| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-60 | - Transitioning from winter locations to spawning areas, actively searching for optimal nesting sites near protected structure
- Feeding opportunistically on yellow perch during pre-spawn staging, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Protected areas between docks where smallmouth stage before spawning
- Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock piles in 8-15 foot depth range serving as pre-spawn staging areas
| - Drop Shot with slow, subtle presentations for staged fish
- Tubes worked methodically around rock structure
- Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses
| - Yellow Perch
- Small Baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive but still maintaining deeper staging positions during cold fronts and moving shallow during warming trends
| - Secondary points and rocky transitions near spawning bays, typically in 8-15 feet of water
- Laydowns and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats in 5-12 feet
- Deeper docks near spawning areas serving as staging points
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along transition areas where rock meets softer bottom
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses targeting suspended fish near points
- Shakey Heads worked methodically around boulder fields and laydowns
| - Perch moving shallow to spawn, concentrating around rocky areas
- Bluegill beginning to emerge from winter areas and moving to warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Yellow perch are staging in pre-spawn locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. They are typically found in schools, moving between deeper wintering areas and shallower spawning zones.
- Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, showing increased feeding activity during dawn and dusk periods, particularly around structure transitions.
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 8-15 foot depth range, especially near deeper water access
- Laydowns and woody cover in 8-15 foot range, providing staging areas and ambush points
- Transition areas between deeper wintering holes (25-40 feet) and spawning flats
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Ice Fishing Jigs
| - Small minnows and juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Warm Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-62 | - Fish are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, actively moving into shallow areas near docks and other protected spawning locations
- Males are aggressively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
| - Dock pilings in shallow water, especially those with rocky substrate nearby
- Protected coves with hard bottom
- Rocky points leading into spawning bays
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits around dock pilings
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along hard bottom areas
- Tubes dragged near spawning areas
| - Perch
- Small baitfish relating to dock areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning phases, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning grounds
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, with males preparing and guarding nests while females move in waves to spawning areas
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 4-8 foot depth range, especially those adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and cover
- Transition areas between deeper staging zones and spawning flats
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly around boulders and rock transitions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and spawning areas
- Shakey Heads for covering pre-spawn staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Perch in shallow feeding areas
- Bluegill moving shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-59 | - Perch are concentrated in shallow spawning areas, particularly around hard bottom and structure in 8-15 foot depths
- Fish are actively feeding in pre and post-spawn phases, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Laydowns and woody cover near spawning areas
- Protected coves with gradual slopes
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Ice Fishing Jigs (worked slowly even in open water)
| - Small invertebrates and insects near spawning areas
- Juvenile baitfish in shallow water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding on perch while recovering from the spawn, utilizing rock structures as primary feeding stations
- Fish are making transitional movements from spawning areas to early summer locations, following baitfish schools
| - Rock humps in 15-25 foot depth range with access to deeper water
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel bottom
- Dock areas adjacent to spawning flats where fish are transitioning
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits, worked slowly around rock structure
- Tubes dragged along rock humps and transitional areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through dock areas
| - Perch, particularly around rock structure
- Small baitfish suspending near structural elements
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on crawfish around rock and wood structure
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, holding on the first break near spawning flats
| - Humps with boulder or rock content adjacent to spawning flats
- Laydowns and woody cover in 5-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with rock-to-sand transitions
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly around rock and wood cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover
- Shakey Heads on deeper structure during midday
| - Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports
- Bluegill - beginning to be active in shallower areas
- Perch - available around deeper structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 48-59 | - Post-spawn perch are actively feeding and regaining energy, forming loose schools around structure in 8-15 foot depths
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, following baitfish movements
| - Rock piles and humps in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to spawning areas
- Dock areas with nearby deeper water access
- Laydowns and woody cover in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or pieces of nightcrawler, worked slowly along structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs tipped with soft plastics
- Inline Spinners retrieved at moderate speeds parallel to structure
| - Small minnows and juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects and larvae
- Emerging crayfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Warm Colors
|
