Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are actively transitioning to shallow staging areas near spawning flats, responding to warming water temperatures in the low 60s
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on both crawfish and bluegill, particularly around wood cover and flooded brush
| - Laydowns and wood cover adjacent to spawning bays with deep water access
- Flooded brush in shallow water areas
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around wood cover
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled with speed variations
- Spinnerbaits worked near shallow cover
| - Crawfish actively moving in warming shallows
- Bluegill congregating near brush and wood cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to pre-spawn patterns, actively feeding while moving from winter areas to spawning locations, particularly utilizing rip rap areas for their temperature-holding properties
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior in shallow to mid-depth ranges, especially around hard structure, taking advantage of increasing shad activity
| - Rip rap banks, particularly those receiving sun exposure for warmth
- Rocky points and transition areas near spawning flats
- Dam structure with hard bottom composition
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along rip rap and rocky structure
- Lipless Crankbaits around transition areas
- Bladed Jigs for stained water conditions
| - Shad gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are relating to emerging vegetation and woody cover in 3-8 foot depths, with increased activity during warm afternoon periods
| - Shallow coves with emerging vegetation and woody cover in 3-8 foot depths
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with submerged brush or stumps
- Protected areas near laydowns and flooded brush where water warms quickly
| - Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects under bobbers, worked slowly around cover
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked vertically through brush and wood cover
| - Small insects and larvae becoming active in warming shallows
- Small crustaceans around woody cover and vegetation
- Newly hatched fry and smaller baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn Northern Pike are aggressively feeding while staging near spawning areas, making frequent moves between slightly deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Fish are more active during daylight hours due to turbid conditions (1.1m Secchi), and are actively pursuing prey along structure edges and in shallow water
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near the dike road edges
- Laydowns and flooded brush in 2-6 feet of water
- Distinct edges where deeper water meets shallow flats
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to structure edges and through scattered cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled near staging areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily in shallow spawning bays
| - Bluegill concentrated in shallow cover
- Shad schools moving along structure edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are in spawning mode with water temperatures at 60°F, actively moving between staging areas and spawning flats
- Fish showing preference for slow presentations as evidenced by success with dead-sticking techniques
| - Laydowns and woody cover in spawning pockets, particularly important as noted in recent fishing reports
- Protected coves and points with mixed rock and sand bottom for spawning
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water staging areas
| - Ned Rigs worked with dead-stick presentation, proven effective in recent reports
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and wood cover
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on sand and rock transitions
| - Bluegill, as confirmed in recent fishing reports
- Crawfish becoming active in warming water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, with pre-spawn fish actively feeding and staging near spawning flats
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, particularly around rocky structure and rip rap areas
| - Rocky areas and rip rap near spawning flats
- Transition areas between deeper water and shallow spawning flats
- Dam structure offering stable spawning habitat
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to spawning areas
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish on spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively seeking spawning areas in shallow bays and coves, typically in 2-4 feet of water near vegetation and woody cover
- Males aggressively guarding nests, making them more likely to strike at small baits that come near their territory
| - Protected shallow bays with mix of vegetation and woody cover
- Areas near laydowns and flooded brush in 2-4 feet of water
- Shallow coves with firm bottom near emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-3 feet deep
- Live Bait Rigs with small hooks and light line
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small minnows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Northern Pike are staging in pre-spawn areas and moving into shallow spawning bays with water temperatures rising. Fish are aggressive and territorial during this period.
- Due to the turbid water conditions (1.1m Secchi), pike are active during daylight hours and hunting primarily by sight at close range.
| - Shallow bays with flooded brush and matted vegetation near the dike road
- Edges between deeper water and spawning flats
- Areas with laydowns and stumps in 2-6 feet of water
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along structure edges and through shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily through spawning areas
- Inline Spinners worked near visible cover and vegetation edges
| - Bluegill concentrated in shallow spawning bays
- Shad schools moving along structure edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Bass becoming more aggressive but still relating to shallow to mid-depth structure
- Most active during morning and evening hours, seeking shade during bright periods
| - Secondary points and flats adjacent to spawning areas
- Laydowns and woody cover in 4-8 foot depth range
- Emerging weed edges where early summer vegetation is developing
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to developing weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) around laydowns and woody cover
- Swim Jigs through sparse vegetation
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas near developing vegetation
- Crawfish active in areas with woody cover
- Small baitfish moving into warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding on crawfish around rocky structure
- Fish are becoming more aggressive in their feeding habits as they recover from the spawn, particularly during morning and evening periods
| - Rocky shorelines with boulder structure in 4-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel
- Dam structure areas with riprap
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly along rocky structure
- Ned Rigs dragged through boulder fields
- Tubes bounced along rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from rocky areas
- Shad schools around points and dam structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 60-68 | - Post-spawn bluegill are actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth zones, recovering energy and seeking abundant food sources near vegetation and woody cover
- Fish are establishing daily patterns moving between feeding areas and resting spots, with peak activity during morning and evening hours
| - Edges of vegetation patches in 3-6 foot depths, especially near woody cover
- Shallow coves with mixed vegetation and brush
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation adjacent to slightly deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly near vegetation edges
- Bobbers with small jigs suspended at 2-4 feet
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through vegetation gaps
| - Small insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Small crustaceans active in vegetation
- Newly hatched minnows starting to appear
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Northern Pike are actively feeding in post-spawn period, utilizing ambush points along structural edges and stumps
- Pike are hunting in the mid-water column around defined edges, particularly during daylight hours due to turbid conditions
| - Edges and stumps along the dike road
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Points and irregular shoreline features that create ambush zones
| - Spinnerbaits worked along structure edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) parallel to ambush points
- Hard Jerkbaits worked around stump fields
| - Bluegill in shallow areas
- Shad schools along structure edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|