RE: Signs of the spawn....
Catch a Buck with a roughed up and bloody tail then they are starting to fan. Also seeing fish in shallow water or suspended chasing each other is a good sign of mate choosing and those fish will not hit nothing.
RE: Signs of the spawn....
When you catch a buckbass before you let him go see if theres a BIG smile on his face.
RE: Signs of the spawn....
just fish the creeks and shallow bays from the mouth and work your way back. stop on all of the secondary points and find cover in or next to the creek channel. they start moving in around 52 or so and slowing start working their way back. the moon and a fast warm up (4 or 5 degrees in a few days will trigger the spawn. thats how i do it anyway. or you can go by when the white bass stop biting up the creeks. thats one that i've heard but havent tried.