Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are actively transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging on adjacent structure and actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are showing increased aggression and feeding activity with warming trends, particularly targeting bluegill and shad in relatively shallow water as evidenced by recent catches
| - Submerged vegetation adjacent to potential spawning flats, as confirmed by multiple recent fishing reports
- Rock piles and laydowns in transition areas, particularly those providing ambush points for feeding
- Main lake points and creek channels leading to spawning bays, especially with available cover
| - Spinnerbaits worked around cover, particularly effective as shown in multiple recent reports
- Wacky Rigs worked in and around vegetation, proven successful in recent catches
- Lipless Crankbaits parallel to shoreline structure, demonstrated effective in current reports
| - Bluegill, primary forage target as shown in most recent fishing reports
- Shad, secondary forage pattern emerging based on fishing reports
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are staging near spawning areas and actively feeding to build energy reserves. The relatively turbid water (1.5m Secchi) allows for increased daytime activity.
- Fish are making transitional movements from winter areas to spawning locations, often following structural elements like points and rock piles
| - Rock piles and boulder areas in 8-15 foot depth range, particularly near spawning areas
- Wind-swept main lake points with hard bottom composition
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along rocky structure edges
- Lipless Crankbaits with slow, steady retrieves parallel to structural elements
- Live Bait Rigs using slow-moving presentations near bottom
| - Shad concentrations in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure
- Bottom-dwelling prey like young-of-year perch
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 47-58 | - Crappie are staging in pre-spawn locations, gradually moving from deeper winter haunts toward spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods due to moderate water clarity, with feeding increasing on warmer days
| - Brush piles and standing timber adjacent to spawning flats in 8-12 foot depth
- Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 6-10 foot depth
- Deep edges of submerged vegetation near potential spawning areas
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Small bluegill around brush and vegetation
- Various small minnows gathering near spawning areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 55-65 | - Catfish are becoming more active as water temperatures rise, moving from winter deep water locations to transitional areas near spawning flats
- Feeding activity increases during this pre-spawn period, with fish actively searching for protein-rich meals in preparation for spawning
- Most active during low-light periods, but will feed during day in the stained water conditions
| - Rocky points and ledges adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Brush piles in 10-12 foot range, especially those near channel swings
- Woody cover areas like laydowns and standing timber near deeper water access
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or whole shad positioned near structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') working brush piles and timber
- Carolina Rigs dragged along rocky transitions and points
| - Shad schools congregating near structure
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Perch relating to woody cover and rock piles
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-65 | - Bass actively moving into shallow staging areas and spawning flats, relating heavily to shoreline cover and structure as evidenced by recent skipping presentations
- Feeding actively on both crawfish and perch in shallow zones, particularly around timber and brush
| - Standing timber and brush piles in shallow water, especially those close to spawning flats
- Windblown banks with adjacent ledges as noted in recent fishing success
- Protected shallow coves with complex shoreline features, indicated by high shoreline development index
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly near cover, matching recent successful reports
- Structure Jigs skipped under overhanging cover and along windblown banks
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with slow retrieval around standing timber
| - Crawfish actively moving in shallow areas during spring warm-up
- Perch in and around shallow cover and timber
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye moving into shallow rock and gravel areas (2-8 feet) for spawning, particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
- Post-spawn females transitioning to nearby drop-offs and points (8-15 feet) to recover while males guard nests
- Feeding activity increases on warmer days, especially in wind-swept areas with current
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 2-8 foot depth range
- Current-swept areas near spawning locations
- Adjacent drop-offs in 8-15 foot range for staging/recovery
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Blade Baits worked slowly through staging areas
| - Smaller shad concentrating in spawning areas
- Crayfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Small panfish in shallow warming bays
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Crappie are transitioning to spawning mode, actively moving into shallow areas near hard bottom and woody cover when water temperatures approach 58-65°F
- Fish are becoming more aggressive in feeding patterns during pre-spawn, particularly during dawn and dusk periods in the stained water conditions
| - Rock piles in shallow water, particularly those near spawning flats
- Brush piles and standing timber in 6-10 foot depth range
- Protected coves with hard bottom structure
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish moving into shallower water (8-15 feet) to spawn, particularly around hard bottom areas and rock piles
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage in nearby deeper water
- Increased daytime activity due to spawning behavior and moderate turbidity
| - Rock piles and ledges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Brush piles near spawning areas in 10-12 foot depth
- Areas where laydowns intersect with hard bottom structure
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around structure
| | - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn bass are recovering from spawning while transitioning to summer patterns, actively feeding to regain energy
- Fish are moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper water, especially during daily feeding windows at dawn/dusk
| - Laydowns and matted grass adjacent to deeper water access
- Points and creek channels in 8-12 foot range near spawning flats
- Brush piles positioned on channel swings in 10-12 foot depth
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline cover
- Swim Jigs around vegetation edges and through scattered grass
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for mimicking shad
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting laydowns and matted grass
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn patterns
- Bluegill moving shallow to begin their spawning phase
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 58-68 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing rock structures and points in 12-18 foot depth range
- Fish are showing both bottom-oriented and suspended feeding patterns, with increased daytime activity due to turbid conditions
| - Rock piles and boulder areas in 12-18 feet of water
- Main lake points with hard bottom composition
- Transition areas near ledges where shad are present
| - Drop Shot with soft plastics, working deliberately along rock structures
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along points and transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for suspended fish
| - Shad - primary forage based on reports
- Small bottom-dwelling prey near rock structures
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, typically staging near brush piles and standing timber in 8-12 foot depths
- Fish are actively feeding to recover energy from spawn, with peak activity during morning and evening hours due to the moderate water clarity
| - Brush piles and standing timber adjacent to spawning flats in 8-12 foot depths
- Edges of submerged vegetation where it meets deeper water
- Secondary points with woody cover near spawning coves
| - Crappie Spider Rigging - enables effective depth control and coverage of brush piles
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) - perfect for covering water and finding active fish
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - effective when fish are holding tight to cover
| - Shad - primary forage as they school up in post-spawn patterns
- Bluegill - abundant near brush piles and vegetation
- Small sunfish and juvenile yellow perch in the vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, following baitfish schools
| - Rock piles and ledges in 10-15 foot depth range near spawning areas
- Brush piles in 10-12 foot depth range with nearby deep water access
- Submerged vegetation edges where baitfish congregate
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live shad
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Texas Rigs (Worming) near structure
| - Shad schools moving into post-spawn patterns
- Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Young of year perch becoming more active
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|