| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-55 | - Bass transitioning from winter deep water haunts to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but remaining depth-conscious due to cold water temperatures
- Feeding activity increases during warmer parts of day, with fish showing preference for slower-moving presentations
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays
- Open water areas near deep-to-shallow transitions
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom in 8-15 feet
- Blade Baits with controlled lift-drop retrieves
- Shakey Heads worked methodically on points
| - Minnows schooling in pre-spawn areas
- Shad in open water zones
- Small bluegill near emerging vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 45-52 | - Pre-spawn northern pike are actively feeding and staging near deeper water access points, preparing for the spawn. They're showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around main lake points as evidenced by recent catches.
- Fish are targeting perch as primary forage, utilizing ambush points near structural transitions where prey is concentrated during spring movements.
| - Main lake points with access to deep water, especially those in 15-20 foot range
- Weed edges in 8-10 foot range where transitional zones create ambush opportunities
- Sharp breaks and ledges adjacent to spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive pauses to trigger reaction strikes
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along depth transitions
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and points
| - Perch - primary forage confirmed by multiple reports
- Other Baitfish - congregating in pre-spawn areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn crappies are staging in transition areas, moving from deeper winter haunts towards spawning grounds near shoreline cover
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Secondary points and protected coves with submerged vegetation in 8-12 foot range
- Deeper weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 6-10 foot depth
- Creek channel bends and transitions near spawning areas
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small shad and shiners congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Young bluegill near emerging vegetation
- Small minnows in transition zones
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding before nest building
- Males scouting and preparing nest sites in protected areas, females moving between staging and spawning areas
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior as spawning activity intensifies
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and potential bed areas
- Swim Jigs worked parallel to spawning flats
- Soft Jerkbaits fished slowly around staging areas
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving into warmer shallow waters
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pike are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in bays and coves with vegetation, actively feeding pre-spawn with heightened aggression
- Fish are making frequent transitions between deeper staging areas (15-18ft) and shallow spawning zones (2-6ft), following temperature-driven patterns
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays serving as staging areas in 15-18 feet
- Weed edges in 8-10 foot range where transitioning fish congregate
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges and through spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) fan-cast around points and staging areas
- Live Bait Rigs positioned along transitional depths between staging and spawning zones
| - Perch concentrated in weed edges and shallow bays
- Various small baitfish gathering in warming shallow waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline structure and vegetation as water temperatures stabilize
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making frequent moves between staging and spawning areas
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, becoming more selective during actual spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation in 2-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow wood cover and dock areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
| - Small minnows
- Young-of-year bluegill
- Small shad
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass are actively feeding along weed edges, particularly focusing on ambush points created by breaks in grass lines
- Fish are settling into post-spawn patterns, becoming more predictable and structure-oriented after leaving spawning areas
| - Weed edges in 8-10 foot depth range, especially where grass lines create points or breaks
- Secondary points with established vegetation
- Transition areas where submerged vegetation meets deeper water
| - Drop Shot with finesse worms worked along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through sparse vegetation
- Shakey Heads near vegetation transitions
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike actively feeding to recover energy, targeting perch and other baitfish along weed edges and points
- Fish transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, utilizing various depth ranges throughout the day
- Aggressive feeding behavior during cooler morning and evening periods, with more selective feeding during bright midday hours
| - Weed edges in 8-10 foot range where vegetation meets deeper water
- Main lake points with access to both shallow and deep water
- Secondary points and inside turns with emerging weed growth
- Shallow bays adjacent to deeper water staging areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges with occasional pauses
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through transition areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily in shallow feeding areas
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') along weed edges and point transitions
| - Perch - primary forage based on multiple fishing reports
- Other juvenile baitfish gathering in emerging weed growth
- Young-of-year panfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappie are actively feeding while recovering, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper vegetation
- Fish are becoming more structure-oriented, relating heavily to submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 foot depth range
| - Submerged vegetation in 8-10 foot depth range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper vegetation
- Points with emerging weed growth
| - Bobbers with light jigs tipped with minnows, worked slowly near vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around weed edges
- Hover/Mid-Strolling along vegetation transitions
| - Small Minnows
- Young of Year Bluegill
- Small Shad
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
