| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 43-66 | - Pre-spawn bass staging near drop-offs adjacent to shallow spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish moving between deeper staging areas (8-12 feet) and shallow feeding zones (3-6 feet), especially during warmer periods
| - Matted weeds in 4-6 feet near drop-offs to 12-14 feet
- Docks with adjacent deep water access
- Submerged vegetation edges near depth transitions
| - Hard Jerkbaits with short twitches and longer pauses
- Bladed Jigs worked along depth transitions
- Texas Rigs with creature baits around docks and vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrated in shallow vegetation
- Insects becoming more active in warming water
- Crappie in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 43-52 | - Pike are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawning
- Most active during warmer parts of day, using ledges and drops as transitional zones
- Aggressive feeding behavior targeting bluegill and crappie in shallow warming areas
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation and lily pad stems in 2-4 feet
- Ledges and drops transitioning from 4-6 feet to 12-14 feet
- Protected coves with emerging weeds near deeper water access
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly along weed edges and ledges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near transition areas
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill gathering in warming shallow areas
- Crappie schools moving toward spawning areas
- Young of year panfish in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 45-65 | - Bluegill are transitioning from winter patterns to more active feeding, moving into shallower water as temperatures rise
- Fish are staging near spawning areas but not yet on beds, concentrating around emerging vegetation in 4-6 feet
| - Edges of emerging weed growth in 4-6 feet of water
- Protected coves with warming water temperatures
- Ledges transitioning from 6 to 12 feet near spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with small ice jigs under slip bobbers
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around emerging vegetation
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked vertically with small plastics
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from winter dormancy
- Tiny crustaceans in the emerging vegetation
- Small minnows congregating near warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 66-73 | - Fish transitioning between pre-spawn staging and spawning, with larger bass still holding in deeper water (based on recent reports) while some smaller fish moving shallow
- Active feeding periods near vegetation edges and ledges, especially where deep water access is available
| - Deeper weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Ledges and drop-offs in 10-15 foot range
- Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation
| - Bladed Jigs worked around deeper weeds
- Lipless Crankbaits with yo-yo retrieve off bottom
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for shallow fish
| - Bluegill concentrating near vegetation
- Crappie in deeper transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 43-55 | - Pike are in spawning mode, moving into shallow areas with vegetation and seeking out warmer water temperatures for egg laying and fertilization
- Post-spawn fish remain relatively shallow and become increasingly aggressive feeders, using ledges as transition zones
| - Shallow weedy areas with lily pads and reeds for spawning
- Ledges transitioning from 4-6 feet to 12-14 feet
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Inline Spinners worked parallel to weed edges and across points
- Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along ledges
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow areas
- Crappie moving shallow for their own spawn
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-75 | - Bluegill males moving into shallow zones (2-6 feet) to establish spawning beds near vegetation and docks
- Pre-spawn females staging in slightly deeper water (6-12 feet) near drop-offs, moving shallow periodically to feed
| - Shallow flats with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet
- Dock areas with adjacent vegetation
- Ledges transitioning from 4-6 feet to 12-14 feet where females stage
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended at specific depths
- Live Bait Rigs with light line for finesse presentation
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small aquatic worms
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 70-76 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning to summer patterns, actively feeding but dispersing from spawning areas to deeper structure
- Fish are showing preference for feeding zones near vegetation edges and dock areas, particularly during afternoon hours
- Bass are relating heavily to bottom structure in 10-12 feet of water, suggesting a pattern of holding deep and moving shallow to feed
| - Docks with access to deeper water, especially on the south side of the lake
- Weed edges and ledges in 10-12 foot depth range
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly those with submerged vegetation
| - Wacky Rigs and Neko Rigs worked slowly around structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) near vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation
| - Bluegill (primary forage based on multiple reports)
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting abundant panfish in shallow to mid-depth areas
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and ledges as primary ambush points, particularly during morning and evening feeding periods
| - Weed edges and emerging vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
- Ledges and drops transitioning from 4-6 feet to 12-14 feet
- Shallow areas with lily pads and reeds, especially near deeper water access
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges and through scattered vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slowly retrieved along depth transitions
- Inline Spinners near emerging vegetation and shallow cover
| - Bluegill congregating near shallow vegetation
- Crappie schools moving between shallow and mid-depth areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to slightly deeper vegetation edges and dock areas
- Fish are typically most active during morning and evening hours, moving between vegetation and nearby deeper water
| - Weed edges in 4-6 feet of water, particularly where matted vegetation meets deeper water
- Dock areas adjacent to deeper water drops of 12-14 feet
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation near deeper water access
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended just above weed tops
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along weed edges and depth transitions
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in and around weed beds
- Small minnows gathering around dock areas
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
