Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Fish moving from deeper winter holding areas to shallower flats and staging points adjacent to spawning coves
- Feeding activity increasing as fish prepare for spawn, with aggressive responses to prey around key structure
| - Secondary points with boulder fields leading into spawning coves
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper wintering areas, especially those with standing timber
- Dock areas in 5-15 foot range with nearby deep water access
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through standing timber and over shallow flats
- Bladed Jigs around rocky points and boulder fields
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
| - Shad schools transitioning to shallower flats
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Moving from deeper winter haunts to shallower pre-spawn staging areas near spawning flats
- Actively feeding during warming trends, congregating around structure in 8-15 foot depths
- Schooling behavior becomes more concentrated as fish stage for spawn
| - Brush piles and standing timber adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depths
- Secondary points with vertical cover near spawning coves
- Deep dock areas transitioning to shallow flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bluegills near brush and timber
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 52-68 | - Pre-spawn catfish are becoming more active and starting to move from deep winter haunts to transitional areas, particularly focusing on areas with current flow
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish particularly active during warmer afternoons and in areas where shad and crappie are congregating
| - Channel swings and deeper areas adjacent to shallow flats where pre-spawn staging occurs
- Areas with brush piles and standing timber in 8-15 feet of water
- Rocky points and riprap areas that warm quickly in spring sun
| - Carolina Rigs with cut bait or large minnows, worked slowly along bottom structure
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near brush piles and timber
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around structure and channel edges
| - Shad congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Crappie in shallow to mid-depth brush piles
- Various bottom-dwelling forage in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter haunts to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Schooling behavior intensifies, with fish moving along transition zones and following bait movements
- Highly responsive to current and wind-generated water movement, especially around points
| - Main lake points with rock structure in 8-15 foot depth
- Wind-blown shorelines with current seams
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked with aggressive vertical hops along depth transitions
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved with sporadic bursts near rocky points
- Underspins worked steadily through schools of suspended fish
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure
- Juvenile panfish in shallow transition zones
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, establishing and guarding nests in protected areas near rock and boulder fields
- Fish are moving between staging areas and spawning pockets, with most activity in shallow water
| - Protected pockets with boulders and large rocks, especially those off the main lake
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow areas with mixed rock and wood cover near deeper water access
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around boulders
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting fish moving between spots
| - Shad schooling in spawning pockets
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Moving into shallow coves and protected areas for spawning, staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats
- Highly active during daylight hours, especially early morning and late evening
- Males guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper
| - Protected shallow coves with brush and standing timber (2-8 feet)
- Dock areas with stable depths (4-10 feet)
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small Shad
- Small Bluegill
- Juvenile Yellow Perch
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 58-75 | - Catfish are transitioning into spawning behavior, actively seeking warm, protected areas with suitable spawning structure like brush piles and submerged timber
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
- Males guarding nests become territorial and aggressive once spawning begins
| - Brush piles in protected coves and bays
- Areas with standing timber, especially where it intersects with depth changes
- Rocky areas and riprap banks that warm quickly in spring
| - Carolina Rigs with cut bait or large soft plastics
- Live Bait Rigs near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around brush piles
| - Crappie, particularly in and around brush pile areas
- Shad schooling in spawning bays
- Various sunfish species in shallow spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 52-65 | - White bass are making spawning runs into tributaries and wind-swept rocky areas, congregating in large schools
- Fish are aggressive and actively feeding during pre and post-spawn periods, especially during shad movement
| - Rocky points and shallow flats near tributary mouths or major creek channels
- Wind-blown shorelines with rock and gravel substrate in 2-8 feet of water
- Current seams and eddies near main lake points with boulder structure
| - Inline Spinners worked quickly through schooling fish in shallow water
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved with a yo-yo action near rocky points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to spawning areas
| - Shad schools moving into spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, particularly around shallow to mid-depth transition areas
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper resting areas throughout the day
| - Boulder fields and rocky points in 5-15 foot depth range
- Shallow docks with nearby deep water access
- Brush piles and standing timber on secondary points
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly around boulders and dock edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline cover and through boulder fields
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along rocky points
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in predictable areas
- Bluegill spawning in shallow protected areas
- Crawfish active around rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-72 | - Post-spawn crappie transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active and feeding heavily to recover
- Fish beginning to suspend near vertical cover and moving toward deeper brush piles as water warms
| - Brush piles and standing timber in 8-15 feet of water
- Dock areas with good depth and shade
- Main lake points near spawning bays
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
| - Young-of-year shad beginning to school
- Small bluegill and sunfish fry
- Various insects and larvae
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-72 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, taking advantage of current areas and structure for ambush feeding
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones (5-20 feet) following shad and crappie movements
- Utilizing brush piles and timber as resting areas between feeding periods
| - Current-swept areas near brush piles and standing timber
- Rocky areas and riprap with nearby deeper water
- Dock areas with access to multiple depth zones
| - Carolina Rigs drifted along firm bottom areas
- Live Bait Rigs near structure and current breaks
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles
| - Shad schools in mid-depth zones
- Crappie in and around brush piles
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn white bass are actively feeding and recovering, typically schooling aggressively to chase shad in the upper water column near points and current seams
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to main lake feeding zones, using rock structure and points as staging areas
| - Main lake points with boulder structure in 8-15 feet of water
- Wind-blown shorelines with current seams near rocky structure
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water where shad are present
| - Spinnerbaits worked at medium-fast retrieve along points and current seams
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through schooling fish in shallow water
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to rocky banks
| - Shad schools concentrated near points and in wind-driven current
- Small baitfish gathering in shallow feeding areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Metallic Colors
|