Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish moving from winter deep water refuges to transitional structure, following warming trends
- Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding windows extending during stable weather
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with hard bottom composition
- Transition areas where deep water meets the first significant break into shallower water
- Rock and gravel areas near sandy points with sparse vegetation
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on hard bottom areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around rocky points
| - Perch gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
- Crayfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements to shallow flats
- Fish becoming more active during low-light periods, moving shallower to feed
| - Rocky points and shorelines adjacent to spawning areas
- Shallow sand flats with emerging vegetation in 4-8 feet
- Transition areas between deep water and spawning flats
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Blade Baits
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Bottom-dwelling prey like small crayfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Crappies are staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from deeper wintering locations toward shallow spawning zones, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more active during warming trends, typically feeding most actively during mid-morning and afternoon periods when water temperatures peak
| - Secondary points and creek channels adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with brush piles or woody cover in 8-15 foot depth range
- Deeper dock areas near spawning coves, particularly those with 12-20 feet of water
- Transitions between sparse weed edges and deeper water, especially near areas with sand grass
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Small minnows concentrated near staging areas
- Young-of-year baitfish schools in slightly deeper water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter depths to shallow staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are feeding opportunistically to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warmer afternoon periods
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow brush piles and downed trees in 4-8 foot depth range
- Sand grass areas on shallow flats with sparse vegetation
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation and over sand grass
- Bladed Jigs around brush piles and wood cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along channel swings
| - Young-of-year baitfish schools
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegills near brush piles
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, moving from deeper winter locations to shallower flats and protected bays where they'll establish nesting sites
- Males are actively patrolling and preparing nest sites in harder bottom areas, while females stage slightly deeper nearby
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as water temperatures rise, making them more likely to strike out of instinct rather than hunger
| - Sandy or gravel flats near points in 4-8 foot depth range with good sun exposure
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition adjacent to deeper water
- Areas around docks that provide both cover and suitable spawning substrate
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along potential spawning flats
- Tubes dragged and hopped through spawning areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing identified beds
| - Perch - primary forage based on fall patterns and habitat type
- Small Crayfish - becoming more active as waters warm
- Juvenile Baitfish - starting to emerge in warmer shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly sand/gravel flats with sparse vegetation in less than 10ft of water
- Fish are staging in pods, indicating pre and post-spawn congregations near spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases during low light periods, with fish more active in shallow water during overcast conditions or dawn/dusk
| - Sand flats with sparse grass in 6-10 feet of water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and slightly deeper water
- Protected bays with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations
- Bobbers worked methodically over spawning flats
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Leeches
- Small Perch
- Native Minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies are in active spawning mode, concentrating in shallow areas near cover for spawning activities
- Fish are sight-feeding in the moderate clarity water (14ft visibility), primarily targeting minnows around structure
| - Shallow downed trees and brush piles in 2-6 feet of water
- Areas with sparse weed growth near spawning flats
- Protected coves and points with woody cover
| - Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through shallow cover
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around visible structure
- Bobbers with small jigs suspended near cover
| - Small minnows
- Young-of-year baitfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) near docks, brush piles, and sparse weed edges, with males establishing and guarding nests
- Pre-spawn feeding activity is high as fish prepare for spawning, with aggressive responses to moving baits during warming trends
| - Protected shallow bays with sparse weeds and sand grass near dock areas
- Shallow brush piles and downed trees in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with mixed vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and dock posts
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning areas and through sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over potential spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging in warming shallows
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
- Small bluegill and juvenile panfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing both shallow and mid-depth zones, making frequent moves between recovery areas and feeding zones
| - Hard bottom transition areas adjacent to spawning flats, particularly near points and offshore structure
- Dock areas with deep water access, especially those near spawning bays
- Rock-sand transitions near drop-offs in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky points and hard bottom areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through suspended fish
| - Perch (primary forage based on fall patterns and habitat type)
- Small baitfish schools transitioning to summer patterns
- Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 58-68 | - Fish are actively feeding in pods on shallow flats, particularly around sand grass and sparse weed areas in less than 10ft of water
- Post-spawn walleyes are transitioning from spawning to early summer patterns, with increased feeding activity during wind-blown conditions
| - Shallow flats (5-10ft) with sand grass and sparse weed growth
- Wind-blown points and transition areas adjacent to spawning grounds
- Secondary break lines in 15-20ft where fish stage between shallow feeding periods
| - Bobbers with leeches, using weighted setups for proper bait control in wind
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitions between weeds and sand
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) cast to located fish pods
| - Leeches - actively being targeted by walleye based on recent success
- Young-of-year perch beginning to emerge in weed areas
- Minnows gathering in shallow grass areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, suspending near drop-offs and moving to deeper structure
- Actively feeding on young-of-year baitfish and minnows, forming loose schools around structure
| - Deeper brush piles adjacent to spawning flats (8-15 feet)
- Points and drop-offs near shallow spawning coves
- Dock edges with depth transitions
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
| - Young-of-year baitfish schools
- Small minnows
- Small aquatic insects
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding to recover energy, moving from spawning flats to nearby feeding areas
- Fish transitioning between shallow and moderate depths, following warming water patterns
- Establishing summer feeding patterns near structure and cover, becoming more aggressive
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with mixed vegetation
- Docks with brush or woody cover in 5-15 feet of water
- Shallow flats with sand grass transitioning to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation and near structure
- Spinnerbaits parallel to dock lines and over grass edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along transition areas
| - Young-of-year baitfish schools beginning to form
- Recovering post-spawn bluegills and crappie
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|