Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, with some bass actively moving shallow while others remain deeper due to temperature fluctuations
- Bass are becoming more aggressive but still prefer subtle presentations, particularly during midday hours
- Fish are staging near spawning flats and cruising shallow grass areas, showing spooky behavior due to increased visibility
| - Shallow grass flats adjacent to spawning areas
- Backs of pockets with clear water
- Points and transitions near spawning areas
| - Drop Shot with light line and subtle action
- Finesse Jigs worked slowly around cover
- Bladed Jigs for actively feeding fish
| - Minnows in shallow grass areas
- Bluegill around spawning pockets
- Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are actively staging in pre-spawn areas, roaming sand flats and transitional areas adjacent to future spawning locations
- Fish are responding well to suspending presentations with long pauses, indicating a deliberate feeding behavior characteristic of pre-spawn period
| - Submerged sand grass areas in 10 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock areas with deep water access
- Rock and boulder structures near potential spawning areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between 3 short jerks
- Drop Shot worked slowly along transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged through staging areas
| - Cisco/Whitefish suspended in the water column
- Bluegill relating to dock structures
- Perch along sand grass edges
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding and moving from winter deep-water areas to shallow spawning grounds, making them aggressive and opportunistic
- Fish are utilizing transitions between deeper wintering areas and shallow spawning bays, particularly during warming trends
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near deep-water access
- Dock areas in 8-15 foot depths providing ambush points
- Points and channel edges leading into spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to mimic struggling baitfish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along depth transitions
- Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow emerging vegetation
| - Cisco/Whitefish moving shallow from winter depths
- Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye are transitioning from winter areas to shallow spawning locations, staging on transition areas like points and breaks
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during low light periods
| - Main lake points and breaks leading to spawning areas
- Rocky shorelines and gravel areas in 4-12 feet
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along breaks
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near bottom
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with heavy jigs
| - Yellow Perch gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper transition areas
- Cisco/Whitefish suspended over deeper water
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Fish are actively engaged in spawning activities, with some bass on beds being protective but finicky. Fish require multiple presentations to trigger strikes.
- Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are present, with smallmouth showing better weight currently. Fish are displaying typical spawn behavior patterns around shallow protected areas.
| - Shallow protected areas near docks where spawning beds are located
- Secondary points and coves with gradual slopes for staging areas
- Areas with submerged vegetation in 10-20 foot range where pre/post spawn fish stage
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations for finicky bed fish
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to beds
- Wacky Rigs for covering water between beds and staging areas
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Shad moving into spawning areas as indicated by recent fishing success with shad imitations
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning behavior with males actively preparing and guarding beds in shallow water areas with hard bottom
- Fish are aggressive and actively feeding on alewife to build energy reserves for spawning
| - Rocky points with gradual slopes, especially those near spawning flats
- Hard bottom areas in 3-8 feet of water near shore
- Protected bays with gravel or rocky substrate
| - Hover/Mid-Strolling with live or artificial minnow presentations
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky points
- Soft Jerkbaits mimicking injured alewife
| - Alewife gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Small perch around rocky structure
- Emerging crayfish becoming more active
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-54 | - Pike are moving into shallow bays and backwater areas for spawning, actively feeding in pre and post-spawn phases
- Fish are sight-feeding in moderately clear water (3.5m Secchi), utilizing dock areas and weedlines as ambush points
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near spawning areas
- Dock areas in 5-15 foot depths with access to deeper water
- Points and inside turns leading into spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to trigger reaction strikes
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly near structure
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through shallow areas
| - Cisco/Whitefish gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill in shallow warming bays
- Shad schools moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleyes are moving into shallow spawning areas and staging in pre-spawn locations, becoming more active during dawn and dusk periods
- Post-spawn fish transition to feeding heavily near shoreline structure, particularly utilizing dock areas as ambush points
| - Shallow rocky points and gravel areas for spawning (2-8 feet)
- Protected areas between docks in post-spawn phase
- Transition areas near deeper water for pre-spawn staging
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for post-spawn dock fish
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for active fish
| - Perch gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish in warming shoreline areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to dock structure and outside weed edges
- Fish are showing roaming behavior early in the morning, becoming more structure-oriented as the day progresses
- Bass are responding well to finesse presentations with subtle movements, indicating a preference for natural feeding behavior
| - Docks and boat slips with deeper water access
- Outside weed edges in 15-20 foot range, especially near gravel/rock transitions
- Protected harbor areas with combination of boat cover and submerged vegetation
| - Drop Shot with subtle shaking presentation
- Ned Rigs worked along bottom transitions
- Finesse presentations under docks
| - Minnows
- Small panfish
- Perch
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between spawning areas and summer locations using ledges and drop-offs as migration routes
- Fish are showing mixed depth patterns - feeding shallow early morning on flats, then moving to deeper ledges as the day progresses
| - First drop-off ledges transitioning from shallow spawning flats to deeper water
- Submerged weed flats in 15-foot depth range
- Rock piles and boulder fields, especially those near transitional areas
| - Ned Rigs worked along ledges and rock structures
- Hard Topwater (Prop) during early morning hours over flats
- Drop Shot for deeper presentations as fish move off the flats
| - Bluegill on shallow flats and around vegetation
- Minnows around rock structures and current areas
- Shad along deeper ledges and drop-offs
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, showing aggressive behavior towards larger prey as evidenced by follows on glide baits
- Fish are utilizing shallow structure and transitional areas, with good sight-feeding activity in the moderate clarity conditions
| - Docks and adjacent shallow areas, especially those near deeper water access
- Emerging weedline edges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Points and bays with complex structure providing ambush opportunities
| - Hard Body Swimbaits like glide baits worked with erratic action
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along structure edges
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses to trigger following fish
| - Shad, as confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Larger bass which pike are opportunistically targeting
- Bluegill gathering around dock structures
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively feeding under docks, using shade for ambush points in the moderate clarity water (3.5m Secchi)
- Fish are showing preference for bottom-oriented prey and responding well to finesse presentations, particularly during overcast conditions
| - Docks in shallow water, especially those with deeper water access
- Points and structural elements near shoreline areas
- Protected bays with complex structure
| - Drop Shot with subtle movements near dock structures
- Ned Rigs with subtle up-and-down action, especially with the TRD TicklerZ
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along dock edges
| - Perch - primary forage evidenced by successful green pumpkin presentations
- Shad - confirmed by recent fishing reports and successful chartreuse patterns
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|