| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 42-55 | - Bass are actively transitioning to shallow water (3-6ft) and beginning their pre-spawn feeding activity, with increased aggression as water temperatures rise from low 40s to low 50s
- Fish are relating heavily to early-growing vegetation and utilizing matted grass areas as primary staging locations
| - Shallow canals and bays with emerging vegetation, especially matted grass in 3-6ft
- Brush piles in protected areas near spawning flats
- Wind-blown shorelines with vegetation edges
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs retrieved steadily near cover
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow vegetation
- Minnows moving into warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-45 | - Pre-spawn pike are extremely aggressive, actively feeding along weed edges and ledges near deep water as they prepare for spawning
- Fish are making transitional movements from winter deep water locations to shallow spawning areas, using ledges as staging areas
| - Weed lines adjacent to deep water ledges
- Shallow, vegetated bays that will serve as spawning areas
- Points and irregular shoreline features that create ambush locations
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive jerks and longer pauses
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled along weed edges
- Spinnerbaits worked just above vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrated in remaining green weeds
- Winter-stressed baitfish along deep edges
| - Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass actively moving to spawning areas on northern shorelines, particularly relating to inside grass edges in shallow water
- Fish are establishing and protecting spawning beds, becoming territorial and aggressive towards threats to their nests
| - Northern shoreline flats with submerged vegetation
- Inside edges of grass lines in 3-6 foot depth range
- Protected shallow coves with firm bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - precise presentations to bedding fish
- Wacky Rigs - effective for sight fishing spawning bass
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - mimicking bluegill around spawning areas
| - Bluegill - primary forage base confirmed by lake profile
- Crawfish - actively feeding on them as evidenced by successful craw presentations
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 39-52 | - Pike are highly active in pre-spawn conditions, moving into shallow, vegetated bays where water warms first
- Aggressive feeding behavior during this period as fish prepare for spawning, with increased response to larger profile baits
- Fish are congregating in staging areas near spawning locations, making them more concentrated
| - Shallow, vegetated bays with emerging weed growth
- Transition areas between spawning bays and deeper water
- Protected areas near points and irregular shoreline features
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
- Spinnerbaits slow-rolled through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly near spawning areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in warming shallows
- Small pike and other baitfish staging in pre-spawn areas
- Early season yellow perch moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing grass edges and dock areas as primary feeding zones, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Outside edges of grass lines in 6-10 foot depth range
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
- Dock areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged through sparse vegetation
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Small baitfish relating to grass edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting bluegills and other forage in emerging weed growth and along depth transitions
- Fish are following a gradual migration from spawning bays to early summer locations, using grass lines and ledges as travel corridors
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning bays where new vegetation is emerging
- Ledges and depth transitions near deep water access
- Points and irregular shoreline features with developing vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through transitional areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses near depth changes
| - Bluegills gathering in emerging weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear in shallows
- Various minnow species using transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
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