Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to shallow staging areas, becoming more active with warming water
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly targeting crawfish in rocky areas
| - Rock piles and rip rap in 5-7 foot depth range where crawfish are abundant
- Transition areas between winter deep water and spawning flats
- Dam structures with good sun exposure for early warming
| - Tubes worked slowly along rock structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
- Football Jigs dragged through rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 55-68 | - During pre-spawn spring, catfish begin transitioning from winter holding areas to shallower spawning locations, becoming more active with warming water
- Feeding activity increases significantly during dawn and dusk, with fish moving along channel edges and near structure to ambush prey
| - Deep holes near dam structures transitioning to adjacent flats
- Rock piles and rip rap areas where water is beginning to warm
- Channel edges near submerged vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Minnows along channel edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye are staging near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for the spawn. Fish are making gradual movements from deeper wintering areas toward shallow spawning grounds, particularly along the old river channel.
- Most active during low-light periods (dawn/dusk), congregating near current breaks and rocky structures that will later serve as spawning sites
| - Rocky areas near dam structures with current breaks
- Deep river channel edges adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Rock piles and hard-bottom transitions in 8-15 foot depths
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges and near rocky structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle movements
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near staging areas
| - Shad concentrations in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small minnows near rocky structure
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Sauger | 45-55 | - Actively staging near dam areas and current breaks during pre-spawn, feeding opportunistically on shad
- Fish holding at mid-depth ranges (10-19 feet) near structure, moving up and down in the water column based on forage movement
| - Dam areas with current breaks and deeper holes
- River channel edges near hard bottom structure
- Rock piles adjacent to deeper water
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Blade Baits
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Shad
- Small Bottom-Dwelling Baitfish
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Spawning phase smallmouth bass are actively establishing and guarding nests in shallow rocky areas, with males becoming increasingly territorial
- Fish are making frequent transitions between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, with water temperature of 70°F indicating peak spawning activity
| - Rock piles in 5-7 foot depth range, particularly those near spawning flats
- Rocky shorelines and rip-rap areas with direct access to slightly deeper water
- Protected coves with gravel or rock bottom composition
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentation, working slowly along rock structure
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near spawning areas
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky bottom
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish are transitioning to spawning behavior, moving from deeper winter holes to shallower spawning areas near rocky structure and riprap
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods, with increased daytime activity as water warms
- Males beginning to prepare and guard nest sites in cavities near structure
| - Rock piles and riprap areas near dam structures, especially in 5-7 foot depth range
- Channel edges where they meet submerged vegetation
- Deeper holes adjacent to spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with slip sinkers for bottom presentation
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill in shallow areas
- Minnows gathering near spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye actively moving to spawning areas near dams and rock structures with current breaks
- Fish congregating in pre-spawn staging areas along river channel edges before moving shallow
- Post-spawn fish transitioning back to deeper water, following baitfish movements
| - Dam areas with current breaks and rocky substrate
- River channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock piles in 5-7 foot depths
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges and current breaks
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near rocky spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with hair jigs around dam structures
| - Minnows concentrating in pre-spawn areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper water
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Sauger | 45-55 | - Sauger are staging in pre-spawn areas near dams and current breaks, actively feeding before spawning
- Fish are concentrating along hard bottom areas and river channel edges, often schooling in predictable locations
| - Dam areas and associated current breaks where pre-spawn fish stage
- River channel edges with rock piles, particularly in 10-19 foot depths
- Hard bottom staging areas near deeper wintering holes
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Blade Baits
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Shad schools concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bottom-dwelling baitfish near rock piles
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, primarily targeting crawfish and baitfish in moderate depths
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, utilizing rock piles and rip rap as primary feeding zones
| - Rock piles and rip rap in 5-7 foot depth range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper summer haunts
- Dam structures with good rock content
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along rock transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools forming in moderate depths
- Young of year prey fish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 65-80 | - Post-spawn catfish actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn, dusk, and night hours
- Moving between deeper holding areas (near dam structures) and shallower feeding zones along channel edges
- Showing increased aggression towards prey, especially around structure and current breaks
| - Deep holes near dam structures (10-15 feet) adjacent to shallow feeding flats
- Rock piles and rip rap areas, especially where they meet channel edges
- Current breaks near submerged vegetation in 5-7 foot range
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow, bottom-focused presentation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along structure edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near rock piles and dam structures
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Minnows along channel edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing river channels and current breaks near dams as primary feeding zones
- Fish are becoming more active during daytime hours, with reports showing increased activity after noon
- Moving between deeper holding areas and shallower feeding zones, following baitfish movements
| - River channel edges and current breaks, particularly near dam areas
- Rocky structures and rock piles adjacent to deeper water
- Transition areas between shallow and deep water where baitfish congregate
| - Blade Baits worked along channel edges and current breaks
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near rock structures
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows in transition areas
| - Minnows
- Shad
- Small baitfish congregating near current breaks
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Sauger | 55-68 | - Post-spawn Sauger are actively feeding to recover energy, following shad schools and utilizing current breaks near dam areas
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, holding at specific depth breaks (10-19 feet) near structure
| - Dam areas with current breaks and deeper holes
- Rock piles along river channel edges
- Mid-depth structural transitions (10-19 feet)
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
- Blade Baits
| - Shad schools in mid-depth ranges
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|