Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning pockets, actively feeding while preparing for spawn
- Movement patterns vary with conditions - more active during cloudy/windy periods, less active during bright, calm conditions
- Utilizing grass edges and current breaks as primary feeding zones
| - Weed flats and channels leading to spawning pockets
- Submerged vegetation edges, especially near deeper water access
- Current-influenced areas with rock and wood cover
| - Bladed Jigs worked through sparse vegetation during cloudy/windy conditions
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly during sunny, calm conditions
- Texas Rigs (Worming) around wood cover and current breaks
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 56-67 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from winter depths to shallower transition areas, particularly along rocky points and hard-bottom areas
- Showing increased aggression and feeding activity as water temperatures rise
| - Rocky points and current breaks near spawning flats in 2-6 foot depth range
- Hard bottom areas adjacent to deeper water
- Wing dams and current breaks providing staging areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky bottom
- Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses in transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish concentrated near current breaks
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, particularly around current breaks and wing dams
- Fish are relating to shallow structural elements in 4-9 foot range, taking advantage of turbid conditions for daytime feeding
| - Wing dams with 4-9 foot drops where current breaks create feeding zones
- Rock piles in shallow water adjacent to spawning areas
- Shallow flats with hard bottom composition near shoreline points
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along structure breaks
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near wing dams
| - Shad concentrating around current breaks
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Moving from winter holding areas to shallow, warmer bays and backwaters, staging for upcoming spawn
- Actively feeding on small invertebrates and zooplankton near emerging vegetation
- Congregating in protected areas with reduced current, especially on sunny days when water temperatures rise
| - Protected shallow bays and backwaters with emerging vegetation, especially dark bottom areas that warm quickly
- Current breaks near wing dams in 4-8 foot depths
- Inside turns of creek channels in backwater areas
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near emerging vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around current breaks
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along weed edges
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Zooplankton concentrations in backwater areas
- Small minnows in protected areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-68 | - Fish are moving shallow to spawn, holding tight to cover like laydowns and old grass beds for spawning protection
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby drop-offs between spawning waves
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in protected backwater areas
- Old grass bed edges in spawning pockets
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with light but strong tackle for precise presentations to cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for spawning fish and staged females
- Shakey Heads for more finesse approach around bed areas
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
- Bluegill moving shallow with bass
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 56-67 | - Smallmouth bass actively spawning on hard bottom areas around rocks and stumps in shallow water, with water temperatures ranging from 56-67°F
- Fish moving between spawning bays and nearby feeding areas, showing increased activity around matted vegetation and pad edges
- Post-spawn fish beginning to stage near current breaks and drop-offs for recovery and feeding
| - Hard bottom areas with rocks and stumps in 2-6 foot depth range
- Protected spawning bays with adjacent matted vegetation
- Wing dams and sand drops near spawning areas
| - Drop Shot with small tubes for precise presentations to spawning fish
- Soft Jerkbaits worked along structure edges and drops
- Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation for post-spawn fish
| - Minnows around spawning areas
- Crawfish in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near spawning areas, moving from wintering areas to shallow rocky structures
- Active feeding during dawn and dusk, with increased daytime activity due to turbid conditions
- Males arrive first at spawning areas, with females moving in as water temperatures reach optimal range
| - Rock piles and wing dams in 4-9 foot depth range
- Current breaks near tributary mouths or flowing water areas
- Hard bottom areas with gravel or rock substrate in shallow water
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with controlled movements
- Blade Baits worked slowly near bottom structure
| - Shad concentrations near current breaks
- Small baitfish in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected bays and backwaters with vegetation
- Males actively guarding nests in colonies, becoming aggressive and territorial
- Feeding activity increases in pre-spawn, with fish targeting invertebrates and small prey near vegetation
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and vegetation
- Backwater areas with scattered lily pad growth
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with light line in spawning areas
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to spawning flats
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans near vegetation
- Small minnows in shallow water
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding and recovering, moving between shallow cover and nearby feeding areas along weed edges
- Fish are showing a clear pattern of movement from deeper weed edges to shallower cover as the day progresses, particularly into lily pads and grass
| - Outside weed lines adjacent to shallow cover
- Dock corners with nearby weed edges or points
- Lily pad fields and grass mats in shallow water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and vegetation
- Structure Jigs worked along weed edges
- Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 70-78 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing current breaks and rip rap drops as ambush points
- Fish are showing aggressive striking behavior in relatively shallow water, particularly along structure edges
| - Rip rap banks and drops with current influence
- Wing dams and current breaks
- Rocky points adjacent to deeper water
| - Carolina Rigs worked along rip rap drops
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to rocky banks
- Bladed Jigs around current breaks
| - Crawfish emerging from rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to current breaks
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish utilizing current breaks and wing dams as primary feeding zones, taking advantage of baitfish concentrations
- Most active during low light periods and in turbid conditions due to 1.1m secchi depth
| - Wing dams and current breaks at 4-9 foot drops
- Rock piles and hard-bottom structure areas
- Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to current breaks
- Ned Rigs worked methodically on rock piles
| - Shad concentrating around current breaks
- Small bottom-dwelling prey fish
- Juvenile yellow perch
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on shallow flats and weed edges in 2-6 feet of water
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper sanctuaries near vegetation
- Schools are breaking up from spawning groups but remain relatively concentrated around prime feeding areas
| - Weed edges and pockets in submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Protected bays with matted grass and lily pads
- Current breaks near wing dams with adjacent vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 1-3 feet below surface
- Inline Spinners worked slowly through vegetation gaps
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to weed edges
| - Small invertebrates and insects near vegetation
- Young-of-year shad and minnows
- Aquatic insect larvae and small crustaceans
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|