| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-66 | - Largemouth bass are actively moving shallow (1-3 feet) during pre-spawn, staging near potential spawning areas and feeding aggressively
- Fish are splitting time between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper staging areas (7-10 feet), with larger fish often holding deeper
| - Reed beds in 1-3 feet of water, especially where they create edges or pockets
- First major weed edge in 7-10 feet of water
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked steadily through shallow cover
- Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) worked over deeper weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pressured fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Juvenile bluegills in shallow vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Muskie | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn muskies are beginning to move from winter depths to shallow feeding areas, particularly focusing on emerging weed growth and warmer bays
- Fish are becoming more active but still relatively lethargic, often preferring slower-moving presentations
- Feeding periods are most intense during warmer afternoons when water temperatures spike
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially areas with developing cabbage beds in 4-8 feet
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning bays
- Protected shorelines with developing weed growth, particularly on the north side where water warms faster
| - Trolling Shallow (0-9') with slower speeds to match lethargic fish behavior
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked with a slow, steady retrieve
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses to trigger reaction strikes
| - Bluegills gathering in warming shallow areas
- Minnow schools transitioning to spawning areas
- Small yellow perch moving shallow with warming trends
| - Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves. In this turbid water (0.7m Secchi), they remain relatively shallow and active during daylight hours
- Fish are transitioning from winter areas to spawning locations, following structural elements like points and inside turns. The complex shoreline (SDI 2.05) creates multiple staging areas
| - Secondary points and inside turns adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 feet of water
- Transition areas where hard bottom meets emerging vegetation in 4-12 feet
- Wind-swept shorelines and points, particularly on the elongated sections of the lake
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations, maintaining bottom contact along transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with methodical lifts and drops near structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along staging areas
| - Minnows concentrating in shallow transitional areas
- Small bluegills near emerging vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are transitioning into spawning phase with water temperatures between 58-61°F, actively patrolling shallow areas and staging near spawning locations
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly in 2-4 foot depths around vegetation and points as evidenced by recent fishing reports
| - Reed beds and shallow vegetation in 2-4 foot depths
- Points adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected shallow coves with firm bottom
| - Bladed Jigs worked with slow, steady retrieve as confirmed by recent success
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with subtle movements near cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around reeds and vegetation
| - Crawfish emerging in warming shallows
- Minnows in shallow feeding areas as noted in recent reports
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Muskie | 52-65 | - Post-spawn females staging near shallow spawning areas, recovering and beginning to feed
- Males guarding spawning areas in shallow bays and protected areas
- Moving between shallow spawning zones and adjacent deeper water as temperatures fluctuate
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-6 feet of water
- Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning bays
- Emerging weed edges near drop-offs providing quick access to deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through spawning areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around points
| - Bluegills congregating in shallow spawning bays
- Minnows relating to emerging vegetation
- Small bass in transitional areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow rocky areas and tributaries. In the turbid conditions (0.7m Secchi), they may remain active during daylight hours
- Fish are staging in phases, with some still in transition areas while others move to spawning grounds. Post-spawn females will quickly move to nearby feeding areas
| - Rocky points and shallow gravel areas near drop-offs, particularly on wind-swept shores
- Transition areas between deeper wintering holes and spawning grounds, especially along sharp breaks
- Emerging weed edges in 4-8 foot depths adjacent to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas and spawning grounds
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations
- Blade Baits worked through staging areas near drop-offs
| - Minnows congregating near spawning areas
- Small bluegills in emerging weed edges
- Juvenile perch in transition areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-69 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding in 6-9 foot depths around vegetation edges
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and dock areas as primary feeding zones, showing increased activity with warming water temperatures
| - Outside edges of weed lines in 6-9 feet of water
- Docks adjacent to deeper water
- Isolated patches of cabbage weeds
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly along weed edges and around docks
- Structure Jigs dragged through cabbage patches
- Bladed Jigs for covering water in stained conditions
| - Bluegill
- Young of the year baitfish
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Muskie | 55-68 | - Post-spawn muskies are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting edges of shallow vegetation and transitional areas
- Fish are making frequent movements between shallow warming bays and adjacent deeper water, especially during daily temperature fluctuations
| - Emerging weed edges in 7-12 feet, especially near cabbage and milfoil beds
- Shallow bays with lily pad growth adjacent to deeper water access
- Points and breaks near spawning areas that transition to deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along weed edges
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through emerging vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to structure breaks
| - Bluegills gathering in shallow warming areas
- Minnow schools relating to emerging weed growth
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn, dusk, and overcast conditions. The lake's low clarity (0.7m Secchi) allows for extended feeding periods into daylight hours
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations, following baitfish schools along weed edges and break lines
| - Weed edges and break lines in 8-15 foot depth range, particularly where vegetation meets drop-offs
- Secondary points and shoreline transitions adjacent to spawning areas
- Wind-swept shorelines with emerging weed growth in 4-8 foot range
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along weed edges and break lines
- Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows near structure transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods in emerging weed areas
| - Minnows concentrating around emerging weed growth
- Small bluegills in protected areas with vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
