| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 39-48 | - Staging smallmouth are transitioning to spawning areas, holding tight to bottom structure in pre-spawn pattern
- Fish showing selective aggression, requiring slower presentations with long pauses
- Movement patterns focused on migration routes between wintering areas and spawning locations
| - Boulder fields in 5-15 foot depth range
- Main lake points with rock structure
- Fingers and rocky points near spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly near bottom
- Tubes dragged at extremely slow pace
- Finesse Hair Jigs when conditions are calm
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near spawning areas and beginning to move shallow, particularly active during low-light periods
- Fish are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to shallower spawning locations, following temperature-activated migration routes
| - Rocky points and shorelines near spawning areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transitional areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning grounds
- Dam areas with rock and current that warm quickly
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Blade Baits
| - Small baitfish (particularly shad) concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Perch in transitional areas between deep and shallow water
- Smaller prey fish gathering near warming rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-62 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawn/pre-spawn mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower rocky areas for spawning. Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning.
- Fish are relating heavily to rock structure, particularly long points and boulder fields, making frequent moves between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones.
| - Rock piles and boulder fields with long points, particularly those connecting to spawning flats
- Main lake points with mixed rock and boulder structure
- Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and rock structure
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits worked slowly over rock structure
- Ned Rig dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Texas Rig with 1/2 oz weight dragged over rocks
| - Cisco/Whitefish - primary forage noted in recent reports
- Yellow Perch - common spring forage around rocky structure
- Crayfish - becoming more active in warming waters
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Moving from deep wintering areas to shallow spawning locations, congregating near rocky areas and points in pre-spawn staging
- Males arrive first at spawning areas, with females following as water temperatures approach optimal range
- Feeding actively but sporadically during pre-spawn, with intensity increasing post-spawn
| - Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines in 3-10 feet of water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water in 8-15 feet
- Dam areas with rock structure providing pre-spawn staging locations
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations
- Blade Baits worked through pre-spawn staging areas
| - Small perch gathering in similar spawning areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper adjacent waters
- Smaller baitfish utilizing shallow rock areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad around boulder fields and rocky structures
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, transitioning between shallow and mid-depth ranges based on light conditions and forage location
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 5-15 foot depth range
- Main lake points with scattered rock
- Transition areas between spawning flats and summer structure
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly over rock structure
- Ned Rigs worked around boulders and rock piles
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
| - Shad schools moving over rocky structure
- Perch relating to boulder fields
- Crawfish emerging from rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations, actively seeking forage in predictable depth ranges of 10-19 feet
- Increased feeding activity during dawn and dusk periods, utilizing points and rocky structures as ambush locations
- Showing preference for wind-driven current areas where baitfish are concentrated
| - Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with boulder/rock structure
- Dam areas in 10-19 foot depth range with current or wind-driven water movement
- Rocky shoreline transitions where spawning areas meet deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are holding tight to structure
| - Perch congregating near rocky structure
- Shad schools in open water and around points
- Various minnow species transitioning to summer patterns
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
