
| - Shad schools congregating near points and channel edges
- Bluegill starting to spawn in protected pockets
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 55-64 | - Actively feeding on shad in post-spawn pattern, showing aggressive schooling behavior near current breaks and rock structure
- Most active during lower light conditions due to moderate staining (7.5' visibility), with peaks during morning and evening periods
| - Rock piles near river channel edges where shad congregate
- Main lake points with current breaks and irregular features
- Shallow coves with bait schools during low light periods
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked at variable speeds around rock structure
- Spinnerbaits parallel to points and current breaks
- Umbrella Rigs for actively schooling fish
| - Shad (primary forage confirmed by multiple reports)
- Herring
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|