| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills moving from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallower water (2-8 feet) near emerging vegetation and protected bays
- Fish staging in pre-spawn areas, becoming more active during sunny afternoons when water temperatures rise
- Feeding activity increasing with warming trends, particularly on insect larvae and small crustaceans
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially on the north side where water warms fastest
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water, particularly near points and coves
- Areas with newly emerging reed beds in 3-6 feet of water
| - Live Bait Rigs with small ice fishing jigs under slip bobbers, worked slowly
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with 1/16 oz jigs near vegetation edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
| - Bloodworms and insect larvae emerging from winter dormancy
- Small crustaceans becoming active in warming shallows
- Zooplankton concentrating in areas of new vegetation growth
| - Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills moving into shallow protected bays and coves to establish spawning beds, with males becoming increasingly territorial
- Most active during morning and evening hours, with spawning activity peaking when water temperatures stabilize
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom composition, especially near emergent vegetation
- Vegetation-water interfaces in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-2 feet below surface
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small insects and larvae
- Zooplankton
- Small aquatic invertebrates
| - Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills transitioning to post-spawn feeding patterns, actively foraging in shallower waters near vegetation edges
- Most active during morning and evening hours, with increased feeding activity around insect hatches
- Seeking cover in vegetation for protection while maintaining access to open water feeding areas
| - Weed bed edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially near points and coves
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between vegetation and open water near the 9-foot visibility line
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around weed bed edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to vegetation lines
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation
- Small crustaceans near bottom structure
| - Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
