| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleyes are most active during low light periods at sunrise and sunset, as confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Fish are staging in pre-spawn locations near spawning areas, utilizing rip rap and other shallow structure
- Feeding activity is concentrated in shallow zones, with fish actively pursuing minnows
| - Rip rap areas, especially those near spawning locations
- Shallow rock and gravel points in 6-8 feet
- Protected bays with firm bottom adjacent to deeper water
| - Bobbers with live bait, particularly effective during prime feeding windows
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows
| - Minnows, primary forage confirmed by recent reports
- Small perch in shallow areas
- Juvenile shad in warmer bays
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn yellow perch are actively feeding and schooling, moving from deeper winter holding areas to shallower warming bays and structures
- Fish are becoming more active but still relatively concentrated, using their lateral line sense in the turbid conditions to locate prey
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially near deep water access
- Rock piles and reefs in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transition areas between hard bottom structure and softer bottom
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Small crustaceans near bottom structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye moving into shallow areas (2-8 feet) near spawning grounds, particularly around rocky or gravel areas
- Post-spawn fish gradually transitioning to feeding areas, becoming more active as water warms
- Males staying shallow and active longer than females, which move to recovery areas after spawning
| - Shallow rocky points and gravel areas in 2-6 feet for spawning
- Weed edges in 6-8 feet for post-spawn recovery
- Protected bays with gradual slopes for staging areas
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly near bottom
| - Small minnows in shallow areas
- Young perch near weed edges
- Insects and larvae in rocky areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 45-52 | - Moving into shallow bays and protected areas (2-8 feet) for spawning, actively feeding during warming trends
- Congregating in large schools near spawning areas, particularly around emerging vegetation and firm bottom
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation and firm bottom
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Rock piles and reefs in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small presentations
- Bobbers with small jigs near vegetation
| - Small invertebrates and insect larvae
- Newly hatched baitfish
- Small crayfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-62 | - Actively feeding on shallow weed edges during post-spawn recovery phase
- Moving between shallow feeding areas and adjacent deeper water throughout the day
| - Shallow weed edges in 6-8 feet of water
- Protected bays with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning areas
| - Bobbers with 1/16 oz jigs and live bait
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Live Bait Rigs
| | - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 48-62 | - Post-spawn perch are actively feeding to recover energy, forming loose schools in transitional areas between spawning grounds and summer habitat
- Fish are particularly active during morning and evening hours, moving between deeper sanctuaries and shallow feeding zones
| - Weed edges and emerging vegetation in 8-15 foot depths
- Rock piles and reefs adjacent to spawning bays
- Points and structure transitions between shallow and deep water
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Tubes
| - Small invertebrates and insects near emerging vegetation
- Small minnows and young-of-year fish
- Aquatic insect larvae
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
