| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are following daily temperature patterns, moving shallower on sunny afternoons and holding deeper during cold fronts
- Aggressive feeding periods occur during stable weather, with fish actively pursuing baitfish and crawfish in transition areas
| - Rocky points and channel edges adjacent to spawning flats, especially where current is present
- Deep water transitions in 12-14 foot range near potential spawning areas
- Rock piles and boulder fields in 6-10 foot depth range that warm quickly on sunny days
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Blade Baits worked through current areas and along channel edges
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rock piles
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over transitional areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Juvenile perch near rocky structures
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are staging near spawning areas but making feeding movements to nearby structure during low light periods
- Strong current influence creates prime feeding opportunities in river channel areas
| - Rocky points and boulder areas in 10-19' adjacent to spawning flats
- Current-swept areas near river channel transitions
- Deep breaks and dropoffs where pre-spawn fish stage between feeding movements
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Blade Baits
| - Smaller baitfish concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Minnows moving with current in river channel areas
- Small perch near rocky structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, particularly near rock and gravel flats in 4-8 feet of water
- Males are aggressively defending nesting sites while females stage in slightly deeper water near drop-offs
- Fish are highly territorial and will strike both out of feeding and defensive behavior
| - Rock and gravel flats adjacent to deeper water, especially in protected coves
- Current-swept points with mixed rock and gravel bottom
- Protected areas behind large boulders where current is reduced
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around spawning flats
- Tubes dragged and hopped near potential nest sites
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing identified beds
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Small minnows in shallow flats
- Juvenile perch near rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow spawning flats, particularly around rock and gravel areas
- Moving from winter deep water locations to shallow spawning areas, utilizing current breaks and river channel edges as migration routes
- Feeding actively but sporadically, with most aggressive periods during dawn and dusk
| - Rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to spawning flats in 6-12 feet
- River channel edges where current meets structure
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs
- Blade Baits worked through current seams
| - Small Minnows
- Juvenile Yellow Perch
- Small Shiners
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, particularly around current areas and rock-gravel transitions
- Fish are establishing early summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and adjacent deeper water rest areas
- Males may still be guarding fry in some areas, while females are actively feeding to recover energy
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 6-14 foot depth range adjacent to deeper water
- Current-swept points and channel edges where rock meets gravel
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in transition areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock-gravel transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near current breaks
- Shakey Heads worked along channel edges
| - Crawfish emerging and active on rocky substrate
- Small baitfish relating to current areas
- Young of year perch beginning to show up in slightly deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structure, following baitfish movements
- Walleye are utilizing current areas and channel edges as primary feeding zones
| - Rocky points and boulder fields in 10-19 foot depth range
- River channel edges with current influence
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Minnows and small baitfish in transitional areas
- Young of the year perch
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
