| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-65 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawning. Fish are making methodical movements from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning grounds, stopping at staging points along the way.
- Activity levels increase during warming trends, with fish becoming more aggressive in the afternoons as water temperatures rise. They are showing particular interest in areas with submerged vegetation and woody cover.
| - Submerged vegetation in creek arms and flats, particularly areas with hydrilla
- Stumps and tree lines near the backs of creeks
- Deep structure like railroad and road beds for staging fish
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled over submerged vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked slowly near bottom structure
- Spinnerbaits around new growth grass and stumps
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for working shallow cover
| - Shad schooling in creek arms and around vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active in shallow areas with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Moving shallow (5-15 feet) to stage for spawn, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Relating heavily to rocky banks and points, seeking optimal spawning areas
- Becoming more aggressive as water warms, with feeding increasing during stable weather patterns
| - Transitional rocky points leading into spawning coves
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel substrate
- Submerged timber near spawning flats
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on gravel points
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to banks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small shad schools in warming pockets
- Small bluegill in shallow cover
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-67 | - Actively spawning with fish visible on beds in 2-3 ft of water, particularly in grass holes and protected areas
- Post-spawn females beginning to move to deeper structure while males guard fry
- Aggressive bed defense behavior when presented with soft plastics and creature baits
| - Shallow grass holes and pockets in 2-3 feet of water with visible beds
- Protected areas near submerged vegetation
- Deep trees and structure at spawning flat entrances for transitioning fish
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around beds and grass
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with soft plastics for precise bed presentations
- Grass Jigs worked through vegetation edges
| - Bluegill around spawning areas
- Crawfish active in grass and woody cover
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, actively defending nests in 2-6 foot depths on hard bottom areas
- Males aggressively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning waves
- Increased activity during warmer parts of day, especially on north-facing banks that warm faster
| - Rock piles and gravel areas in 2-6 foot depths, especially near deeper water access
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition
- Shallow points with mixed rock and wood cover adjacent to spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly around visible beds and rocky areas
- Ned Rigs dragged through spawning flats
- Soft Jerkbaits worked suspending for staging fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small shad schools in spawning pockets
- Young of year bluegill beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-76 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding and transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, suspending near vertical cover and utilizing grass edges
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior during prime periods, targeting both bluegill and shad in multiple depth ranges from shallow grass to suspended positions
| - Grass edges and holes in submerged vegetation in shallow water
- Suspended cover like tree tops in 20-30 foot range
- Points and creek arms with mixed vegetation and timber
| - Frogs/Toads worked over grass mats and holes
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly around suspended timber
- Soft Jerkbaits fished weightless with subtle twitches
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow grass areas
- Shad suspending around timber and points
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow and mid-depth areas
- Fish are targeting crawfish and shad in transitional areas near deep water access
- Most active during early morning and evening, seeking shade during bright conditions
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats
- Grass edges near deeper water
- Submerged brush piles in 8-15 feet of water
- Standing timber edges near channel swings
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas
- Shakey Heads worked around brush piles
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits along grass edges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Young-of-year shad starting to appear
- Small bluegill in shallow grass
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
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