| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to spawning grounds, staging near bridges and other warming structures
- Fish are becoming more active with warming trends but remain somewhat lethargic, preferring slower presentations
| - Bridge areas and associated structure, particularly where there is less vegetation
- Protected shallow bays with reduced vegetation that warm first
- Deep weed edges adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly around bridge pilings and sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming water
- Bluegill in and around remaining vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are transitioning to spawning areas, becoming more aggressive and active in shallow water as they prepare to spawn
- Fish are moving from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallow bays and creek mouths
- Feeding activity increases with warming water, with pike actively hunting along emerging weed edges and around shallow structure
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-6 foot depth
- Creek mouths and tributary inflows where warmer water enters
- Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning bays
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near surface
- Inline Spinners in shallow water with flash and vibration
| - Bluegills congregating in warming shallow waters
- Minnow schools moving into spawning areas
- Young-of-year panfish in shallow bays
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn bluegills are moving from winter deep areas to warming shallow flats, staging near spawning areas
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly on insects and small invertebrates in vegetation
- Fish become more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak activity during afternoon hours
| - Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas, especially near firm bottom areas
- Edges of emerging vegetation in 3-6 foot depth range
- Protected coves and bays that warm faster than main lake areas
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near vegetation edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through warming shallows
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects near emerging vegetation
| - Aquatic insects emerging in warming shallows
- Small invertebrates in vegetation
- Newly hatched fry and minnows
| - Pink Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are moving shallow and becoming more active with warming temperatures, showing increased aggression during sunny periods as water temperatures reach 60-64°F
- Fish are relating heavily to emergent vegetation, particularly during spawning period, with most active feeding during mid-morning to early afternoon
| - Lily pad fields and emergent vegetation in shallow water
- Reed beds in protected areas
- Eastern shorelines receiving morning sun
| - Swim Jigs worked in middle water column around vegetation
- Wacky Rigs with subtle presentations
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) along weed edges
| - Bluegill
- Young of year panfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are actively spawning in shallow, weedy areas immediately after ice-out, with females moving to spawning grounds and males staying to guard nests
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but begin actively feeding to recover energy, particularly targeting abundant bluegill and minnow populations along weed edges
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-6 foot depth
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper weed edges in 8-12 foot range
- Protected shoreline areas with developing weed growth
| - Inline Spinners worked slowly through shallow spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves parallel to emerging weed edges
- Spoons retrieved with a flutter action in transition areas
| - Bluegills congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Minnows moving into warming shallows
- Small pike (cannibalism during spawn period)
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Male bluegills actively constructing and guarding spawning beds in shallow areas with firm bottom composition, typically 2-4 feet deep
- Females staging slightly deeper, moving between bedding areas and nearby vegetation edges
- Aggressive territorial behavior from males protecting nests, making them more likely to strike at intrusive baits
| - Shallow protected coves with firm bottom composition, especially near shoreline areas
- Edges of lily pad fields in 3-4 feet of water
- Transition areas between shallow flats and slightly deeper water near weed edges
| - Bobbers with small ice fishing jigs suspended 2-3 feet deep near bedding areas
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly through spawning colonies
- Finesse Hair Jigs cast beyond beds and slowly retrieved through spawning areas
| - Small aquatic insects emerging near vegetation
- Zooplankton concentrating in shallow water
- Small crustaceans in bedding areas
| - Pink Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 75-78 | - Bass have moved from spawning areas to deeper weed edges, actively feeding on bluegill around the 8-12 foot deep weed lines
- Fish are particularly active in areas where weed edges meet points or depth changes, using vegetation as ambush points
- Slower presentations are proving more effective due to stained water conditions (0.7m clarity)
| - Deep weed edges in 8-12 foot range, especially where they intersect with points
- Pockets within thick vegetation where bluegill are bedding
- Protected areas with less boat traffic, particularly where vegetation meets deeper water
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around weed edges and pockets
- Drop Shot with 4-6 inch baits along deep weed lines
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around thick vegetation
- Slow-worked Hard Jerkbaits on points near deep water
| - Bluegill - primary forage, actively bedding in shallow areas
- Other panfish relating to weed edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily hunting along weed edges and points in 8-15 foot range
- Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones, making frequent moves between ambush points in the complex shoreline
| - Weed edges in 8-15 foot depth range where vegetation is beginning to establish
- Points and coves with emerging vegetation, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow bays with developing weed growth where baitfish are congregating
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges with moderate retrieve
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through transitional depth areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved near emerging vegetation
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse weeds and over points
| - Bluegills gathering near developing weed growth
- Minnows schooling in warming shallow areas
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear in shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from spawning areas to feeding locations, actively pursuing insects and small invertebrates in and around vegetation
- Fish maintaining relatively shallow positions due to turbid water conditions, primarily using 3-6 foot depth range during daylight hours
| - Weed edges and pockets in 6-10 foot depth range where vegetation transitions occur
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation near spawning flats
- Protected coves with developing milfoil beds
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near vegetation edges
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through vegetation pockets
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily along weed edges
| - Aquatic insects and larvae around vegetation
- Small crustaceans in weed beds
- Emerging aquatic invertebrates
| - Pink Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
