| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, actively patrolling the edges of reefs and rocky flats in preparation for spawning
- Fish are making frequent movements between slightly deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats, becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise
| - Edges of reefs adjacent to spawning flats in 2-5 feet of water
- Rocky flats with scattered boulders in shallow water
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses along reef edges
- Drop Shot with subtle movements near rocky structure
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky flats
| - Cisco/Whitefish
- Small Yellow Perch
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Muskie | 45-58 | - Pre-spawn muskies are beginning to move from winter deep water refuges to warming shallow bays and staging areas near spawning locations
- Fish are becoming more active but still relatively lethargic, preferring slower-moving presentations
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends and around primary forage movements
| - Reed bed edges adjacent to deeper water transitions
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially on north-facing shorelines that warm first
- Rocky points and boulder areas intersecting with pre-spawn migration routes
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along transition areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved at moderate speeds parallel to reed edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around emerging vegetation
| - Shallow-moving suckers preparing for spawn
- Smallmouth bass in transitional areas
- Ciscoes schooling in suspended patterns
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-53 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making predictable movements from deeper wintering areas to shallow rocky areas as water temperatures rise
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods, with increased daytime activity due to spring's cooler water temperatures and reproductive urgency
- Aggressive feeding behavior to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly responsive to larger profile baits
| - Rock points and reefs in 8-15 foot depths, especially those with adjacent deeper water
- Shallow boulder areas near spawning sites, particularly those with nearby reed beds
- Transition areas where rock structure meets sand, especially in 6-12 foot depths
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rock-to-sand transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lifts and long pauses
- Blade Baits worked with subtle hops near bottom structure
| - Cisco/Whitefish moving shallow for early spring patterns
- Small perch utilizing rocky areas
- Minnows concentrating near spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 54-62 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawning mode, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning flats with rock and boulder habitat
- Fish are actively feeding on cisco/whitefish in between spawning activities, suggesting periodic feeding moves to slightly deeper water
| - Boulder-strewn spawning flats in 2-5 feet of water
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning areas serving as transition zones
- Deeper boulder fields in 8-15 feet serving as pre-spawn staging areas
| - Drop Shot with light line for clear water finesse presentation
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around boulders and spawning areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
| - Cisco/Whitefish - primary forage noted in spring reports
- Small crayfish becoming more active as water warms
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Muskie | 53-62 | - Staging in shallow bays and reed beds near deep water transitions, preparing for and engaging in spawning activities
- Most active during warmer afternoons when water temperatures rise slightly
- Post-spawn females will move to adjacent deeper water to recover while males guard nesting areas
| - Reed beds adjacent to deeper water transitions (8-15 feet)
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Rocky points near spawning bays serving as transition areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Spinnerbaits
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
| - Shallow-oriented baitfish schools
- Young-of-year perch
- Smaller pike
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 45-55 | - Walleye are actively spawning or in pre-spawn pattern, concentrating around rocky structure in moderate depths with 53°F water temperature
- Fish are most active during lower light periods due to moderate water clarity (14ft Secchi), moving shallower during dawn/dusk
| - Rock points in 10-19 foot depth range, particularly those with nearby spawning areas
- Rocky reefs and boulder areas adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow reed beds near sand and rock during low light periods
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing rock reefs and west shore areas during overcast and windy conditions
- Fish are responding well to both active and finesse presentations, suggesting a mix of aggressive and neutral feeding behavior
| - Large rock reefs, particularly prominent offshore structures
- Wind-blown shorelines with rock and boulder structure
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around rock structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations in clear water
- Spinnerbaits on wind-blown shorelines
| - Ciscoes/Whitefish in open water
- Smaller baitfish around rock structures
- Early season crawfish emerging from rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Muskie | 55-65 | - Post-spawn muskies are recovering and beginning to actively feed, typically holding in transitional areas between spawning bays and summer haunts
- Fish are primarily utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones (8-15 feet) where they can easily access both warmer shallows and cooler adjacent depths
| - Reed bed edges adjacent to deeper water drops, particularly where they interface with rock structure
- Points and inside turns with mixed vegetation and rock in 8-15 foot depth range
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along reed edges and through transition areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved at moderate speeds parallel to structure breaks
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') along habitat transitions and point breaks
| - Shallow-oriented baitfish schools beginning to group up
- Smallmouth Bass in rocky areas
- Young-of-year perch beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively recovering and beginning to feed, transitioning from spawning areas to early-season feeding locations
- Fish are most active during lower light periods due to moderate water clarity (4.3m Secchi), particularly around dawn and dusk
- Movement patterns show fish utilizing both shallow and mid-depth structure as they establish early season feeding patterns
| - Rocky points and reefs in 8-15 foot depth range, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow weed-rock transitions near spawning areas
- Sand-reed edges in protected bays where water warms first
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rock-to-sand transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows on wind-blown structure
| - Spot-tail Shiners gathering for spawn
- Small Perch in shallow weeds
- Cisco/Whitefish suspended in deeper water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
