| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Lake Trout | 38-48 | - Lake trout actively feeding in pre-spawn period, moving between deep water sanctuaries and transitional zones as they prepare for spawning
- Fish following cisco and whitefish schools, using structural elements like points and humps as ambush locations
- More aggressive feeding behavior during early morning and late evening, particularly in areas where baitfish schools concentrate
| - Deep water shelves and transitions zones between 30-50 feet
- Underwater humps and points that connect to deep water basins
- Rocky shoreline areas with quick access to deeper water
| - Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+)
- Trolling Deep (20'+)
- Tubes
- Spoons
| - Ciscoes
- Whitefish
- Small Lake Trout
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallow spawning flats, staging on adjacent structure
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Moving along migration routes that connect deep wintering areas to spawning locations
| - Rock piles and boulder fields adjacent to potential spawning flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Main lake points with good sun exposure and gradual slopes
- Protected bays with hard bottom and scattered rock
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along transitional structure
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses over rock piles
- Tubes dragged slowly on bottom near staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Cisco schools in deeper water adjacent to staging areas
- Small perch near rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Lake Trout | 38-48 | - Lake trout are transitioning from winter deep-water patterns to shallower spawning areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawning activities
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, making them more likely to chase and strike moving baits
- Schools of lake trout will be congregating around spawning areas, particularly near rocky structures and drop-offs
| - Rocky points and shelves adjacent to deeper water, particularly in 20-35 foot depth range
- Underwater humps with gravel or rock substrate
- Transitional areas between deep basins and shallow flats
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with large profile baits to cover water and locate active fish
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') once schools are located
- Spoons worked aggressively to trigger reaction strikes
| - Ciscoes congregating in transitional depths
- Whitefish schools in slightly deeper water
- Smaller lake trout (cannibalistic feeding)
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Moving shallow (2-12 feet) to stage for spawning, with males preparing and guarding nests while females periodically move up from slightly deeper water
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, particularly on firm, rocky bottom areas protected from heavy wind
| - Protected rocky bays and coves with gravel or boulder bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow rock piles adjacent to deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom near spawning areas
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle hops around nesting sites
- Soft Jerkbaits for fish staging slightly deeper
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch and juvenile baitfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Lake Trout | 42-52 | - Lake trout actively feeding in cooler water temperatures, transitioning from winter deep water patterns to more moderate depths as they recover from spawning
- Fish following cisco and whitefish schools along transitional zones between deep basins and structural elements
| - Transitional shelves between deep basins (30-50ft) and shallow flats
- Underwater humps and points adjacent to deep water
- Rocky shoreline areas with quick access to deeper water
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19')
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Tubes
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, actively feeding but still relatively shallow
- Most aggressive during early morning and evening hours, using points and rocky areas as primary feeding zones
- Moving between shallow feeding areas (8-15 feet) and slightly deeper transition areas (15-25 feet) throughout the day
| - Main lake points with boulder transitions to deeper water
- Rocky shorelines adjacent to post-spawn bays
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 feet
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with aggressive twitches followed by long pauses
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on points and rocky flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch and juvenile baitfish
- Pelagic baitfish (ciscoes) in open water areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
