| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as they prepare for spawning
- Fish are feeding heavily on crawfish around wood cover and rocky areas, with some early shad feeding activity noted
- Bass are utilizing staging points near spawning flats and showing aggressive reaction strikes on moving baits
| - Laydowns and submerged brush in 8-10 foot depth range, particularly in creek arms
- Points with good access to spawning flats
- Stumps and wood cover in protected areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with pauses around wood cover in 8-10ft
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around laydowns
- Bladed Jigs around points and transitional areas
- Football Jigs worked through brush and wood cover
| - Crawfish emerging as primary forage in pre-spawn period
- Shad becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Actively staging near spawning areas, moving from deeper winter haunts to pre-spawn staging points
- Becoming more aggressive in feeding as water temperatures rise, preparing for spawn
- Congregating in larger schools around key structure in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 10-15 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Creek channel bends with wood cover
- Protected coves with standing timber
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Small bluegill in and around brush piles
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Bluegill are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, becoming more active as water temperatures rise. They're beginning to move from deeper wintering areas toward shallow spawning flats.
- Feeding activity increases during this period, with fish targeting newly emerging insects, small crustaceans, and tiny baitfish near vegetation and structure.
| - Secondary points and staging areas adjacent to shallow spawning flats, particularly those with emerging vegetation
- Brush piles and laydowns in 6-12 feet of water near spawning areas
- Protected coves with warming water, especially those with rock piles and emerging vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs - suspended under a bobber at various depths to find active fish
- Micro Crankbaits - slow retrieved around structure and vegetation edges
- Ice Fishing Jigs - worked vertically near brush piles and structure
| - Small insects and larvae beginning to emerge with warming water
- Tiny crawfish becoming more active near rocky areas
- Small baitfish fry gathering in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are moving shallow to spawn, actively guarding nests near cover such as laydowns, brush piles, and standing timber
- Females are staged near spawning areas, making periodic moves to prepare and maintain nests
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in protected shallow areas
- Brush piles and standing timber near spawning flats
- Protected coves and creek arms with suitable spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover in spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing bedding bass
| - Crawfish - primary forage during spawn period as evidenced by multiple reports
- Small bluegill and sunfish around spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near brush piles and woody cover, with males preparing and guarding nests
- Pre-spawn staging and post-spawn recovery occurs around creek channels and points adjacent to spawning flats
- Most active during dawn and dusk, with increased daytime activity during spawn
| - Shallow brush piles and laydowns in protected coves (2-8 feet)
- Creek channel bends adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with submerged timber in 8-12 foot range
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small bluegill fry
- Young shad
- Small minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively spawning in shallow protected areas, with males guarding nests and females moving in and out of spawning areas
- Feeding opportunistically on insects and small crustaceans near spawning areas
- Most active during morning and evening hours, with reduced activity during bright midday periods
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near vegetation
- Areas between docks with scattered brush or laydowns
- Shallow flats adjacent to vegetation with 2-4 feet of water
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Finesse Hair Jigs cast beyond beds and retrieved slowly
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects near cover
| - Small insects and larvae around vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans near rocky areas and brush
- Small minnows in shallow spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing both shallow and deep water, with some remaining shallow near cover while others move to deeper points and structure
- Feeding activity is most aggressive during early morning and late afternoon, particularly around baitfish schools
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 5-15 feet of water, especially those near deeper water access
- Rocky points with drop-offs transitioning from 8-20 feet
- Submerged bushes and wood cover in pockets off the main lake
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked methodically around brush and bushes
- Football Jigs and Carolina Rigs dragged slowly along rocky points
- Swim Jigs worked in shallow areas near baitfish
- Hard Topwater (Prop) worked around shallow cover during low light periods
| - Crawfish - primary forage especially around rocky areas and brush
- Shad - becoming more active in pockets and around points
- Bluegill - particularly around shallow cover and brush piles
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are generally suspending near brush piles and timber in 10-15 foot range, moving shallower during overcast conditions
| - Brush piles and standing timber in 10-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points near spawning bays with wood cover
- Creek channel edges with nearby woody structure
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad (particularly smaller sizes)
- Young-of-year bluegill
- Small minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 68-78 | - Post-spawn bluegill are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing shallow to mid-depth areas near vegetation and woody cover
- Fish are establishing daily feeding patterns, moving between cover and open water feeding areas throughout the day
| - Shallow flats with mixed vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning areas
- Dock areas with shade and structure in 5-12 feet of water
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around brush piles and dock posts
- Live Bait Rigs with small hooks and split shots for finicky fish
| - Small insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Tiny crawfish in and around vegetation and rocky areas
- Small minnows and shad fry in open water areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
