| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are staging in transition areas, moving from winter haunts to spawning grounds, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more active with warming trends but still relating heavily to structure and depth changes
| - Protected coves with adjacent deep water access
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Emerging weed edges near depth changes
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through emerging grass
- Bladed Jigs around wood cover and points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated cover in pre-spawn areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow warming areas
- Baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegill are transitioning from deeper winter locations to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively, targeting insects and small invertebrates near emerging vegetation and structure
| - Shallow coves and bays with emerging vegetation in 4-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with rock or wood structure in 8-12 feet
- Protected areas between docks where water warms faster
| - Bobbers with small live bait or plastics worked slowly near structure
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked vertically around dock posts and wood cover
- Ice Fishing Jigs (sized down) worked horizontally through staging areas
| - Aquatic insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Small crustaceans near vegetation and woody structure
- Tiny baitfish fry beginning to appear in warmer shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Staging in pre-spawn locations, transitioning from winter depths to shallower spawning areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Rock walls and ledges adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 foot range
- Channel edges near spawning bays where depth transitions occur
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky structure
- Ned Rigs worked methodically on points and ledges
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in transitional areas
- Bottom-dwelling insects becoming more active
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning phase, moving from deeper staging areas to shallow spawning flats and protected coves
- Males are actively guarding nests in protected areas while females move between spawning areas and adjacent deeper water
- Feeding activity is opportunistic, with aggressive defensive strikes near spawning areas
| - Protected shallow coves with mix of grass and wood cover
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with scattered vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover in spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly near bedding areas
- Swim Jigs through scattered grass near spawning flats
| - Bluegills gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish moving into warmer shoreline areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill are actively spawning in shallow areas, with males guarding nests in colonies
- Fish are highly territorial and aggressive during spawning, readily striking at small baits that enter their nesting areas
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near vegetation
- Secondary points with mixed rock and wood cover in 2-6 foot depths
- Shallow grass flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep
- Live Bait Rigs with light line and small hooks
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small aquatic worms
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near rock and gravel, with males actively guarding nests
- Pre-spawn fish staging on adjacent points and first break lines, making frequent moves between deep and shallow water
| - Rocky points and gravel flats in 2-8 foot depth range
- First drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats (8-15 feet)
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs dragged through transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses for pre-spawn fish
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bottom-dwelling prey fish
- Juvenile perch in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to summer locations, showing a pattern of gathering in small groups on deeper weed lines and points
- Fish are less aggressive due to post-spawn recovery but will feed opportunistically when baits are presented precisely to their holding areas
| - Deeper weed lines along points where grass meets depth changes
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
- Protected grass flats adjacent to spawning bays
| - Drop Shot with finesse worms worked slowly through grass edges
- Grass Jigs pitched to visible grass clumps and worked methodically
- Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged through scattered grass
| - Crayfish emerging in grass beds
- Small bluegill in shallow grass
- Young of year baitfish starting to appear
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegill transitioning from spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, becoming more active as they recover
- Schools breaking up into smaller groups, spreading out along weedlines and structure edges
| - Outer edges of weed beds in 8-12 feet of water
- Secondary points with rock and wood cover in 6-10 feet
- Deeper dock edges adjacent to spawning bays
| - Bobbers with suspended presentations near cover
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small insects and aquatic invertebrates
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small crustaceans near vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, moving from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations
- Fish are transitioning between shallow and moderate depths, often relating to the first break line near spawning areas
| - Rocky points and first break lines adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock walls and ledges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel structure
| - Tubes worked along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged slowly on breaks
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to points and breaks
- Bottom-dwelling insects and larvae
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
