| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn Northern Pike moving into shallow weedy bays and reed beds, staging for spawning with increased feeding activity
- Aggressive feeding behavior during daylight hours as pike prepare for spawning, particularly active during stable weather patterns
| - Shallow weedy bays with emerging vegetation, especially near deeper water access
- Reed beds in 2-6 feet of water, particularly those adjacent to points or channel edges
- Rocky points with nearby spawning habitat, serving as migration routes
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation and around reed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily at medium-slow speeds
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows positioned near spawning areas
| - Large Minnows congregating in warming shallows
- Young-of-year Perch in weed edges
- Small Suckers moving into spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Moving from winter deep water locations to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
- Transitioning between depths throughout the day based on sun and temperature changes, generally more active during warmer afternoon periods
| - Rocky points and transitions adjacent to spawning bays, especially those with deep water access
- Protected bays with gravel or small boulder bottom composition
- Secondary points with mixed rock and emerging weed growth
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky structure
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses
| - Baitfish schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Emerging crayfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-52 | - Pike are moving into shallow, weedy bays and backwater areas with warmer water for spawning
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to aggressive feeding behavior near spawning areas
| - Shallow reed beds and vegetation in protected bays (2-6 feet deep)
- Transition areas between spawning bays and deeper water
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows near spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily along edges of vegetation
| - Spawning suckers and other rough fish
- Resident minnow populations
- Young of year panfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats, moving between deeper wintering areas and spawning sites
- Males actively searching for and preparing nest sites in protected areas with hard bottom
- Feeding actively but opportunistically during nest preparation and spawning phases
| - Protected rocky bays with gravel or small boulder bottom composition
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with mixed rock and gravel
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged through potential spawning areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing bedding fish
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in warming shallows
- Juvenile perch near rocky structures
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 48-62 | - Post-spawn pike actively feeding to recover energy, making frequent shallow water feeding runs
- Fish transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer locations, utilizing weed edges and points
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to spawning bays
- Rocky points with access to deeper water
- Reed beds in 3-8 feet of water
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near structure
- Inline Spinners in shallow feeding areas
| - Shallow water minnows gathering near emerging vegetation
- Young-of-year panfish in warming bays
- Suckers completing their spring spawning runs
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth transitioning from nesting areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow rocky areas and nearby deeper structures as they follow baitfish schools
- Aggressive feeding periods during stable weather, with movement to protected bays during frontal passages
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays with 5-15 foot depth transitions
- Boulder-strewn shorelines with access to deeper water
- Protected bays with emerging weed growth near deeper water access
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves parallel to rocky shorelines
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near deeper structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky transitions
| - Minnows/Baitfish schools moving along shoreline breaks
- Emerging crayfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Small perch relating to newly growing vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
