Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 43-48 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, moving sluggishly in cold 43-48°F water
- Fish are holding tight to structure and responding carefully to slow presentations in the clear, cold conditions
| - Deeper stumps adjacent to spawning coves where bass stage before moving shallow
- Boulder fields providing warming areas and ambush points
- Points leading into spawning bays with submerged vegetation
| - Structure Jigs worked slowly with subtle movements around cover
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
- Shakey Heads dragged slowly along bottom structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Yellow Perch in deeper staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Muskie | 45-58 | - Pre-spawn muskies are beginning to move from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning bays and areas near emerging weed growth
- Fish are becoming more active but still relatively lethargic, preferring slower-moving presentations
- Feeding activity increases during warmer afternoons, especially around areas with congregating baitfish
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-8 foot depth range
- Points and inside turns adjacent to deeper wintering areas
- Protected coves with clearer water conditions
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly near emerging weed edges
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses in clearer coves
- Inline Spinners retrieved at moderate speeds during warming trends
| - Yellow Perch congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Panfish schools moving shallow
- Small bass in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 45-52 | - Pre-spawn yellow perch are actively schooling and beginning to move towards shallow spawning areas, particularly around weed edges and points
- Fish are feeding aggressively to prepare for spawning, with most active periods during morning and evening hours
| - Weed edges and points near Long Island in 3-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with gradual slopes leading to spawning areas
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 4-12 feet
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements near structure
- Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations along weed edges
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through the water column
| - Small minnows and shiners
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Young of year panfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn bluegill are beginning to move from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallow flats and coves, staging near spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish actively searching for insects and small prey in and around emerging vegetation
| - Protected shallow flats and coves near Long Island, especially areas with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, particularly in 3-8 foot depths
- Transition areas where deeper wintering areas meet shallow flats
| - Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects suspended 2-4 feet under a bobber
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around emerging vegetation
- Ice Fishing Jigs downsized and worked vertically in slightly deeper staging areas
| - Aquatic insects, particularly emerging larvae
- Small crustaceans and zooplankton
- Tiny baitfish fry
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-65 | - Largemouth bass are transitioning into spawning mode, moving into coves and shallow areas for bed creation
- Fish are becoming more active as water temperatures rise, with increased feeding during warming trends
| - Protected coves with laydowns and sand bottom
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly around laydowns
- Bladed Jigs with beaver-style trailers near shoreline cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for actively feeding fish
| - Minnows
- Crawfish emerging from winter habitat
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Muskie | 48-62 | - Post-spawn females recovering in shallow bays and near vegetation, while males remain guarding nesting areas
- Gradually becoming more active as water temperatures rise, with feeding periods increasing in frequency and duration
| - Shallow bays with emerging weed growth in 3-6 feet of water
- Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning areas
- Protected coves with clearer water conditions
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly near spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in clearer coves
| - Yellow Perch congregating in spawning areas
- Small panfish in emerging weed growth
- Juvenile bass in shallow zones
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 45-52 | - Actively spawning in shallow water areas, typically 3-8 feet deep, particularly around vegetation and firm bottom areas
- Males arrive first at spawning areas and remain longer, creating extended fishing opportunities
- Feeding activity increases pre and post-spawn, with fish moving between spawning areas and nearby deeper water
| - Shallow weed flats with firm bottom near Long Island points, 3-8 feet deep
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water, 8-12 feet deep
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small jigs near vegetation
- Inline Spinners retrieved slowly through spawning areas
| - Small minnows concentrated in spawning areas
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
- Small invertebrates in weed beds
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively moving into shallow areas (2-6 feet) to establish spawning beds near vegetation and protected areas
- Males guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, moving in and out of spawning areas
- Most active during morning and evening hours, with increased sensitivity to light in the stained water
| - Protected coves with firm bottom near weed edges, especially around Long Island
- Shallow flats adjacent to points with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points in 3-6 foot depth range with nearby deeper water access
| - Bobbers with small live bait or micro jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light tackle around bedding areas
- Inline Spinners worked slowly through spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae near vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in shallow areas
- Small baitfish fry beginning to emerge
| - Pink Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing the abundant shoreline cover and points, often staging in 5-10 foot depths near deeper water access
| - Secondary points with submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning coves
- Laydowns and woody cover in 5-10 foot depths
- Weed edges near Long Island, especially where they meet deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges and through cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline structure and over submerged vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around points and transition areas
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas and around vegetation
- Yellow perch moving along weed edges
- White perch schooling in slightly deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Muskie | 52-65 | - Post-spawn muskies are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, often remaining relatively shallow and aggressive as water temperatures warm
- Fish are actively patrolling weed edges and points, particularly during dawn and dusk periods when feeding activity peaks
| - Emerging weed edges in 3-12' depth range, especially near points
- Shallow bays with developing vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Complex shoreline areas with multiple points and coves
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to weed edges
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along emerging vegetation
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses near points
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') along weed edges and point transitions
| - Yellow Perch transitioning to summer patterns
- Panfish congregating in warming shallows
- Small Bass in shallow feeding areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 52-65 | - Post-spawn yellow perch are actively feeding to recover energy, forming loose schools in and around vegetation
- Fish are making transitional movements from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations, particularly around weed edges and points
| - Weed flats in 3-12 feet of water, especially near Long Island points
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between spawning bays and summer holding areas
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Inline Spinners
| - Small minnows
- Aquatic insects
- Young-of-year fish fry
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Moving from deeper post-spawn recovery areas to shallower feeding zones, becoming more active in 3-8 foot depths
- Establishing daily feeding patterns around weed edges and points, particularly active during morning and evening hours
| - Weed edges near Long Island, especially where they intersect with points
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 3-6 foot depths
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly those with scattered vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near weed edges
- Inline Spinners worked slowly through scattered vegetation
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily along weed edges
| - Small insects and larvae emerging from vegetation
- Tiny baitfish concentrated around weed edges
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|