What fish bite in spring in the South?

Largemouth bass, Crappie and Catfish. Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.

Which lake is best for spring fishing in the South?

Lake Beulah in Mississippi warms early; Dewey Lake is a good second choice.

Spring fishing in the South: what bites and where

Spring is when lakes wake up: the shallow, dark-bottomed bays warm first and the fish follow the warmth. Here is how the fish of the South behave in spring, and 10 lakes that suit the season.

What the fish do in spring

Largemouth bass: Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.
Crappie: Spawn time. Shallow brush and docks in coves.
Catfish: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
Bluegill and sunfish: Warming. Shallow, sunny pockets in the afternoon.
White bass: Schools chasing bait on points. Watch for splashes.

1. Lake Beulah, Mississippi

Lake Beulah is a natural lake of 1,030 acres of water. You will find it near Rosedale. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. The deepest water is around 20 ft. Lake Beulah is an oxbow lake straddling the Mississippi-Arkansas state line.

Lake Beulah today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Dewey Lake, Kentucky

At some 1,100 acres, Dewey Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near Van Lear. Muskie are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has two sheltered coves and a point drop-off: good places to start.

Dewey Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Nantahala Lake, North Carolina

Nantahala Lake is a reservoir of about 1,220 acres. You will find it near Andrews. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Known for exceptionally clear water and a popular trout and bass fishery in the Nantahala National Forest. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Nantahala Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Dierks Lake, Arkansas

Dierks Lake spreads over some 1,360 acres. The lake is near Dierks. Dierks Dam holds it on the Saline. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Dierks Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Trafford, Florida

At 1,500 acres, Lake Trafford is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near Immokalee. It holds largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Trafford near Immokalee underwent a major muck-removal restoration project that revived its largemouth bass fishery.

Lake Trafford today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Dequeen Lake, Arkansas

Dequeen Lake is a reservoir of about 1,730 acres. You will find it near De Queen. DeQueen Dam holds it on the Rolling Fork. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. DeQueen Lake is a Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Rolling Fork River in southwest Arkansas.

Dequeen Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Occoquan Reservoir, Virginia

Occoquan Reservoir spreads over 2,100 acres of water. It lies right by Lake Ridge. Occoquan Dam holds it on the Occoquan River. The fish here are largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish. Its bed shows two point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Occoquan Reservoir supplies drinking water to Northern Virginia and lies on the Fairfax-Prince William county line.

Occoquan Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake of the Arbuckles, Oklahoma

At some 2,350 acres, Lake of the Arbuckles is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is about 3.3 miles northeast of Sulphur. It holds crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and white bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has rated Lake of the Arbuckles as the best lake in the state for bass fishing.

Lake of the Arbuckles today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Bruin, Louisiana

Lake Bruin is a natural lake of about 2,460 acres. It lies about 2.4 miles southwest of Saint Joseph. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Bruin is an oxbow lake left behind when the Mississippi River changed course, now home to a Louisiana state park.

Lake Bruin today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Moomaw, Virginia

Lake Moomaw spreads over some 2,500 acres. It lies about 6.2 miles northeast of Warm Springs. Gathright Dam holds it on the Jackson River. The fish here are trout, catfish, crappie and yellow perch. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Moomaw sits in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and is formed by Gathright Dam on the Jackson River.

Lake Moomaw today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Reading the water

In spring the surface temperature tells you most of what you need: each LakeScope lake page shows today's reading, the wind and the best bite windows, so you can pick the lake and the hour before you leave home.