| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak feeding during afternoon warming periods
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays, particularly those with submerged vegetation in 5-8 ft range
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation, especially near deeper water access
- Docks with deep water access, providing staging areas near potential spawning zones
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around dock areas and vegetation edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill moving shallow with warming trends
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water areas to warming shallows, staging near transition areas between 8-15 feet
- Fish are becoming more active but still relatively lethargic, preferring slower presentations and responding to bottom-oriented baits
- Feeding activity increases during sunny afternoon periods when water temperatures rise
| - Rock piles and rocky points adjacent to deeper wintering areas
- Transitional areas where rocks meet emerging weed growth in 6-8 foot range
- Protected bays with dark bottoms that warm faster
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom near rock transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses
- Ned Rigs dragged slowly on bottom structure
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transitional areas
- Juvenile bluegills near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are transitioning from winter areas to spawning locations, actively feeding during low-light periods and moving along shoreline breaks
- Fish are staging near spawning areas but making feeding movements to adjacent structures during warming trends
| - Reed edges in 4-9 feet adjacent to deeper water
- Sharp breaks and points leading to spawning areas
- Wind-swept shorelines with rock or gravel substrate
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lift-drop presentations
- Blade Baits worked with subtle snaps near bottom
| - Perch concentrating near spawning areas
- Small minnows utilizing shallow water warming trends
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-65 | - Pre-spawn and spawning behavior with fish moving shallow and staging near spawning areas
- Males actively guarding nests in 1-2 ft water around hard bottom areas and vegetation
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends, especially around shad in shallow areas
| - Rocky bank shores in 1-2 ft of water
- Reed beds and emergent vegetation in shallow water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to banks
| - Shad moving shallow with warming water
- Bluegill beginning to move to spawning areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near rock and gravel, with pre-spawn staging on adjacent drop-offs
- Males are establishing and guarding nests, while females move between shallow spawning flats and deeper staging areas
- Feeding activity is heightened during pre-spawn, with aggressive territorial behavior during spawn
| - Rock and gravel flats in 2-8 foot range, especially where they meet weed edges
- Protected bays and coves with hard bottom composition
- Secondary points and drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations near spawning flats
- Hard Jerkbaits suspended over staging areas
| - Crayfish emerging from winter shelter
- Small bluegills near developing weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements during low light periods
- Fish transitioning between deeper wintering areas and shallow spawning grounds, utilizing break-lines as migration routes
- Males arriving first and staying longer in spawning areas, with females moving in during optimal temperature periods
| - Reed edges in 4-9 feet of water adjacent to spawning areas
- Sharp break-lines connecting winter areas to spawning grounds
- Rocky points and humps near shallow bays
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Blade Baits worked with short hops on break-lines
| - Small perch in shallow water areas
- Minnows concentrating near spawning areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper transition zones
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, establishing patterns along weed edges and near shallow cover
- Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer locations, making frequent feeding moves during prime morning and evening periods
| - Weed edges and inside turns at 5-8 foot depth range where submerged vegetation meets deeper water
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and access to deeper water
- Dock areas with adjacent vegetation, especially those near spawning bays
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges, allowing for coverage of multiple depth zones
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dock posts and vegetated pockets
- Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically around vegetation transitions
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow vegetation and around docks
- Crawfish active in the warming shallows
- Young shad beginning to school in protected areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting rocky areas and transitional zones between 6-12 feet
- Fish are establishing summer feeding patterns, becoming more structure-oriented and responding well to both bottom and suspended presentations
| - Rock piles and submerged vegetation interfaces in 6-8 foot range
- Points and inside turns of bays where rock meets vegetation
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Drop Shot worked along rock-to-weed transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses near structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky bottom
- Ned Rigs worked slowly through transitional areas
| - Crayfish emerging and active on rocky substrate
- Bluegills moving shallow for spawning activity
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 50-67 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, actively feeding during low light and wind-influenced conditions
- Fish relating strongly to emerging weed edges and wind-blown structure, particularly active during periods of increased wind
| - Weed edges in 8-14 feet adjacent to deeper water
- Reed edges in 4-9 feet of water
- Wind-blown points with access to deeper water
| - Live bait rigs with leeches under bobbers, especially effective in low light conditions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked along reed edges and points
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') during windy conditions
| - Minnows concentrated around emerging weed growth
- Shad relating to wind-blown areas
- Young-of-year perch beginning to emerge in vegetated areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
