| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 41-63 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding but location-dependent on water temperature. Fish are moving from deeper water to shallower staging areas, particularly active in the 4-10 foot range when water temperatures reach mid-40s to mid-50s.
- Males are pushing shallower first, with larger females holding slightly deeper on transition areas. Activity level increases during warming trends, with fish relating heavily to structure near spawning flats.
| - Rock piles and points adjacent to spawning flats in 9-10 foot depth
- Laydowns and wood structure in warming shallow water
- Inside turns leading to spawning areas in 5-7 foot depth
| - Bladed Jigs worked steadily through staging areas
- Structure Jigs flipped and dragged along transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly outside spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked under docks and around cover
| - Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Minnows along transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills are moving from deeper winter areas to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, following warming trends
- Fish are beginning to feed more actively as water temperatures rise, targeting emerging insects and small crustaceans near vegetation
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depths
- Secondary points near spawning flats with milfoil edges
- Dock areas providing cover and warmth in 6-10 foot depths
| - Live Bait Rigs with small plastics or live bait under slip bobbers
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly near vegetation edges
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
| - Early season aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans near vegetation
- Emerging zooplankton in warmer shallows
| - Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 41-52 | - Pre-spawn pike actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, making frequent moves between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Aggressive feeding behavior during daylight hours, especially during stable weather patterns, targeting abundant panfish in transitional areas
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 4-10 foot depth range
- Points and rock piles adjacent to spawning areas
- Laydowns and stumps near transitional areas between shallow and deep water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through transitional areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near structure
| - Bluegill concentrating in warming shallow areas
- Various panfish species gathering near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass actively moving into spawning areas, transitioning between pre-spawn staging and spawning activities with reported water temps around 68°F
- Fish relating heavily to submerged vegetation and showing aggressive protective behavior around beds
| - Submerged vegetation beds in 4-10 feet of water, particularly areas with matted grass
- Emerging lily pad fields with spawning potential
- Protected coves and bays with mixed bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and vegetation
- Grass Jigs with slow bottom contact retrieves
- Swim Jigs worked through emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas
- Perch relating to vegetation edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills moving into shallow spawning areas (4-10 ft range), establishing nests in colonies near protective cover
- Males becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial around nesting sites
- Pre-spawn feeding actively occurring near spawning areas, with fish staging in slightly deeper water
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom composition in 4-10 ft range
- Areas near milfoil edges and submerged vegetation
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially near points and ledges
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small hooks for finicky spawning fish
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked vertically through spawning colonies
| - Small insects and larvae near vegetative areas
- Zooplankton in shallow spawning zones
- Small crustaceans around weed edges
| - Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 41-55 | - Pike are actively spawning and feeding in shallow water (4-10 ft), utilizing emerging vegetation and warming shallows
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow and aggressive, taking advantage of abundant panfish forage in vegetated areas
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 4-10 foot range
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning areas
- Laydowns and stumps in shallow water
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily along weed edges
- Inline Spinners near structure and points
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Young of the year panfish in emerging weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning between spawning areas and early summer locations
- Fish are utilizing shoreline cover and secondary points, making short movements between shallow and slightly deeper water as they feed
| - Secondary points with mixed vegetation and rock, especially near spawning bays
- Submerged milfoil edges in 4-10 feet of water
- Stump fields mixed with vegetation in transition areas
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered vegetation
- Spinnerbaits around stumps and vegetation edges
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of year baitfish becoming more active
- Perch moving along weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and slightly deeper feeding zones
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between vegetation edges and nearby deeper structure
| - Milfoil edges in 8-12 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected areas between docks with submerged vegetation
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and hard bottom
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended near vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through cover
| - Aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
- Newly hatched baitfish
| - Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 55-68 | - Pike are actively feeding post-spawn, recovering energy and transitioning to early summer patterns. They are utilizing shallow to mid-depth areas with vegetation and structure for ambush feeding.
- Fish are most active during morning and evening hours, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper adjacent structure
| - Weed edges and emerging vegetation in 4-10 foot depth range
- Rock piles and points adjacent to spawning areas
- Laydowns and stumps near shallow flats
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges and over emerging vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled through ambush areas
- Inline Spinners for aggressive reaction strikes in clearer water
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow warming areas
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
- Various panfish species in transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
