| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to shallower transition zones
- Actively feeding during low-light periods, especially around points and shallow flats
- Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with females preparing for spawn
| - Wind-swept points with rocky substrate
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
- Tributary mouths and current areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along transition areas
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near bottom
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with jigs and minnows
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Young-of-year perch in transitional areas
- Shiners moving to spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
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| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-50 | - Walleye are moving into shallow areas (2-6 feet) with hard bottom or gravel for spawning, particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
- Males arrive first and stay longer in spawning areas, while females move in briefly to deposit eggs and return to slightly deeper water
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines with good current flow
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Protected bays with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Blade Baits worked with slow, vertical presentations
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily near bottom
| - Small Minnows
- Young of Year Perch
- Small Shiners
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn and dusk periods, with increased activity during cloudy conditions
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, following forage and relating to emerging weed growth
| - Transition areas between spawning bays and main lake points, particularly where emerging vegetation meets deeper water
- Rocky points and shoreline areas adjacent to deeper water, especially on wind-blown shores
- Submerged vegetation edges in 8-10 foot depth range where clarity allows light penetration
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas and emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieves parallel to structure
- Jig and Minnow combinations bounced along bottom structure
| - Perch moving into emerging weed growth
- Small minnows congregating around newly establishing vegetation
- Juvenile baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|