Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 51-66 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn transition, actively moving between winter and spawning areas with scattered feeding activity
- Fish are relating to hard structure (points, rip rap) while staging, becoming more active as water temperatures warm
| - Rocky points, especially those leading into spawning pockets
- Rip rap areas near the dam
- Heated creek areas in 2-4 feet of water
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along rocky structure
- Drop Shot for suspended or neutral fish
- Bladed Jigs in warmer, shallow areas
| - Shad
- Crawfish emerging from winter locations
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise. They are making initial movements from deeper wintering areas toward spawning flats, using transitional structure as stopping points.
- Feeding activity increases during this period, with fish becoming more aggressive as they prepare for the spawning season. They are particularly active during stable weather patterns.
| - Main lake rip rap and rocky areas in 8-12 foot depth range, particularly those adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Creek arm transitions where deeper water meets shallow flats
- Rocky points and outcroppings that provide ambush positions near deeper water access
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked with a moderate retrieve along rocky transitions
- Blade Baits worked with a yo-yo retrieve in 8-12 foot depths
- Football Jigs dragged slowly along rocky bottom structure
| - Shad schools concentrated in creek arms and along main lake structure
- Crawfish becoming more active as water temperatures rise, emerging from winter shelter
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn catfish are beginning to move from deeper winter haunts to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming water
- Feeding activity increases as water temperatures rise, with fish particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
- Males starting to scout potential spawning areas near rocky banks and riprap
| - Rocky banks and riprap areas in 5-15 foot depth range
- Deeper channel ledges adjacent to spawning flats
- Current breaks near dam structure and deeper brush piles
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or large minnows
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along ledges
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallow
- Bluegill becoming more active in warming waters
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Staging near spawning areas in brush piles and submerged vegetation, actively feeding to prepare for spawn
- Moving from deeper winter holds to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, particularly active during warming trends
| - Brush piles in 8-15 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish near brush piles
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to nesting sites in shallow protected areas with firm bottom and cover
- Fish are particularly active around flooded brush and other shallow cover, as evidenced by recent fishing reports showing success in 4-8 foot depths
| - Flooded brush in 4-8 foot depths, particularly in protected areas
- Brush piles near spawning flats
- Protected coves with matted vegetation and firm bottom
| - Carolina Rigs with light weights in 4-8 foot water, as proven effective in recent reports
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around brush and cover
- Soft Jerkbaits around spawning areas
| - Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, focusing on rocky substrate in 4-8 foot depths where they'll create and protect nests
- Males become increasingly territorial and aggressive, actively defending nesting sites against intruders
- Pre-spawn feeding activity is intense as fish prepare for spawning energy demands
| - Rocky flats and rip rap areas in 4-8 foot depths with good sunlight penetration
- Protected coves with gravel or rock bottom near deeper water access
- Shallow points and creek mouths with rock or gravel substrate
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas to mimic crawfish
- Ned Rigs presented with subtle movements near spawning areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small shad in creek arms and shallow flats
- Small bluegill and perch in spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish moving into shallower water (2-8 ft) near hard structure for spawning, particularly around rip rap and rock piles
- Males actively guarding nesting sites while females stage in nearby deeper water (10-15 ft)
- Increased feeding activity during dawn and dusk periods, with fish becoming more aggressive in defending territory
| - Rip rap areas and rock piles in 2-8 ft of water, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Dam areas with good rock structure and current breaks
- Brush piles near spawning flats in 10-15 ft of water
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
| - Shad schools moving into spawning areas
- Bluegill in shallow water near structure
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly brush piles and other cover in 0-9 feet of water
- Fish are staging and spawning in protected areas, with feeding activity increasing during warmer parts of the day
| - Shallow brush piles in 0-9 feet of water, especially in protected coves
- Shoreline areas with irregular features and cover
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas and actively feeding to recover energy, holding tight to cover in 5-10 foot depths
- Fish are exhibiting aggressive feeding behavior on crawfish and baitfish around flooded brush and submerged vegetation
| - Flooded brush and bushes in 5-10 foot depths
- Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats
- Secondary points with good cover adjacent to spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting thick cover and brush
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs around sparse cover and transition areas
| - Crawfish - primary forage during post-spawn period
- Bluegill - beginning to become active in the shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting crawfish and shad in rocky areas
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, making frequent stops at structural elements along the way
| - Rip rap areas near the dam in 8-12 foot depth range
- Rocky transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Secondary points with rock or gravel substrate
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') with erratic retrieves
- Ned Rigs dragged on bottom near rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in transition areas
- Small bluegill in shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 68-78 | - Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn, dusk, and night hours
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to deeper summer holding areas, using channel edges and deeper structure
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas in 8-15 feet of water
- Channel ledges adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles near deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along structure
| - Shad schools moving to main lake areas
- Bluegill in shallow to mid-depth areas
- Bottom-dwelling crawfish
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 68-78 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, often suspending near brush piles and submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot zones
- Fish are actively feeding to recover energy after spawning, with most aggressive feeding during early morning and evening hours
- Schools are beginning to reform and concentrate around structure, especially in areas with access to both shallow and deeper water
| - Brush piles and submerged vegetation on secondary points near spawning bays
- Deeper dock areas with good shade coverage
- Main lake points with gradual drops into deeper water
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools beginning to concentrate in deeper water
- Small baitfish gathering around brush piles
- Young-of-year baitfish emerging in shallow areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|