Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are showing increased activity with warming trends, relating strongly to early vegetation growth and hard structure like rocks and docks
| - Submerged vegetation areas, especially where early growth is emerging
- Dock systems providing vertical structure and shade
- Rocky areas adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked with bottom contact near vegetation and rocks
- Swim Jigs around emerging vegetation and dock areas
- Drop Shot for a more finesse approach when fish are less aggressive
| - Bluegill concentrating around emerging vegetation
- Shad schools in slightly deeper water
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water locations to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding on crawfish in rocky areas
- Fish becoming more active with warming temperatures, making frequent feeding movements along rocky structure edges
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in transitional depths (8-15 feet)
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats
- Hard-bottom areas with scattered rock and gravel
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom with subtle hops
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near rocky structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped through boulder fields
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 45-62 | - Pike are transitioning to shallow spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are utilizing shoreline structure and newly emerging vegetation as ambush points
- Most active during early morning and late afternoon, particularly on sunny days
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation
- Dock areas providing shade and ambush points
- Rock piles adjacent to spawning areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along dock edges and emerging weed lines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near structure
- Bladed Jigs with erratic retrieves mimicking injured prey
| - Perch gathering in similar shallow areas
- Small panfish moving into warming shallows
- Baitfish schools transitioning to shoreline areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 45-58 | - Pre-spawn walleye actively feeding while transitioning to spawning areas, particularly around hard structure like rip rap
- Fish are staging in moderate depths, making feeding moves into shallower areas during low light periods
| - Rip rap areas, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
- Rocky points and emerging weed edges
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper staging areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along structure
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near bottom
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Largemouth bass transitioning to spawning behavior, with males preparing beds in protected areas while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
- Active feeding periods during pre-spawn, targeting alewife and other baitfish around ledges and emerging vegetation
| - Ledges adjacent to spawning flats, particularly those with emerging vegetation
- Protected shallow areas near docks for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Blade Baits worked along ledges to target pre-spawn fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) paired with swim heads
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for fish moving into spawning areas
| - Alewife - primary forage based on recent reports
- Bluegill - starting to become more active in shallows
- Perch - frequently found around emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively seeking spawning areas in shallow rocky areas and transitional banks, making frequent movements between staging and spawning locations
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, defending nesting sites and responding to sight-based threats
| - Rocky shorelines and boulder fields in 2-6 feet of water with nearby deeper water access
- Protected bays with gravel or rock bottom substrate
- Rock piles and humps adjacent to spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky bottom areas
- Drop Shot with smaller profile baits for sight fishing bedding bass
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water between spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small shad schools in transitional areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 55-65 | - Pike are actively feeding in shallow areas during spring warming period, particularly around dock structures and emerging vegetation
- Fish are exhibiting aggressive striking behavior toward flash and vibration presentations, targeting perch in ambush locations
| - Docks and surrounding shallow areas with emerging vegetation
- Protected coves and points offering ambush locations
- Weed edges and rock piles in transitional depths
| - Bladed Jigs worked with steady retrieve near structure
- Spinnerbaits parallel to dock edges
- Inline Spinners in shallow feeding zones
| - Perch
- Small panfish
- Young-of-year baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 45-60 | - Actively seeking out spawning areas near rip rap and rocky shorelines in 45-60°F water
- Moving between pre-spawn staging areas and shallow spawning locations, particularly active during dawn and dusk
- Utilizing emerging vegetation edges as transition routes and feeding zones
| - Rip rap areas and rocky shorelines in 3-8 feet of water
- Drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats (8-15 feet)
- Areas where emerging vegetation meets harder bottom
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lifts and drops
- Blade Baits worked through pre-spawn staging areas
| - Perch concentrating near spawning areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper adjacent water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning from bedding areas to early summer patterns, showing aggressive feeding behavior on various forage
- Fish are actively using both shallow cover and adjacent drop-offs, with some still defending beds in very shallow water
| - Docks providing overhead cover and shade lines
- Isolated weed patches and rock piles
- Shallow drop-offs near spawning flats
| - Structure Jigs skipped under docks
- Swim Jigs worked through scattered vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) around transitions
| - Perch moving through scattered vegetation
- Crawfish active around dock pilings and rock piles
- Bluegill beginning to establish in shallow areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting both crawfish and shad in moderate depths
- Moving between deeper structure and transitional areas, establishing summer patterns
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper structure
- Main lake points with access to deep water
| - Drop Shot with soft plastic minnow imitations worked slowly
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through suspended fish
| - Crawfish emerging from rocky areas
- Shad schools in open water adjacent to structure
- Small perch around rock piles
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 55-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, patrolling shallow weed edges and dock areas for perch
- Fish are moving between shallower and deeper water based on daily temperature fluctuations, using weed lines as travel corridors
| - Shallow weed edges near docks with access to deeper water
- Rock piles adjacent to emerging weed growth
- Protected coves with developing vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to dock edges and weed lines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieval near structure
- Bladed Jigs burned through shallow areas with vegetation
| - Perch actively moving in shallow areas
- Various minnow species gathering around new weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer locations
- Relating strongly to emerging weed growth and hard structure for both rest and feeding opportunities
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas adjacent to spawning flats, particularly in 8-15 foot depth range
- Emerging weed edges near drop-offs, especially where vegetation meets harder bottom
- Points and ledges with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieves near structure
| - Perch actively moving in shallow to mid-depth ranges
- Shad schools beginning to form in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|