Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Pre-spawn bass are staging near spawning flats, making transitional movements from winter areas to shallower water as temperatures rise
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive, feeding heavily to prepare for spawning
- Bass utilizing channel edges and points as migration routes to spawning areas
| - Outside weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Channel edges and points near shallow coves
- Laydowns and timber in 5-10 feet of water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked parallel to weed edges and over transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs around timber and emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along channel edges
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Alewife schools in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to staging areas, actively seeking warmer water in preparation for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive in their feeding patterns as water temperatures rise, moving up to shallower structure during warm periods
| - Main lake points adjacent to deep water, especially those with rock or gravel substrate
- Secondary points in major creek arms where migration routes to spawning areas exist
- Steep breaks and drop-offs near potential spawning flats
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky points
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over suspended fish
| - Alewife suspending in the water column
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky substrate
- Small perch along transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Chain Pickerel | 48-58 | - Chain pickerel are transitioning from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are aggressively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly targeting alewife and other baitfish along weed edges and channels
| - Weed edges in 8-15 foot depth range where emerging vegetation meets deeper water
- Irregular shoreline features and points that create ambush areas
- Defined channels and transitions where winter holding areas meet spawning flats
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves parallel to weed edges
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved just above emerging vegetation
- Inline Spinners worked at varying speeds to trigger reaction strikes
| - Alewife schooling in pre-spawn transition areas
- Yellow Perch moving along weed edges
- Small panfish species in emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Trout | 42-55 | - Trout are transitioning from winter deep-water patterns to shallower pre-spawn locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, following baitfish schools (primarily alewife) and relating to structure transitions
| - Main lake points adjacent to deep water, especially those with defined weed edges
- Steep contour breaks and drop-offs in 15-25 foot range
- Submerged vegetation edges where warming occurs first
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over structure transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along drop-offs
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') targeting suspended fish following baitfish
| - Alewife schools moving from winter deep water to pre-spawn staging areas
- Small aquatic invertebrates becoming active in warming shallows
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge in vegetation edges
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass are in spawn/pre-spawn mode, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Fish are showing preference for shade and cover, particularly around cattails and timber, as evidenced by recent catches
- Bass are responding well to both falling baits and twitching presentations, suggesting active feeding despite spawning period
| - Cattails and timber areas in flooded zones, especially on the south end
- Outside weed lines adjacent to drop-offs
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Structure Jigs flipped to heavy cover like cattails and timber
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with pause-twitch cadence along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for penetrating thick cover
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Alewife moving along weed edges and points
- Crawfish becoming active in shallow rocky areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning behavior, moving from deeper winter areas to shallower spawning locations near structural elements
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, showing particular interest in baitfish patterns as evidenced by the success of swimbaits
| - Submerged laydowns in pre-spawn staging areas, particularly those near potential spawning flats
- Main lake points with access to both deep and shallow water
- Areas with submerged vegetation in 15-20ft range serving as transition zones
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked with slow rolling retrieves near structure
- Ned Rigs worked along transition areas between deeper water and spawning flats
- Drop Shot targeting suspended fish near structural elements
| - Smelt and other pelagic baitfish
- Alewife schools in transition areas
- Small crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Chain Pickerel | 48-62 | - Chain pickerel actively moving into shallow spawning areas near weed edges and channels, showing increased aggression and territorial behavior
- Fish staging in pre-spawn locations near deeper weed edges (15-20ft) before moving shallow, especially during early spring cold fronts
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
- Weed edges along channels where the 15-20 foot depth range intersects with the shoreline
- Irregular shoreline features providing ambush points in 5-10 foot depth
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically along weed edges and through spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed growth
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through scattered vegetation
| - Alewife gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Yellow Perch in shared habitat zones
- Various small panfish species moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Trout | 42-52 | - Trout are actively moving into shallow spawning areas near shore, particularly around gravel or rocky areas with good water flow
- Fish are more aggressive and territorial during spawning, with increased shallow water activity during early morning and late evening
| - Shallow gravel or rocky areas near points and shoreline breaks
- Defined weed edges in 8-15 foot depth adjacent to spawning areas
- Main lake points with access to deeper water for temperature refuge
| - Inline Spinners worked parallel to shoreline structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved slowly near spawning areas
- Hard Jerkbaits suspended over transitional areas
| - Alewife concentrations in transitional areas
- Small baitfish near weed edges
- Insects and invertebrates in shallow spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating heavily to submerged vegetation edges, showing increased feeding activity as water temperatures stabilize in the mid-60s
| - Outside edges of submerged weed lines in 8-15 feet of water
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation near spawning flats
- Transitional areas near timber and laydowns with proximity to deeper water
| - Wacky Rigs worked with a slow fall along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through scattered vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked parallel to weed edges
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Alewife schools moving along weed edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively recovering and feeding, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing the lake's numerous points and drop-offs as migration routes, stopping to feed at structure along the way
| - Main lake points with access to both shallow and deep water
- Submerged vegetation edges in 15-20ft range
- Rocky areas and drop-offs near spawning flats
| - Drop Shot worked along deep weed edges and points
- Tubes dragged along rocky transition areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and finding active fish
| - Alewife suspending near structure
- Small crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Various juvenile baitfish in and around vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Chain Pickerel | 55-68 | - Chain pickerel are highly active post-spawn, aggressively feeding to recover energy along weed edges and channels
- Fish are utilizing ambush points along irregular shoreline features and defined weed edges for hunting
| - Weed edges in 15-20 foot depth range where vegetation meets deeper water
- Irregular shoreline features and points with submerged vegetation
- Defined channels between weed beds where baitfish movement is concentrated
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically along weed edges
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through channels
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
| - Alewife gathering in schools near weed edges
- Yellow Perch transitioning to deeper weed edges
- Small panfish species around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Trout | 48-58 | - Post-spawn trout are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow and mid-depth zones based on daily temperature fluctuations
- Fish are following alewife schools and utilizing weed edges and points as ambush locations
- Most active during early morning and evening hours, moving shallower during these periods
| - Defined weed edges in 15-25 foot depth range
- Main lake points with access to deep water
- Submerged vegetation zones near drop-offs
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with staggered depths to locate active fish
- Inline Spinners worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for imitating alewife
| - Alewife schools moving along depth breaks
- Small invertebrates in weed edges
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|