Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are transitioning from winter locations to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Tidal influence affects positioning, with fish holding near current breaks and boulder fields
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends, particularly focused on bottom-oriented prey
| - Boulder fields in 5-15 foot depth range, especially those near deeper wintering areas
- Current breaks and eddies near river channel edges
- Rocky points and transition areas receiving sun exposure
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations in current areas
- Blade Baits for actively feeding fish near current breaks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in deeper current breaks
- Small bottom-dwelling baitfish
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter locations to spawning grounds along channel edges and near vegetation
- Feeding activity increasing with warming water temperatures, particularly during afternoon hours
- Tidal influence affecting positioning, with fish holding tighter to cover during stronger current periods
| - Grass edges meeting channel drops
- Reed lines in 3-4 foot depths
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bladed Jigs worked with stop-and-go retrieve along grass edges
- Swim Jigs worked steadily through reed lines
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around vegetation transitions
| - Minnows concentrating around emerging vegetation
- Small Perch relating to grass edges
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn Striped Bass are staging in transitional areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving with tidal flows, particularly active during moving water periods
- Schools are following shad movements in main channel edges and around structure
| - Main channel edges adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Current breaks and eddies near rocky structure
- Transition points where deeper channels meet flats
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through current breaks
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along channel edges
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') in eddies and current seams
| - American Shad making their spring run
- River Herring congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Yellow Perch in tributary mouths
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for reproduction
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods, moving between deeper staging areas and shallower feeding zones
| - River channel edges and transition points where deeper water meets shallow flats
- Rocky points and boulder-strewn areas near potential spawning grounds
- Current breaks and eddies in the estuary system where bait congregates
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges and depth transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with controlled lifts and drops
- Live Bait Rigs near rocky structure and current breaks
| - Shad concentrations in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish gathering in current breaks
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 54-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, focusing on shallow rocky flats and protected coves with ideal nesting conditions
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Feeding activity is opportunistic, with aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected rocky flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially near current breaks
- Shallow coves with boulder or gravel bottom composition
- Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats where females stage
| - Tubes worked slowly around rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations near spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting staging fish near deeper breaks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in nearby deeper water
- Small baitfish utilizing shallow spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) around vegetation and hard bottom areas, influenced by tidal movements
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increases during warming trends, with fish staging near channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
| - Protected shallow coves with matted grass and reeds
- Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Hard bottom areas near submerged vegetation in 2-6 foot range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation and spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water and targeting pre-spawn fish
- Spinnerbaits during cloudy conditions or around grass edges
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Perch around vegetation edges
- Minnows schooling in pre-spawn areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-68 | - Striped Bass are actively migrating upstream in large schools for spawning, concentrating in staging areas near current breaks and deeper channels
- Fish are aggressive and territorial during pre-spawn, with large females becoming more selective as spawning approaches
- Feeding patterns are strongly influenced by tidal movements, with most active feeding during moving water periods
| - Current breaks and eddies near primary channel edges where spawning migration routes intersect
- Rocky structure and boulder fields that create current breaks in 8-15 foot depths
- Tributary mouth confluences where multiple current seams merge
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked with the current to imitate migrating shad
- Umbrella Rigs for targeting actively feeding schools
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') in current breaks and eddies
| - Adult Shad making spawning runs
- Resident Herring schools
- Small Striped Bass (for larger predators)
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning grounds, concentrating around hard-bottom areas and river channel edges with moderate current
- Fish are staging in pre-spawn locations during early spring, then becoming highly active during spawning with peak movement occurring during low-light periods
| - River-lake transition areas with rocky substrate and moderate current
- Hard-bottom areas near channel edges in 8-15 feet of water
- Shallow gravel or boulder-strewn points and flats
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
| - Shad concentrating in spawning areas and channel edges
- Small baitfish gathering in warming shallow waters
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth zones, particularly around current breaks and structure due to post-spawn recovery period
- Showing aggressive surface-oriented feeding patterns, especially during optimal conditions as evidenced by topwater success
| - Boulder fields and rocky structure in current breaks
- River channel edges with tidal influence
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water where shad are present
| - Hard Body Swimbaits worked parallel to structure
- Hard Topwater (Popping) during calm periods and early/late day
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for imitating prevalent shad
| - Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports)
- Bluegill (indicated by successful bait patterns)
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy after spawning
- Fish are moving between shallow and mid-depth areas, influenced by tidal movements and forage location
- More aggressive feeding during stable weather, especially during morning and evening tide changes
| - Grass edges and submerged vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with matted grass and reed lines
| - Swim Jigs worked parallel to grass lines
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with erratic action near vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through submerged grass
- Spinnerbaits around channel edges during tidal movement
| - Bluegill gathering near shallow vegetation
- Perch along channel edges
- Minnows schooling in tidal current areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn Striped Bass are actively feeding to recover energy, following tidal movements and targeting bait schools in transition zones
- Fish are utilizing current breaks and structure as ambush points, particularly during stronger tidal flows
| - Current-swept points and channel edges where tidal flows concentrate baitfish
- Boulder fields and rock structure creating current breaks
- Deep water transition zones near spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked with the current to imitate struggling shad
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around structure during stronger tidal flows
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding fish in open water
| - American Shad making their spawning runs
- River Herring schools in tidal zones
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are transitioning from spawning areas to feeding zones, actively pursuing prey during dawn/dusk periods
- Fish are staging along depth changes and current breaks, becoming more aggressive as they replenish energy
| - River-lake transition areas with current breaks and ledges
- Submerged vegetation edges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Boulder fields and hard-bottom areas near depth changes
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Shad congregating in transitional areas
- Young of the year baitfish emerging in vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|