| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding to build energy reserves, moving from winter depths to shallow spawning areas
- Fish are staging near emerging weed growth and lily pad stems, making frequent feeding movements to slightly deeper adjacent areas
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation and lily pad stems, especially those with soft substrate
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Protected coves with gradual slopes and early-growing vegetation
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Spinnerbaits
- Hard Jerkbaits
- Inline Spinners
| - Bluegills congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Small pike and yellow perch
- Various minnow species moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass moving from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water warms
- Fish transitioning to shallower water, particularly on sunny days, but maintaining access to deeper water
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Shallow weed edges near deeper water access
- Offshore humps with weed clumps that warm quickly
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along weed edges
- Bladed Jigs parallel to shoreline structure
| - Bluegills in and around vegetation
- Small baitfish gathering in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Northern Pike moving into shallow, weedy bays and lily pad areas for spawning, with post-spawn fish staging in adjacent deeper water
- Fish become highly active during daylight hours as water temperatures warm, targeting spawning areas and nearby ambush points
| - Shallow bays with lily pads and emerging vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Points and edges adjacent to spawning bays in 5-8 feet of water
- Protected coves with soft bottom and early-growing vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily along weed edges
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to spawning areas
| - Spawning suckers and minnows
- Bluegills concentrating near emerging weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, primarily focusing on protected bays and flat areas with firm bottom near vegetation
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby, making frequent moves between deep and shallow
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Transition areas between lily pad fields and deeper water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising pre-spawn fish
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly in spawning flats
| - Bluegills beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 48-62 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly during early morning and evening hours when light penetration is optimal in the 2.3m clarity water
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, staging along weed edges and points adjacent to spawning bays
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to lily pad areas and spawning bays
- Points and humps near shallow bays with developing vegetation
- Secondary breaks in 8-12 foot depth range where weeds are beginning to establish
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to emerging weed edges
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along transition areas
- Inline Spinners worked through sparse vegetation
| - Bluegills gathering in warming shallows
- Young-of-year perch schools
- Spawning minnow species
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and points as primary feeding zones, making frequent moves between shallow and slightly deeper water
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation
- Offshore humps with weed clumps in 8-10 feet
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits with erratic retrieves around vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered vegetation
| - Bluegills gathering around emerging weed growth
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to school
- Crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
