| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Fish are moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawn
- Activity levels increase during warming trends, with fish becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
- Bass are utilizing depth changes to regulate comfort, moving shallower on sunny afternoons
| - Deep weed edges in 6-8 foot range where remaining winter cabbage meets harder bottom
- Protected shallow coves that warm first, especially near deeper water access
- Docks with deep water access, particularly those nearest to spawning areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along deep weed edges and through remaining cabbage
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in transitional areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and hard bottom areas
| - Bluegills congregating near remaining deep weeds
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
- Crawfish becoming more active on hard bottom areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding in shallow waters, making aggressive moves to replenish energy before spawning. They're particularly active during warming trends.
- Fish are staging near spawning areas, with increased activity during warmer parts of the day, especially in areas where water warms fastest.
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, particularly cabbage beds in 3-6 feet of water
- Weed-to-deep water transitions near spawning areas in 6-8 feet
- Points and shoreline breaks adjacent to spawning bays
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Spinnerbaits retrieved at varying speeds around emerging weed growth
- Inline Spinners worked parallel to weed edges and points
| - Bluegills congregating in warming shallow areas
- Small pike (cannibalistic feeding)
- Various minnow species moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Bluegills are beginning to move from deeper wintering areas to warming shallows, staging near spawning areas but not yet on beds
- Fish are actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Concentrating around emerging vegetation and established structure like brush piles and dock posts
| - Weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range, particularly where emerging cabbage beds are starting to grow
- Brush piles and laydowns in protected coves, especially on the north side of the lake where water warms first
- Dock areas adjacent to deeper water, providing both cover and quick access to varying depths
| - Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects suspended 1-3 feet off bottom
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly around structure, effective even in spring for finicky panfish
- Bobbers with small jigs or live bait, particularly effective during afternoon warming periods
| - Emerging aquatic insects, particularly chironomids and mayfly nymphs
- Small crustaceans and zooplankton around new vegetation growth
- Tiny baitfish fry beginning to appear in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass moving into shallow staging areas near spawning flats, particularly around cabbage bed edges in 4-6 foot depths
- Males actively preparing and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near cabbage bed edges
- Shallow areas adjacent to docks providing spawning sanctuary
- Lily pad stems and emergent vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly through staging areas
- Shakey Heads near dock posts and weed edges
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-55 | - Pike are actively spawning in shallow, vegetated bays immediately post-ice out when water temperatures reach 40-48°F
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow and become increasingly aggressive, feeding heavily to recover from spawning
| - Shallow, weedy bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 foot depths
- Transitions between shallow flats and deeper water near spawning areas
- Protected areas with developing cabbage beds in 4-8 foot depths
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near emerging weed growth
- Inline Spinners parallel to weed edges
| - Bluegills concentrating in warming shallows
- Young-of-year perch in emerging weed growth
- Minnow species moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around cabbage beds in 4-8 foot depths, actively establishing and guarding nests
- Pre and post-spawn fish staging along weed edges, making feeding forays into shallower areas during prime daylight hours
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and vegetation in 2-6 foot depths
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats, especially where cabbage beds are present
- Areas near docks that provide additional cover and shade
| - Bobbers with small ice fishing jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near spawning areas
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks adjacent to spawning areas
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along weed edges for actively feeding fish
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Tiny crustaceans around vegetation
- Small minnows along weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Warm Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-70 | - Bass are actively feeding in and around vegetation, particularly cabbage beds, with movement patterns shifting throughout the day based on weather conditions
- Fish are showing selective feeding behaviors, requiring technique changes as conditions shift, particularly after weather fronts
| - Cabbage bed edges and interior pockets in 3-5 foot depth range
- Laydowns and wood cover, particularly in protected areas
- Visible grass mats and their outer edges
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly through grass in 3-5 foot depths
- Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) run over top of cabbage beds
- Wacky Rigs worked along outer weed edges
- Texas Rigs flipped to laydowns and bushes
| - Minnows in and around vegetation
- Bluegill relating to weed edges and cover
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-66 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegills along weed edges and in shallow bays
- Fish are making transitional movements from spawning areas to early summer feeding zones, particularly active during morning and evening hours
| - Shallow bays with emerging cabbage beds in 4-8 foot depth
- Weed-to-deep water transitions in 6-14 foot range
- Points and inside turns with submerged vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near vegetation
- Inline Spinners in shallow bays during morning hours
| - Bluegills concentrated in emerging weed growth
- Young-of-year perch in slightly deeper transitions
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 68-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow vegetation and slightly deeper edges
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, gathering in small schools around prime feeding areas near cabbage beds and dock structures
| - Cabbage bed edges in 4-8 foot depth range
- Dock areas with adjacent vegetation
- Brush piles and laydowns near weed edges
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended at 3-5 feet near weed edges
- Crappie Dock Shooting with micro jigs around dock structures
- Hover/Mid-Strolling with light tackle along weed transitions
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in weed beds
- Small minnows along weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
