| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower flats and staging points, particularly focusing on areas adjacent to potential spawning locations
| - Rock piles and boulders in 5-10 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Weed-to-rock transition areas in 4-8 foot depths
- Protected coves and points with good sun exposure
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transition areas
- Bladed Jigs along weed edges and over rock
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are beginning to stage near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Most active during low-light periods and overcast days due to stained water conditions (3.6ft visibility)
- Fish are moving from winter deep holes to shallower transitional areas
| - Rock points and rocky shorelines adjacent to deeper water
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning areas
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel substrate
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Blade Baits
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegills in deeper transitions
- Juvenile perch schools
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Fish are in pre-spawn to spawning phases, with males guarding nests in shallow areas and females staging nearby
- Activity levels increasing with warming temperatures, showing aggressive responses to prey around spawning areas
| - Points adjacent to spawning flats, particularly those with mixed rock and vegetation
- Submerged vegetation in 4-10 foot range, especially weed edges
- Protected shallow coves with hard bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation and spawning areas
- Swim Jigs along weed edges and through sparse vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked parallel to spawning areas and points
| - Bluegill
- Smaller bass and panfish
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, moving into shallow rocky areas during low light conditions
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with most aggressive feeding during dawn and dusk due to low water clarity
- Males arrive first and stay longer on spawning grounds, while females move in and out quickly
| - Rocky points and shallow gravel areas near shoreline, especially on wind-blown shores
- Transition areas between rock and weed edges in 4-8 feet of water
- Protected bays with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during prime feeding periods
- Jigs tipped with minnows, worked with subtle movements
| - Minnows congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Small crayfish becoming active with warming water
- Young of year bluegills in shallow protected areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Fish are actively feeding along weed edges, particularly early morning, targeting bluegill and minnows as primary forage
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones (5-15 feet) as they recover from spawn, using points and vegetation as transition areas
| - Outside weed edges in 4-10 foot depth range
- Points with access to deeper water
- Rock-to-weed transition areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked through weed edges
- Ned Rigs on points and harder bottom areas
- Swim Jigs along weed edges
| - Bluegill concentrated along weed edges
- Minnows in open water near points
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-65 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn/dusk periods due to the stained water conditions (3.6ft clarity)
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, following the forage base along structure breaks
| - Rock piles and points adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Deep weed edges forming along main lake structure
- Wind-blown shorelines with complex structure, especially near deeper water access
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along breaks and structure edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieves parallel to structure
- Jig and minnow combinations bounced along bottom structure
| - Small minnows gathering along emerging weed edges
- Young-of-year bluegills beginning to emerge in warmer shallows
- Baitfish schools relocating to post-spawn areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
