| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-62 | - Pre-spawn bass staging on transitional areas between winter and spawning grounds, with smaller fish moving shallow first while larger females remain deeper
- Fish actively feeding but still selective, moving between deeper staging areas and shallow water based on daily temperature fluctuations
| - Lead-in banks and transition areas where deeper water meets pre-spawn staging areas
- Rip rap points with good sun exposure
- Shallow areas near submerged vegetation with access to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked along rip rap and points
- Shakey heads for finicky fish in deeper staging areas
- Shallow diving crankbaits (0-6') for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
- Bladed jigs around submerged vegetation
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill are transitioning from deeper winter areas to warmer, shallow bays in preparation for spawning
- Fish are actively feeding on insects and small invertebrates near brush piles and laydowns
- Congregating in staging areas near future spawning flats with hard bottom
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom, especially near spawning areas
- Brush piles and laydowns in 6-12 feet of water
- Points and transitions near spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms near structure
- Drop Shot with small plastics around brush piles
- Bobbers with micro jigs near staging areas
| - Aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Small invertebrates around woody cover
- Zooplankton in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Following large schools of shad while utilizing current breaks and rock structure as ambush points
- Most active during periods of stable weather, particularly on wind-blown points and rocky transitions
| - Main lake points with rock or gravel bottom, especially those with wind exposure
- Current breaks near dam area with rocky structure
- Transitional areas between deep winter holes and spawning flats
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions and points
- Blade Baits worked through current breaks
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses over suspended fish
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for finicky fish
| - Shad schools staging in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming water
- Small minnows utilizing current breaks
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-71 | - Fish are in various spawn stages with a major wave of spawners moving shallow. Buck bass (males) are actively guarding beds while females are staging on nearby lead-in banks
- Fish are highly territorial and respond well to slow, deliberate presentations in cover. They're particularly active during sunny periods in shaded areas of cover
| - Protected bays with feeder creeks (3/4 way back) containing buck brush and willow trees with hard bottom
- Lead-in banks with wood cover and rock transitions
- Small isolated pockets with button willows and adequate depth
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - work slowly around cover, focusing on shaded areas
- Carolina Rigs - effective for staging fish on lead-in banks
- Tubes - particularly effective for both spawning and post-spawn fish around button willows
| - Bluegill - primary forage around shallow cover and spawning areas
- Shad - secondary forage, particularly for staging fish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively spawning in shallow, protected bays with hard bottom areas, particularly around laydowns and brush piles
- Males guarding nests in 2-8 feet of water, becoming increasingly aggressive toward intruders
- Females moving between spawning areas and slightly deeper water, feeding opportunistically
| - Protected bays with hard bottom (sand/gravel) in 2-8 feet of water
- Areas near laydowns and brush piles in spawning bays
- Shallow points with willows or wood cover adjacent to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects near spawning beds
- Drop Shot with small soft plastics for precise presentations
- Bobbers with suspended baits over spawning areas
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Zooplankton
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass moving to shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near hard bottom and rock structure, particularly in protected coves and points
- Males aggressively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes territorial during spawn
| - Protected rocky coves and points with gravel or rocky bottom
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Current-protected areas near rock structure
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs dragged near spawning areas
- Shakey Heads presented to visible beds
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small bluegill near spawning areas
- Shad in nearby deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-74 | - Fish are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting both shad and minnows around current-influenced areas and points
- Early morning topwater activity indicates aggressive surface feeding, especially around shad schools breaking the surface
- Movement patterns show fish transitioning between shallow and mid-depth zones, utilizing points and current seams as primary feeding stations
| - Down-current island points, especially during morning hours
- Main lake points with wind exposure
- Current seams near rock structure and laydowns
- Shallow to mid-depth transition areas with brush or wood cover
| - Hard Topwater (Popping) during early morning hours
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around current seams and rocky areas
- Ned Rigs on main lake points, especially for pressured fish
- Texas Rigs (Worming) around laydowns and brush
| - Shad schooling in open water and around points
- Minnows relating to current areas and structure
- Bluegill in shallow cover areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are transitioning from spawning areas to nearby feeding zones, actively foraging on insects
- Fish are utilizing shallow water cover during morning and evening, moving slightly deeper during bright conditions
| - Protected backs of bays with hard bottom near spawning areas
- Laydowns and brush piles in 2-8 foot depth range
- Shallow vegetation edges adjacent to spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with red worms or wax worms
- Drop Shot with small plastics
- Bobbers with light jig presentations
| - Insects, particularly aquatic nymphs and larvae
- Small crustaceans near vegetation
- Emerging aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad and other baitfish in transition areas
- Fish are moving from spawning flats to early summer locations, staging on points and current breaks
- Aggressive feeding during early morning and evening, with more selective behavior during bright midday periods
| - Main lake points with rock structure, especially those affected by wind and current
- Current breaks and dam areas with hard bottom composition
- Secondary points and rocky transitions in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged and hopped on rocky points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through current breaks
| - Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn period
- Bluegill in shallow rocky areas
- Small minnows around current breaks
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
