| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging points, actively feeding during warming trends
- Fish moving shallower and becoming more aggressive as water temperatures reach 50°F, especially around points and grass edges
| - Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with submerged vegetation
- Northwest corner grass areas, particularly on wind-blown sections
- Grass lines adjacent to deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses between twitches in 50°F water
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through and around grass edges
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation when conditions are overcast
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent reports
- Bluegill - secondary forage evidenced by successful bait colors
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are staging near spawning areas in shallow bays and coves, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are making pre-spawn feeding pushes, especially during warm fronts, targeting abundant forage in shallow zones
- Using submerged vegetation edges and points as transition routes between deeper wintering areas and spawning locations
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation, especially on the north side of the lake which warms first
- Points and inside turns leading to spawning bays
- Submerged weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly through shallow zones
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve along weed edges
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
| - Perch concentrating in similar pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Minnows schooling in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Actively seeking shallow spawning areas near hard bottom and cover, with males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby
- Moving from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, with frequent transitions between deeper and shallow water depending on conditions
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom near submerged vegetation
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow dock areas offering spawning habitat and cover
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and bed fishing
| - Bluegill gathering in similar spawning areas
- Perch in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are moving into shallow, weedy bays and backwater areas for spawning, typically holding in 2-6 feet of water
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding, focusing on abundant forage in warming water
- Fish are more aggressive during stable weather patterns, particularly during warming trends
| - Shallow weedy bays and coves with emerging vegetation
- Protected areas near spawning locations with access to slightly deeper water
- Points and breaks adjacent to spawning bays where post-spawn fish stage
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in slightly deeper staging areas
| - Perch congregating in similar shallow areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Minnows abundant in warming shallows
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding and recovering, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are relating to both shallow cover and nearby deeper water, with active feeding periods around docks and submerged vegetation
| - Docks with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning flats
- Submerged vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) around docks and vegetation edges
- Hard Body Swimbaits targeting active fish near docks
| - Shad schools moving along dock lines
- Small minnows in and around vegetation
- Bluegill beginning to establish in vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shallow flats and emerging weed growth
- Fish are aggressive and opportunistic, making multiple passes through prime feeding areas
- Movement patterns typically follow shoreline contours and points in 5-15 foot depths
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to deeper water
- Points and coves with submerged vegetation
- Shallow flats near current-influenced ledges
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve
- Lipless Crankbaits burned over emerging vegetation
| - Perch congregating near emerging weed growth
- Bluegill moving into warming shallows
- Shad schools in transition areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
