| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to staging spots near spawning bays, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving into shallower water during warm afternoons
| - Secondary points and staging areas adjacent to spawning bays in 8-12 feet of water
- Reed beds in 5-10 feet of water with access to deeper water
- Rock piles near spawning flats that provide warming substrate
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation and over rock piles
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near reed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses in cooler periods
| - Juvenile panfish moving shallow with warming trends
- Baitfish schools relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are actively transitioning from winter depths to shallow staging areas, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
- Fish are moving along travel corridors between deep wintering areas and eventual spawning sites, feeding opportunistically to build energy reserves
| - Rock piles and rocky points in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Deep to shallow transitions near submerged weed edges in 5-10 foot range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock piles and transition areas
- Blade Baits worked with lift-and-drop technique in 8-15 foot range
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for neutral to negative fish
| - Bluegill holding near weed edges and rocky areas
- Crayfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding to build energy reserves, moving from winter deep-water areas to warmer, shallow spawning bays
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak activity during stable weather patterns
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, particularly in 3-8 foot depths
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and spawning bays
- Points and irregular shoreline features adjacent to spawning areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along transition areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through emerging weed growth
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') parallel to shoreline breaks
| - Bluegills congregating in warming shallow bays
- Minnow schools moving into spawning areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) and establishing nesting sites near hard bottom areas and protective cover
- Males guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water (8-12 feet) near spawning flats
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites, particularly during warmer parts of the day
| - Protected reed beds in 5-10 feet of water with adjacent hard bottom
- Shallow coves with submerged vegetation, especially on the northern shorelines
- Rock piles near spawning flats providing staging areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and bed fishing
| - Small bluegill and juvenile panfish
- Minnows in shallow vegetation
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawning mode, with males guarding nests in rocky areas and females moving between staging and spawning areas
- Fish are actively feeding on bluegill in the pre- and post-spawn periods, especially around rock pile transitions to spawning flats
| - Rock piles in 5-10 foot depth range, especially those adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Transitional areas between submerged weed edges and rocky structure
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition for spawning
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around rock piles and transitional areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for staging fish
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky areas
| - Bluegill concentrating around vegetated areas and rock pile edges
- Smaller baitfish moving into shallow warming waters
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-55 | - Northern Pike are in spawning mode, moving into shallow, weedy bays and backwater areas with temperatures between 40-50°F
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding, focusing on abundant baitfish in 5-10 foot depths
| - Shallow bays and flats with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and slightly deeper water (8-12 feet)
- Protected coves with warmer water temperatures
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near emerging weeds
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows for post-spawn feeding
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to weed edges
| - Bluegills concentrating in warming shallow areas
- Minnows gathering in spawning areas
- Young-of-year perch in weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, utilizing reed edges and submerged vegetation in 5-10ft zones
- Fish showing preference for slow-rolling presentations, indicating deliberate feeding behavior rather than aggressive chasing
| - Reed edges with adjacent submerged weeds in 5-10ft
- Secondary points with vegetation near deeper water
- Protected coves with emerging weed growth
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow-rolled along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through gaps in vegetation
- Swim Jigs paralleling reed lines
| - Minnows gathering around emerging vegetation
- Juvenile panfish in reed areas
- Small crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting structure-oriented forage in moderate depths
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, utilizing points and rock structures as primary feeding zones
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and weed transition areas
- Deeper edges of spawning flats near drop-offs
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock structures
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky transitions
| - Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Bluegill in weed-rock transition areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, moving from spawning areas to transitional structures
- Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth weed edges and points, particularly during morning and evening periods
- Aggressive feeding behavior with preference for larger profile baits that mimic abundant forage
| - Shallow weed edges in 5-10 foot depth range adjacent to spawning bays
- Points and irregular shoreline features with emerging vegetation
- Rock piles near deeper water access
| - Spinnerbaits worked along weed edges and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near structure
- Inline Spinners in shallow bays during prime feeding periods
| - Bluegill concentrating near emerging weed growth
- Minnows schooling in warming shallows
- Young-of-year perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
