| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-69 | - Bass are actively feeding in pre-spawn pattern, moving from winter depths to warming shallow areas with new weed growth
- Fish are staging near submerged vegetation in 7-10 foot depth range, making frequent feeding moves to shallower areas
| - New weed growth areas in 7-10 feet of water
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with emerging vegetation
- Protected coves with warming water and early vegetation growth
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Ned Rigs worked along weed edges
- Bladed Jigs around sparse vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrating around new weed growth
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge in warming shallows
| - Pink Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 40-55 | - Moving into shallow spawning areas (1-2 ft) near docks and vegetation, staging in slightly deeper water (4-6 ft) between feeding periods
- Beginning pre-spawn setup with some early spawners, actively feeding on small baitfish around structure
| - Docks with submerged branches and dead milfoil in 1-2 ft depth
- Channel edges dropping from shallow to 6 ft depth
- Submerged vegetation in protected areas
| - Drop Shot with light tackle in shallow dock areas
- Bobbers suspended at 1-2 ft around vegetation
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to cover
| - Small Sunfish
- Minnows
- Small Bass
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near spawning areas and becoming more active with warming water temperatures
- Fish are transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallower feeding zones, especially during low light periods in the stained water
| - Rocky points and gravel areas near spawning locations in 8-15 feet
- Drop-offs adjacent to shallow flats in 15-20 feet
- Shallow mud flats warming earliest in 5-10 feet
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') during peak activity periods
| - Small minnows congregating near spawning areas
- Emerging crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-78 | - Bass actively moving into spawning areas and staging near shallow cover, particularly around docks and vegetation
- Fish showing aggressive territorial behavior, defending nesting areas and responding to sight-based presentations
- Feeding activity concentrated in warmer water areas, especially near bluegill concentrations
| - Docks with adjacent cattails in shallow water
- Channel areas with vegetation and cover
- Protected shallow coves with hard bottom
| - Frogs/Toads worked slowly around cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with weightless Senkos
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) near bluegill concentrations
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 42-62 | - Crappies are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning zones, actively staging in 4-8 feet before moving to 1-2 feet for spawning
- Males are becoming aggressive and territorial as they prepare and guard nesting sites, while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation in 1-2 feet for active spawning
- Staging areas near points and channels in 4-8 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Docks providing shade and cover near spawning areas
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations to visible beds
- Crappie Dock Shooting for targeting fish using dock cover
| - Small sunfish fry emerging in spawning areas
- Minnows congregating near spawning zones
- Small insects and larvae active in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Males stage on shallow gravel and rock areas (2-6 feet) while females hold in slightly deeper adjacent zones (8-12 feet)
- Post-spawn females quickly transition to nearby drop-offs for recovery
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods due to turbid conditions (1.1m secchi)
| - Rocky points and gravel areas in 2-8 feet of water
- Adjacent drop-offs in 12-15 feet for staging females
- Protected bays with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly near spawning areas
| - Minnows concentrated in spawning areas
- Small crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Young of year panfish in protected bays
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-76 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding but showing finicky behavior, requiring slower presentations as noted in multiple reports. Fish are scattered across different depth zones from shallow (5ft) to moderate depths (14-16ft), typically relating to vegetation.
- Bass are utilizing shade during warmer parts of the day, particularly around docks and thick vegetation, while feeding more actively in vegetation zones during morning and evening.
| - Submerged vegetation patches in 12-14 feet, particularly isolated grass patches and early-growing milfoil
- Shaded docks with good pitch skipping access
- Points with vegetation in 14-16 foot range
| - Drop Shot worked slowly around vegetation patches
- Wacky Rigs skipped under docks and worked in shaded areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around emerging vegetation in 7-10 feet
| - Bluegill, particularly around vegetation and dock areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in vegetation zones
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, suspending near cover in 8-14 feet of water
- Fish are actively feeding to recover energy after spawning, primarily targeting small baitfish and insects around weedlines and dock edges
| - Weedline edges in 8-14 feet of water, especially near points or channel swings
- Dock areas with access to deeper water
- Suspended brush piles near deep water access
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weedlines and channel edges
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') for suspended fish near structure
| - Small baitfish/minnows
- Aquatic insects
- Young-of-year sunfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, with peak activity during low-light periods due to the turbid water conditions (1.1m Secchi)
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer locations, following defined break lines and relating to emerging weed growth
| - Secondary points and drop-offs adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Early-forming weed edges, particularly near points and inside turns of the complex shoreline
- Wind-blown shorelines with rocky or gravel substrate in 5-12 feet
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along break lines and bottom transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods along developing weed edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows or soft plastics on wind-blown structure
| - Minnows concentrated near developing weed growth and shallow structure
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms
- Small perch in shallow bays and along emerging weed edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
