Bite Guide

What to use right now

Set your area (top of the home page) and this will auto-fill with your local weather and time.

Using right now: Midday

Adjust conditions

Rig it like this

Cover water with a moving bait (spinnerbait/crankbait), or pick apart the bottom with a Carolina rig or drop shot.

Hook size

3/0–5/0 EWG for soft plastics; 1/0–2/0 for finesse (drop shot, wacky).

Try these baits

  • Topwater
  • Buzzbait
  • Crankbait
  • Chatterbait

How to work it

Faster retrieve, reaction bites

Color

Natural & translucent (green pumpkin, shad, smoke) with lighter line

Where in the water

Shallow to mid-column, especially near cover

Why

  • Warm water (68°F) means high metabolism — aggressive, reaction-triggering baits work well.
  • Bright, clear skies push fish tight to cover/shade — natural colors avoid spooking wary fish.
  • Clear water means fish get a good look — natural colors, lighter line, and longer casts keep from spooking them.