Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Smallmouth become more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding activity increasing during stable weather patterns
- Fish are primarily targeting crawfish and small perch in rocky areas, using boulders and rock piles as ambush points
| - Rock piles and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 feet
- Transition areas where rock meets scattered weeds in 6-12 feet
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 5-15 feet
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom around rock piles
- Ned Rigs dragged through transition areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for pressured fish
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small Yellow Perch
- Various small minnow species
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are schooling on mid-lake reefs, actively responding to wind and current patterns
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase fast-moving baits like jerkbaits
- Schools are mobile and repositioning based on wind direction throughout the day
| - Middle lake reefs, particularly on the windward side
- Protected shallow areas with firm bottom near spawning grounds
- Rock-to-weed transitions in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked aggressively with frequent pauses
- Tubes worked slowly once schools are located
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through schooling areas
| - Baitfish schools in open water near structure
- Crawfish becoming active on rocky areas
| - Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are moving into shallower water areas (3-10ft) preparing for spawn, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are aggressive and territorial during pre-spawn, with larger females becoming more active as water temperatures rise
| - Shallow weed edges adjacent to spawning bays in 5-10ft
- Main lake points with emerging vegetation in 3-7ft
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in clear areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily near structure
| - Yellow Perch gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill schools in emerging weed growth
- Minnow schools moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding activity increasing during warmer afternoon periods
| - Shallow weed edges in 6-10 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock piles near transitional areas between deep and shallow water
- Protected dock areas with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended at key depths
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small invertebrates emerging with warming water
- Small minnows in shallow zones
- Early season crawfish in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning, with males guarding nests near boulders on sand/gravel flats
- Fish are highly territorial and defensive of their spawning beds, making them more aggressive towards intrusive baits
| - Sand/gravel flats with scattered boulders in protected areas
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with large boulders
- Protected coves and bays with hard bottom composition
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around visible beds
- Drop Shot rigs cast behind beds and slowly worked through
- Tubes dragged near spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter habitat
- Bluegill moving into shallow areas
- Small baitfish in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are in spawning phase with some still in pre-spawn, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as they prepare for and engage in spawning activities, with pre-spawners actively feeding
| - Reed beds in protected areas with firm bottom for spawning
- Rock-to-weed transitions near spawning flats for staging fish
- Protected shallow areas with firm bottom substrate
| - Bladed Jigs worked around reed edges for aggressive pre-spawners
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations in reeds
- Swim Jigs for covering water between spawning areas
| - Bluegill starting to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Post-winter pike moving into shallow spawning areas with emerging vegetation, typically 2-6 feet deep
- Aggressive feeding periods before and after spawning as fish replenish energy
- Fish become more active as water temperatures rise, with males arriving first to spawning areas
| - Shallow bays and flats with emerging vegetation in 2-6 foot depth range
- Points and inside turns near spawning areas that provide quick access to deeper water
- Transition areas where weeds meet harder bottom areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows for post-spawn fish
| - Large Yellow Perch gathering in similar spawning areas
- Spawning Minnows in shallow areas
- Bluegills starting to move shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around vegetation and hard bottom areas, making beds in 2-6 feet of water
- Males becoming aggressive and territorial around bedding areas, while females stage slightly deeper near spawning zones
- Actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with increased daytime activity as they prepare for and engage in spawning
| - Shallow weed edges and reed beds in 2-6 feet of water with firm bottom
- Protected areas between docks where vegetation meets harder bottom
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and rock in 5-10 feet
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around bed areas and staging zones
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near spawning colonies
| - Small insects and larvae around vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in spawning areas
- Small minnows along weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 66-74 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding but scattered, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and summer haunts, actively chasing perch and crawfish
- Fish are utilizing various depth ranges from 6-20 feet, with increased activity during stable weather patterns
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 6-14 foot depth range
- Shallow flats adjacent to deep breaks
- Scattered weed patches near hard bottom transitions
| - Drop Shot with light line and slow dragging presentation
- Ned Rigs worked methodically along bottom structure
- Soft and hard jerkbaits with varied retrieve speeds
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing dock areas and rock structures as ambush points
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to slightly deeper water, particularly around dock edges and rock-to-weed transitions
| - Docks with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning flats
- Rock bars and spillways with current
- Weed edges in 10-15 foot depth range
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and edges
- Swim Jigs in areas with current or near rock structures
- Bladed Jigs (chatterbaits) around shallow rock bars
| - Crawfish moving actively in rocky areas
- Small bluegills beginning to concentrate around docks
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike actively feeding to recover energy, making frequent shallow to mid-depth movements along weed edges
- Aggressive feeding behavior during cooler parts of day, targeting abundant baitfish populations near vegetation transitions
| - Weed edges transitioning from 7 to 15 feet, especially near points
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Main lake points with submerged vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve along vegetation transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive pauses over submerged vegetation
| - Yellow Perch congregating near weed edges
- Bluegills moving into warming shallow areas
- Minnow schools relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Warm Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 66-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively searching for food to recover energy
- Fish are beginning to establish summer patterns, moving between vegetation edges and deeper structure throughout the day
| - Weed edges in 10-15 feet of water, especially where milfoil meets deeper water
- Docks adjacent to deeper water, providing shade and ambush points
- Rock piles near vegetation transitions, offering both structure and forage
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Bobbers
| - Small invertebrates and insects around vegetation
- Young-of-year minnows
- Small crawfish near rock structures
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|