I was wondering what would be a good bait if you wanted to maybe cast a bait or something other that a jig. And will they be aggressive while in pre spawn or post spawn.

minnows my friend.

I use minnows or live shad as an alternative to jigs. Typically have all 3 in the boat at the same time.

Strike King Mini-King spinnerbait. Its great for the spring before they go deep. When everyone is using jigs, this gives the fish a different look.

I fish Lavon a lot. There have been times when working the rip-rap with jigs that the bite was slow. Started throwing one of these and started catching.

Minnows.

Minnows are my friend also. I just want to have options. I like trying new things. All of this will be happening in my new tube that I have been using lately. Tp much fun. Just need to catch some fish in it.

Small Beatle Spins.

road runners!! Fish them slow!!

Ditto on the small StrikeKing spinner baits and BeetleSpins. Good ole 3/8 oz. H&H spinners are a good variant because of the plastic body. Slow rolling them past shallow stumps (both sides) or under low hangin limbs is very effective during the spawn because crappie will chase out intruders just like bass. I prefer white and chartreuse.

+1

grass shrimp if u can find them, or the elusive ghost minnow. you can sometimes find grass shrimp scooping around the edge of freshwater ponds, and canals . ghost minnows ive only seen at night, and they are loners, but put one on a hook, and it wont last long. they are kind of transluscent, with a black line down thier back, a little larger than the average minnow.

Tawakoni has alot of Ghost minnows.

Long ago, when I Bass fished I would pick up the occassional crappie with small topwater plugs & quite often with an H&H Spinnerbait.

My buddy Ronny makes a nice min-spin, here is one i painted, and dressed up...

Hey marine, call Ronny...
Roadrunners