Not sure if it is pre spawn, or spawning time in my lake, how can I really tell? 

What lake?

Water temp will likely be your biggest indicator of transition from pre-spawn to spawn. Once it hits a certain threshold, looking for certain signs (ie: bedding females) would help definitively tell. Keep in mind that males will be on beds longer than females as they "build" the bed before the female arrives and stay to protect the fry once the female leaves. 

The lake is pretty cool I would say high 40s to mid 50s. And all of the places shallow enough for fish to bed are covered in lilly pads. So I can't see them! 

1 minute ago, Twim26 said:

The lake is pretty cool I would say high 40s to mid 50s. And all of the places shallow enough for fish to bed are covered in lilly pads. So I can't see them! 

Everyone has a different opinion about spawning temps. For me, 55 degrees has always been the magic number I've looked for to "start". This is when I personally begin to start thinking "spawn". Once water temp reaches this magic number, I start looking at other aspects. Long days, moon cycle, signs of bedding females, etc..

55-60 I feel is a general agreed upon range for bass to transition into the spawn phase. Once you hit this range, start looking for signs of spawning fish. A lot of anglers sight fish for bedded females but lily pads might prevent you from doing that.

Is this is big lake? Small lake? I'd like to look it up to get a better idea. Plus, I can't sleep!

The lake is pretty large! It is about 100 acres big all together but some parts you can not fish because of the vegetation, you'd need an airboat! Haha 

The spawn is a process, it is not like flipping a light switch. Male LMB will begin to move in and out of the shallows looking to make beds when water temps are stable above 55 or so. (stable) being the key word.   Bass need the water to remain at, or above, 60 degrees for several days in order to spawn. Biologists agree that bass spawn at 65 degrees. They may make several attempts at spawning during this period.

R/ Chris

55-60 here in SE Michigan.  

1 hour ago, Twim26 said:

The lake is pretty large! It is about 100 acres big all together but some parts you can not fish because of the vegetation, you'd need an airboat! Haha 

Since you won't provide the lake name, how about the city it's in? Heck, even a state would suffice. 

It is in picayune mississippi 

Pre-spawn

Whenever you're certain that the lake is in spawn, make sure to give those lily pads another glance and a couple casts. LMB are known to bed at the bases of this vegetation because it helps create a hard bottom.

~ Mr. Netfish and Chill 

I would say that they're still in prespawn phase. Like stated above, once you hit that 55-60 window consistently, then I would start thinking spawn. Also, like Mr. Netfish and Chill says, definitely hit those lilly pads.

Thanks guys! Appreciate everyones help! 

Just went fishing for about an hour caught 5 on a fluke and one on a rage craw.

Any other baits that would be very productive this stage? 

Welcome aboard!

Not knowing where you're from, if Virginia,
look at the Dogwood trees. Blossoming? 
Then bass are spawning.

If you can patrol the shallows and look for light colored areas near the bank. Then flip the craziest colored plastics you can find into them and see what happens.

Dark muck bottom covered with pads isn't good bass spawning water, they prefer wind protected areas with gravel or sandy bottom where light penetrates to the bottom. If that type of bottom area isn't available then they make do with whatever will clean up without silt that kills eggs. 

LMB 62-67 is ideal, colder water takes longer to hatch eggs, warmer too many egg eater like bluegill to fight off. Nothing is absolute, just the law of averages.

1st sign of the spawn is cruising bass, males looking for good nest sights and females checking out spawning areas.

Tom

On April 6, 2016 at 8:40 AM, Twim26 said:

It is in picayune mississippi 

Both pre-spawn & early spawn