Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding as they prepare for spawning. Recent reports show fish relating to docks and reeds, with larger fish often positioning between structure.
- Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, moving into shallow water during late afternoon when temperatures peak, as evidenced by the 62°F reading in recent reports.
| - Docks with deeper water access, particularly the areas between docks where larger bass are staging
- Reed beds in shallow water, especially those near transitional depth changes
- Secondary points and flats where bass stage before moving to spawning areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked through reeds and along transition areas to cover water and locate active fish
- Swim Jigs in perch patterns to mimic primary forage moving through shallow cover
- Neko Rigs and Wacky Rigs worked slowly around docks for more pressured or passive fish
| - Bluegill, as specifically mentioned in recent fishing reports and confirmed by lake profile inferences as primary forage
- Perch, as evidenced by successful perch-colored baits in recent reports
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements to nearby structure
- Most active during dawn and dusk, with increased daytime activity due to spring's lower light penetration
| - Rocky points and shorelines in 8-12 foot range adjacent to spawning areas
- Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot zones
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with deliberate lifts and drops
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
| - Perch moving shallow with warming water
- Cisco/whitefish schools in deeper transitions
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegills are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, actively feeding in preparation for spawning
- Fish are beginning to move from deeper wintering areas towards shallow spawning zones, particularly around emerging vegetation
| - Shallow reed beds in 2-4 feet of water, especially in protected coves
- Deeper weed edges in 6-12 feet serving as staging areas
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation near spawning flats
| - Bobbers with small ice fishing jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
| - Small aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Tiny crustaceans in shallow vegetation
- Small worms and larvae in bottom substrate
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Males are actively making spawning beds in shallow areas while females stage on nearby deeper structure
- Pre-spawn females actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly during warming trends
| - Outside edges of reed beds in 3-8 feet of water
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays
- Shallow rock and gravel areas near deep water access
| - Bladed Jigs worked along reed edges
- Swim Jigs paralleling emerging vegetation
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on transitional areas
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-68 | - Males moving to shallow spawning areas to build nests in protected areas with firm bottom
- Females staging in slightly deeper water near spawning areas, making periodic movements shallow
- Post-spawn fish gradually transitioning to early summer patterns, relating to first emerging weed growth
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Jerkbaits
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in similar areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are in shallow spawning areas, particularly rocky points and gravel beds, actively preparing for and engaging in spawning activities
- Post-spawn fish quickly transition to feeding in emerging weed growth in 8-12 foot zones
| - Rocky points and gravel beds in 3-8 foot depths for spawning
- Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot zones for post-spawn feeding
- Shallow bays with warming water adjacent to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
- Blade Baits worked with subtle lifts near spawning areas
| - Small perch in shallow emerging weed growth
- Minnows gathering in warming shallow bays
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-65 | - Bluegills are in spawning mode, moving into shallow protected areas to build and defend beds
- Males becoming territorial and aggressive around nesting sites in reeds and shallow vegetation
- Most active during warmer parts of day when water temperatures climb closer to 65°F
| - Shallow reed beds in protected coves and bays
- Shallow vegetation in 2-4 feet of water near complex shoreline areas
- Protected areas between docks where vegetation meets firmer bottom
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended at proper depth
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light line
- Live Bait Rigs with small hooks and split shot
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small minnows
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass moving from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning locations, staging on nearby structure
- Males actively establishing and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between staging and spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases pre-spawn, becomes territorial during spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with gravel or rocky substrate, especially near points
- Transitional areas between winter deep water and spawning flats
- Shallow reed beds mentioned in reports, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along transition areas and spawning flats
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear water conditions
- Soft Jerkbaits for actively feeding pre-spawn fish
| - Perch - primary forage mentioned in reports
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on submerged vegetation in 6-8 foot depths
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around flowering tips of curly leaf pondweed
| - Submerged vegetation beds in 6-8 foot depths, particularly areas with flowering curly leaf pondweed
- Edges of thick vegetation near deep water access
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly through vegetation clumps
- Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) along vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for thick vegetation areas
| - Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-65 | - Actively feeding along emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot depth range, particularly during low light periods
- Post-spawn walleyes are transitioning to summer patterns, utilizing vegetation for ambush feeding
| - Newly emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot depth range
- Deeper vegetation transitions in 15-20 foot range
- Points and inside turns with emerging vegetation
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly along weed edges
- Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) during evening hours
- Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) for fish holding in deeper transitions
| - Minnows in and around emerging vegetation
- Young-of-year perch
| - Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-72 | - Post-spawn bluegills are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are staging along weed edges and utilizing vegetation for cover while maintaining access to deeper water
| - Deep weed edges in 6-12 foot range with mixed vegetation (coontail, cabbage, milfoil)
- Secondary points with vegetation near spawning bays
- Transition areas between shallow reed beds and deeper weed growth
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Tubes
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging in vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in weed beds
- Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Recently finished spawning, transitioning to deeper water and establishing summer feeding patterns. Primary focus is recovery and return to active feeding.
- Actively feeding during morning and evening periods, becoming more structure-oriented as water warms
| - Deep weed edges in 12-15 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with access to deep water
- Offshore rock piles and structural elements near deep water
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations around deep weed edges
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along main lake points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Yellow Perch gathering around weed edges
- Ciscoes in deeper offshore areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|