Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are most active during dawn and dusk periods, taking advantage of the stained water conditions for feeding
- Movement patterns suggest congregation near spawning areas with frequent feeding in adjacent zones
| - Ledges and drop-offs adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Shallow rock or gravel areas near depth transitions
- Areas near submerged vegetation where crappie concentrate
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along ledges and transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with methodical presentations
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking crappie
| - Crappie concentrations in pre-spawn areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Bottom-dwelling forage near structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving along depth transitions near spawning flats, particularly active during warming trends
- Showing increased aggression and feeding activity as water temperatures rise
| - Inside weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Transition areas between weeds and sandy/rocky bottom
- Protected areas between docks with nearby vegetation
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along weed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits with slow, erratic retrieves
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish in transitional areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Concentrating around dock areas and weed edges in 8-10 foot depth range, utilizing ambush points for feeding
| - Corners and protected areas between docks in 8-10 foot depth
- Transitions from bare bottom to weed edges
- Inside weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around dock posts and edges
- Crappie Dock Shooting for skittish fish under structures
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure edges
| - Small minnows gathering near warming shallow areas
- Early season insects beginning to emerge
- Young of year baitfish in shallow zones
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Muskie | 45-65 | - During pre-spawn, muskies are beginning to move from winter depths to warming shallow areas, particularly focusing on points and transitions near spawning areas
- Fish are becoming more active but still methodical in their feeding, often following and studying baits before striking
| - Points with access to deeper water, especially those adjacent to spawning bays
- Emerging weedlines in 8-12 foot depth range
- Rocky structures and ledges that retain heat
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along depth transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses to trigger following fish
- Live Bait Rigs with large sucker minnows near structure
| - Walleye concentrating on structural elements
- Crappies moving shallow for their own spawn
- Bluegill beginning to stage in pre-spawn areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, staging near spawning areas and making shallow water movements during low light periods
- Given the stained water (1.5m Secchi), fish are actively feeding throughout the day, especially around distinct ledge areas
| - Ledges adjacent to spawning flats, particularly in 8-15 foot transitions
- Shallow rock or gravel areas near depth changes
- Areas near submerged vegetation where crappie concentrate
| - Slow jigging with methodical bottom contact presentations
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows matched to crappie size
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along ledges
| - Crappie - primary forage based on multiple reports
- Small baitfish relating to spawning areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Males actively guarding fry in shallow areas, particularly along weed to sand/rock transitions
- Fish relating heavily to shallow cover and structure during spawning period, with increased activity around vegetation edges
| - Transitions from weeds to sandy/rocky bottom in shallow water
- Inside weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow areas near pilings with vegetation
| - Grass Jigs worked slowly through vegetation transitions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover
- Wacky Rigs worked near spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow areas
- Small bluegill in spawning areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 55-65 | - Crappie are actively staging for spawning, concentrating around shallow structure in 8-10 feet of water and showing aggressive feeding behavior during prime periods
- Fish are utilizing ambush points in dock corners and weed edges, moving between staging and potential spawning areas
| - Dock corners and protected areas in 8-10 feet of water
- Inside weed edges where vegetation transitions from bare bottom
- Shallow protected bays with stable bottom composition
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - work bait slowly in corners of docks
- Ned Rigs - deadstick along weed transitions
- Crappie Dock Shooting - for skittish fish under docks
| - Minnows - primary forage during pre-spawn period
- Insects - secondary forage especially around vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Muskie | 48-65 | - Fish moving into warmer, shallow bays (2-8 feet) for spawning, with females staging on nearby structure
- Post-spawn fish becoming more active and aggressive, utilizing points and weedline edges as recovery areas
| - Rocky points adjacent to shallow spawning bays
- Emerging weedlines in 6-10 foot depth range
- Shallow flats with scattered vegetation near deeper water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to emerging weedlines
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through warmer shallow areas
| - Bluegills congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Crappies moving shallow for their own spawn
- Minnows active in warming shallows
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleyes are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, actively feeding during low-light periods in the stained water conditions
- Fish are relating to depth changes and ledges, particularly during midday, moving shallow during dawn/dusk periods
| - Ledges and depth transitions adjacent to spawning areas
- Submerged vegetation edges in 8-12 foot depth range
- Dock areas with access to deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along ledges and transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieve near vegetation edges
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around dock areas
| - Crappies concentrated around vegetation and dock areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in shallower areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegill in and around vegetation edges
- Fish are holding on inside weed edges and overhanging cover, ambushing prey in these transition zones
| - Inside edges of weed lines, especially areas with overhanging vegetation
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to transitions to sandy/rocky bottom
- Dock areas with nearby vegetation
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly with attention to line movement on the fall
- Texas Rigs with soft plastics worked like jerkbaits along weed edges
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation gaps
| - Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating strongly to dock edges and weed transitions in 8-12 feet of water, using these areas as ambush points
| - Corners and edges of docks with 8-12 feet of water depth
- Transitions where bare bottom meets emerging weed growth
- Inside weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small minnows gathering around dock structure
- Emerging aquatic insects near weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Muskie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn muskies are actively feeding to recover energy, showing increased interest in both live bait and artificial presentations
- Fish are utilizing transitional areas between shallow and deep water, with heightened activity during low-light periods due to stained water conditions
| - Main lake points, especially those with access to both shallow and deeper water
- Weedline edges adjacent to deeper water
- Rock piles and ledges near transition areas
| - Live Bait Rigs with large sucker minnows, particularly effective during post-spawn recovery
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along transition areas
- Inline Spinners (bucktails) retrieved at moderate speeds near structure
| - Large Minnows and Suckers
- Bluegill
- Crappie
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|