| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish following migration routes along river channel edges and adjacent structure, making periodic moves shallow as water warms
| - Wind-blown rocky points adjacent to deep water that warm quickly
- Transition areas where river channel meets boulder fields
- Secondary points in major coves with scattered rock and gravel
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Football Jigs dragged through boulder fields
- Ned Rigs worked methodically on wind-blown banks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish concentrated near points and channel edges
- Young of year perch in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas, following the warming trend in 15-25 foot depths
- Actively feeding on crawfish and baitfish during warming periods, especially near rocky structures and channel edges
| - Main lake points and channel swings with rock or boulder structure
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves with laydowns
- Transition areas between deep winter haunts and shallow spawning flats
| - Football Jigs worked slowly along rocky points and transitions
- Lipless Crankbaits burned across emerging vegetation
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along channel edges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in transitional areas
- Shad schools along channel edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and coves, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving between deeper wintering areas and shallow feeding zones, especially during warming trends
- Congregating around emerging vegetation and woody cover in 4-12 foot depths
| - Protected coves with laydowns and downed trees in 4-8 foot depths
- Rocky areas near transition zones to spawning flats
- Current-influenced areas where plankton and insects concentrate
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near cover
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms near bottom structure
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around transition areas
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with spring warmup
- Juvenile crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Plankton concentrations in current areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, actively moving into shallow rocky areas to establish nesting sites
- Males are aggressively defending nest sites near boulders and rock shelves, making them particularly territorial and reactive to presentations
- Fish are making frequent transitions between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, especially during daily warming trends
| - Boulder fields and isolated boulders in 3-8 foot depth range
- Submerged rock shelves adjacent to deeper water
- Wind-blown banks with scattered rock and gravel substrate
| - Ned Rigs with light heads for slow falling action
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations around boulders
- Tubes worked slowly around rocky structure
| - Perch
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats, moving into spawning areas when temperatures stabilize
- Males actively creating and guarding nests in protected areas with firm bottom
- Females moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats as temperatures fluctuate
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and woody cover
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Laydown trees and boulder fields in 2-6 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Swim Jigs along spawning flat edges and through sparse cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended pre-spawn fish
- Spinnerbaits when covering water between spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in spawning areas
- Perch in slightly deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-73 | - Actively seeking shallow, protected areas with hard bottom or woody cover for spawning, typically in 2-6 feet of water
- Males aggressively guarding nests and feeding opportunistically on nearby insects and small crustaceans
- Pre-spawn females staging in slightly deeper water near spawning areas, moving in and out based on temperature
| - Protected coves with laydowns and downed trees near spawning flats
- Rocky areas with boulders in 2-6 feet of water, especially near deeper staging areas
- Shallow bays with hard bottom and some current influence
| - Bobbers with small jigs or live bait suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked methodically through shallow cover
| - Small insects and larvae around rocky areas and woody cover
- Juvenile crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Zooplankton in areas with current
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding on crawfish near rocky structures, particularly around boulders in current or wind-blown areas
- Fish are holding tight to specific structure and ambushing prey, with reports showing they'll move short distances to attack baits worked near their holding areas
| - Boulder fields along wind-blown banks in 5-15 foot depth range
- Current breaks behind large rocks, especially near depth transitions
- Rocky points and ledges near the dam
| - Ned Rigs worked with long pauses between boulders
- Football Jigs dragged slowly across rocky bottom structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits bounced off boulders with intermittent pauses
| - Crawfish - primary forage based on multiple reports and successful bait choices
- Minnows - secondary forage evidenced by success of silver crankbaits
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-73 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing laydowns and woody cover in slightly deeper water adjacent to spawning flats, showing aggressive feeding behavior
| - Laydowns and woody cover in 4-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with rock or wood leading into deeper water
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
| - Swim Jigs worked parallel to shoreline cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and woody cover
- Spinnerbaits along transition areas between shallow and deeper water
| - Crawfish actively moving in shallow rocky areas
- Small perch and minnows in shoreline areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-73 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively foraging during early morning and late evening
- Establishing daily patterns between woody cover and adjacent feeding flats, particularly around laydowns and rocky areas
| - Laydowns and downed trees adjacent to deeper water, especially in coves
- Rocky areas with boulder structure in 8-15 foot depth range
- Current-influenced areas near the dam where plankton and insects concentrate
| - Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms worked slowly near structure
- Bobbers with suspended baits near woody cover edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs around current areas
| - Small insects and larvae around rocky structure
- Juvenile crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Concentrated plankton in current-influenced zones
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
