| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning to shallower waters and actively feeding on crawfish around rocky structures
- Fish are establishing ambush points in protected coves and along rock walls, showing aggressive feeding behavior when properly targeted
| - Rocky coves and protected areas near marina entrances
- Rock walls and ledges with direct access to deeper water
- Secondary points with rock or brush cover
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly along rock structures
- Wacky Rigs allowed to fall naturally along vertical structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting rocky cover and ledges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter areas and actively moving on rocky substrate
- Baitfish concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-60 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are relating heavily to rocky structure and showing increased aggression toward crawfish-imitating baits
| - Flat long points with boulders/rocks
- Bushes in the backs of coves and pockets
- Rocky transition areas between winter and spawning grounds
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')
- Spinnerbaits
- Football Jigs
| | - Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn striped bass are actively staging near spawning tributaries and following large bait schools, making frequent feeding runs into shallower water
- Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to more active feeding, with schools beginning to break up into smaller groups
| - Main lake points and channel swings near tributary mouths
- Secondary points in east-facing coves that warm first in the morning
- Steep shoreline breaks adjacent to deeper wintering areas
| - Umbrella Rigs worked slowly through suspended schools
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near points and breaks
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are holding deeper
| - Large schools of threadfin and gizzard shad
- Herring moving shallow for their own spawn
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Largemouth bass transitioning into spawning phase, actively feeding in pre-spawn pattern while seeking warmer spawning areas
- Showing strong response to shad movements in early morning, with birds indicating active feeding zones
| - Points adjacent to spawning pockets, especially those with direct access to deeper water
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Rocky areas with crawfish activity near spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieve, adjusted for feeding activity
- Bladed Jigs worked around points and shallow cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting emerging cover and spawning pockets
| - Shad schools in early morning, especially around points
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas as water warms
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawn/pre-spawn phase, actively moving between staging areas and spawning flats near deep water access
- Fish are utilizing 5-25 foot depth range, showing typical spawning period movements between deeper staging and shallow spawning areas
| - Large boulders and rock structures near deep water, particularly in the 5-25 foot range
- Protected rocky flats with nearby deep water access
- Secondary points with rock or gravel composition leading into spawning bays
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for suspended fish
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky bottom
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to shallower spawning grounds
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during dawn and dusk
- Schools are breaking up into smaller groups, with larger females becoming more solitary as they prepare to spawn
| - Main lake points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep water access points near tributary mouths
- East-facing coves that warm first in the morning
| - Umbrella Rigs worked slowly through transitional depths
- Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) worked vertically along channel edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily parallel to points
| - Gizzard and Threadfin Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Blueback Herring moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on shad and crawfish in the 5-10 foot range
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, relating heavily to boulder-strewn areas and points
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 5-10 foot depth range
- Points with mixed rock and brush in transition areas
- Secondary points near spawning bays with access to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked around boulders and rock transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to mimic abundant shad
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around rocky areas
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent reports
- Crawfish - active in rocky areas during spring
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Actively feeding in shallower transition areas near spawning flats, showing increased aggression and feeding activity as they recover from spawn
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones following baitfish schools and targeting crawfish in rocky areas
- More likely to feed during early morning and evening hours, with a focus on structure-oriented feeding patterns
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays with 5-15 foot depth transitions
- Gravel and boulder-strewn flats in 8-12 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged on gravel flats
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing baitfish
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
- Young of the year perch beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-74 | - Post-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from spawning areas to main lake feeding zones
- Fish are forming loose schools and beginning to chase bait in the upper water column, especially during early morning and evening hours
| - Main lake points and channel swings adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Secondary points in east-facing coves where morning sun warms water first
- Deep water access areas near shallow flats where bait schools gather
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked at varying depths to match bait movement
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with umbrella rigs or deep diving crankbaits
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses to trigger reaction strikes in clear water
| - Large schools of shad moving from spawning areas to main lake
- Juvenile baitfish emerging in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
