Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Staging in slightly deeper water (12-18 feet) near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
- Moving between brush piles and fish cribs during feeding periods, beginning transition to shallower water as temperatures rise
| - Brush piles and fish cribs in 12-18 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with gradual slopes leading to spawning bays
- Deeper edges of emerging weed growth in 8-12 foot range
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Early season insects and larvae
- Young of year perch
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
- Purple Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-55 | - Bass are in pre-spawn mode, staging on drop-offs near eventual spawning areas, actively feeding but still temperature dependent
- Fish are transitioning from winter patterns, becoming more active with warming trends and showing increased reaction to moving baits
| - 8-12 foot drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with access to deeper water
- Humps near spawning bays with good bluegill presence
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in 8-12 foot range
- Spinnerbaits slow-rolled along depth transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through staging areas
| - Bluegill congregating near emerging weed growth
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Beginning to feed more aggressively as metabolism increases, targeting concentrated bait schools
| - Deep water transitions adjacent to spawning flats (8-15 feet)
- Man-made fish cribs and brush piles in 10-22 foot range
- Rocky points and shorelines leading to spawning areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Drop Shot with light line in clear water around structure
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through staging areas
| - Bluegill concentrations near structure
- Small baitfish schools in transitional areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones based on water temperature and light conditions
- Feeding activity increases during low light periods, with fish more active in shallower water during dawn and dusk
- Fish transitioning between wintering areas and spawning grounds, using structural elements like points and breaks as migration routes
| - Sandy areas with rocks in shallow water (potential spawning sites)
- 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs serving as migration routes
- Points and structure edges adjacent to spawning areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along breaks and points
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near staging areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') during low light periods
| - Small baitfish (predominantly minnows)
- Young-of-year panfish
- Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-72 | - Crappie actively staging for spawn, transitioning between pre-spawn staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Fish relating heavily to structure, particularly fish cribs and brush, while preparing for spawning activity
- Showing increased feeding activity with warming water temperatures, responding well to both vertical and pitched presentations
| - Fish cribs in 10-22 foot range serving as pre-spawn staging areas
- Shallow protected areas with structure for active spawning
- Transitional areas between deep cribs and shallow spawning zones
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') over fish cribs located with electronics
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) pitched to shallow areas
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for spawning fish
| - Small baitfish in 2-3 inch range
- Aquatic insects becoming more active in warming water
| - Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass transitioning to spawning areas in 2-6 foot depths, particularly in protected coves and areas with firm bottom
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between staging areas and spawning flats
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes more territorial during actual spawn
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Adjacent drop-offs in 8-12 foot range for staging areas
- Weed edges near spawning flats serving as transition zones
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Soft Jerkbaits
- Wacky Rigs
| - Bluegill are primary forage during this period
- Small baitfish relating to warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-62 | - Actively spawning in shallow water (1-6 feet) on sandy/rocky bottom areas when water temperatures reach high 50s to low 60s
- Males guarding nests aggressively, making them territorial and more likely to strike defensive baits
| - Sandy flats with scattered rocks in 1-6 feet of water
- Protected shallow bays with hard bottom
- Transition areas near spawning flats where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Drop Shot with light worms worked slowly across spawning beds
- Tubes dragged slowly on bottom in spawning areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through potential spawning zones
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bottom-dwelling prey fish
| - Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are actively staging and moving into shallow spawning areas with hard bottom and rock, particularly in 2-8 foot depths during nighttime and low light periods
- Fish transition between spawning areas and slightly deeper water (8-12 feet) during post-spawn recovery, using drops and breaks as migration routes
| - Sandy areas with rocks in shallow water, particularly near shoreline points for spawning
- 8-12 foot drops and breaks adjacent to spawning areas
- Protected areas near points with access to deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
- Blade Baits worked methodically through staging areas
| - Small perch gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Minnows concentrated around rocky areas and transitions
- Young-of-year panfish beginning to emerge in shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-72 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer habitat, suspending near brush piles and fish cribs in 10-15 foot depth ranges
- Fish are actively feeding to recover from spawn, showing increased interest in small baitfish patterns and responding well to both aggressive and finesse presentations
| - Brush piles and fish cribs positioned in 10-15 foot depths, especially those near spawning flats
- Secondary points and channel swings with access to deeper water
- Deeper weed edges forming in 8-10 foot depths with nearby deeper water access
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) with small swimbaits to cover water and locate active fish
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around identified brush piles and cribs
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) when fish are more scattered during feeding periods
| - Small baitfish and juvenile perch
- Aquatic insects and larvae
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding along weed edges and transitions, recovering energy after spawning
- Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior with multiple strikes reported on swimbaits
- Bass utilizing 8-12 foot drops as primary feeding zones with movement between shallow and mid-depth areas
| - Weed edges in 8-12 foot range, especially where they intersect with depth changes
- Points and humps with emerging vegetation
- Man-made structure (fish cribs and brush piles) in 10-22 foot range serving as recovery areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along weed edges and transitions
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges for actively feeding fish
| - Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, moving from shallow spawning areas to transitional structure in 8-15 foot depth range
- Fish are utilizing man-made structure like fish cribs and brush piles as primary holding areas, making feeding forays to nearby flats
| - Fish cribs and brush piles in 10-22 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with mixed rock and sand near deeper water
- Dock areas providing shade and ambush points
| - Drop Shot with small finesse baits worked slowly around structure
- Ned Rigs dragged along transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper structure
- Tubes worked through rocky areas and near brush piles
| - Bluegill concentrating around dock areas and shallow structure
- Small baitfish relating to brush piles and cribs
- Crayfish becoming more active on rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 46-68 | - Post-spawn walleye recovering in moderate depth transitions, actively feeding during low light periods due to 3.1m Secchi clarity
- Fish utilizing weed edges and man-made cribs as ambush points, particularly active during dawn and dusk
- Moving along 8-12 foot breaks and points during feeding periods, following baitfish schools
| - 8-12 foot breaks near spawning areas for post-spawn recovery
- Submerged fish cribs in 10-22 foot range
- Weed edges adjacent to deeper water
- Points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along breaks and transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around cribs and structure
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along weed edges and points
- Lipless Crankbaits parallel to emerging weed growth
| - Crappie and Bluegill concentrations
- Young of the year perch
- Minnow species relating to newly establishing weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|