I keep hearing the term Spawning Flats and Shallow Flats. Are they the same? Would someone explain them? Thanks

Honestly Terrance, I hate the spawn. Its my toughest most inconsistenct time of the year. Hit or Miss for me. But back to your question. Shallow flats can cover a large open area, spawning flats covers a area leading into a mouth to a cove or creek where stageing fish can back off in cold fronts along timber or other structure. Just my definition. Im sure I will be corrected but just my .02 cents

I catch a lot of fish on flats in coves just adjacent to deeper water. For fish to really spawn on them they are still going to be looking for a hard bottom. I know one of the best spawning areas on Lavon is about an acre and does not have any grass/timber. It is bare and I've never seen anyone fish it. It doesn't look fishy but it holds fish.
Flats could be anywhere and at any depth. Lavon is really just one big flat on the south end. It holds the same depth for the most part and has very little structure outside of points and coves.

I consider big open fields up on the north end flats. They are that, just flat with very little change in depth.

I'm not sure that helps...

I consider spawning flats as a shallow flat area in the back of coves that is 4 foot or shallower and like Jerry said it may or may not have any thing visable that you can see but it does need to have a harder type bottom. Some people call this shallow flats as well but they should say in the back of coves because shallow flats are also on the main lake areas that can cover a very large area is not a good spawning area. Confusing I know but I hope this has helped.

This is some good information guys. You are describing a creek I had success in at Tawokoni years ago. Keep it coming.