| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are transitioning to spawning areas, actively feeding while staging near shallow mud flats and future lily pad fields
- Fish are showing mixed behavior patterns - some actively feeding, others beginning to focus on spawning activities
- Bass are relating heavily to large schools of bluegill and other panfish in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Shallow mud flats adjacent to future lily pad fields
- Areas with fresh weed growth in 5-10 foot depth range
- Protected shallow bays with warming water
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieve to trigger reaction strikes
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through staging areas
- Hard Jerkbaits targeting more active fish near emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill in large schools
- Mixed panfish species
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-55 | - Pike are moving into shallow spawning areas and staging locations, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Aggressive feeding behavior in preparation for spawning, particularly targeting larger prey items in areas with good ambush cover
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially near deeper water access
- Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning bays
- Areas where new vegetation growth is starting, particularly in 3-8 foot depths
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves near spawning areas
- Inline Spinners in shallow bays where pike are staging
| - Bluegills congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Other panfish species moving shallow
- Baitfish schools transitioning to warmer shallow water
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills are transitioning from deeper winter areas to warmer, shallower zones, staging near spawning areas
- Fish are actively feeding on emerging invertebrates and zooplankton, often suspending in the water column near weed edges
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Transition areas between winter deep water and shallow spawning flats
- Deep weed edges in 10-15 foot range, especially near points or breaks
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet below surface near emerging weeds
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small ice fishing jigs worked slowly
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or euro larvae for finicky fish
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Zooplankton concentrations in the water column
- Small invertebrates near developing weed growth
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass moving into shallow protected areas and mud flats for spawning, with pre-spawn staging occurring near future lily pad fields
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between spawning areas and nearby deeper water staging zones
- Feeding activity intermittent but aggressive when protecting spawning areas
| - Protected shallow mud flats and future lily pad fields (2-4 feet deep)
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water (5-8 feet)
- Irregular shoreline pockets protected from wind
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning flats
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for cruising pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill concentrations near spawning areas
- Small baitfish schools in transition zones
- Crawfish emerging in shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-55 | - Pike are actively spawning in shallow bays and backwater areas with emerging vegetation, typically immediately post-ice out
- Post-spawn pike remain shallow and aggressive, feeding heavily to recover from spawning activity
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning areas in 6-10 feet
- Points and cuts leading into spawning bays
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves parallel to weed edges
- Spinnerbaits worked around emerging vegetation and points
| - Spawning suckers and other rough fish
- Bluegills congregating in shallow bays
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill and panfish moving into shallow, warmer bays seeking spawning areas, typically in 2-6 feet of water
- Males actively guarding nesting colonies, becoming more aggressive and territorial
- Groups staging near shoreline vegetation and protected areas before and after spawning
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near weed growth
- Areas between docks with sparse vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked horizontally through staging areas
| - Small insects and larvae
- Zooplankton
- Small aquatic invertebrates
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 66-77 | - Bass actively feeding on bluegill schools suspended near weed edges, positioning themselves below bait pods for ambush opportunities
- Fish showing mixed depth patterns - some relating to shallow vegetation while others suspending near deep weed edges as water warms
| - Weed edges where vegetation meets deeper water, especially areas with suspended bluegill schools
- Wind-blown weed edges with active baitfish
- Holes and pockets in emerging vegetation/slop
| - Drop Shot - most consistent producer when worked through suspended bluegill schools
- Swim Jigs - effective on wind-blown weed edges and for covering water
- Texas Rigs - successful when pitched to holes in vegetation and through bait schools
| - Bluegill - primary forage evidenced by multiple reports
- General Baitfish - noted in schools near weed edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting abundant panfish near emerging weed growth
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones (5-15 feet) where visibility is optimal in the stained water
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to spawning bays where pike stage for recovery feeding
- Points and inside turns of weed growth in 8-12 foot depth range
- Shallow bays with developing vegetation where panfish congregate
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves through transitional areas
- Inline Spinners in shallow bays during morning and evening periods
| - Bluegill congregating near developing weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
- Smaller pike and yellow perch
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper transition areas
- Fish are frequently suspending near weed edges to feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates during warming spring conditions
| - Weed edges in 10-15 foot depth range, especially where they intersect with points or bays
- Shallow bays with emerging weed growth in 5-8 foot range
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper weed edges
| - Live Bait Rigs with small ice fishing jigs under slip bobbers, worked slowly through the water column
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs tipped with plastics
- Hover/Mid-Strolling with micro presentations around weed edges
| - Zooplankton and small aquatic insects
- Small invertebrates near weed growth
- Emerging aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
