| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near shallow spawning areas, making daily movements between deeper staging areas (15-20ft) and shallower pre-spawn locations (7-12ft)
- Fish are most active during low-light periods due to the moderate water clarity (3.1m Secchi), with peak feeding occurring at dawn and dusk
- Walleyes are congregating near hard-bottom areas and rocky structures that will serve as spawning grounds
| - Rocky points and reefs in 7-12 foot depth range
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper staging locations
- Hard-bottom areas near emerging weed growth
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with deliberate lifts and long pauses
- Blade Baits worked with subtle lifts near staging areas
| - Small perch in the 2-3 inch range
- Juvenile shiners gathering near spawning areas
- Small minnows concentrated near emerging weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to shallower transitional areas near spawning flats
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Fish are relating heavily to structure transitions between deep and shallow water
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Deep weed edges near shallow flats
- Protected coves with early vegetation growth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along weed edges and through sparse cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in transition areas
| - Bluegill starting to become more active in shallow areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Yellow perch are staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. They are typically found in schools around transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water.
- Fish are becoming more active with warming water temperatures, moving from winter deep water locations to shallower areas with emerging vegetation and hard bottom structure.
| - Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially areas with emerging vegetation in 8-15 feet
- Hard bottom areas and reef structures in 12-20 feet of water
- Protected bays with warming water and early vegetation growth
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Small invertebrates near bottom structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 48-54 | - Walleyes are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, concentrating on hard-bottom structures in 7-12 foot depth range
- Fish are light-sensitive in the clear water (3.1m Secchi), feeding more actively during low-light periods
| - Shallow shoreline flats with rocky substrate in 7-11 feet
- Main lake points in 7-12 feet
- Reefs and hard-bottom areas in spawning depth range
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with 1/8 oz jigs and long casts
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water on points
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning flats and transitional areas
- Males will be the first to move shallow and begin creating beds, while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
- Activity levels increase with warming water temperatures, with fish becoming more aggressive in protecting spawning areas
| - Protected shallow bays with matted grass and reeds, especially those with firm bottom composition
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water, particularly near weed edges
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and beds
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish staging near drops
- Spinnerbaits worked through sparse vegetation and along weed edges
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 45-52 | - Yellow Perch are moving into shallow bays and protected areas with firm bottom for spawning, typically gathering in large schools
- Feeding becomes more active pre and post-spawn, with fish particularly aggressive during warming trends
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and emerging vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Transition areas near weed edges and drop-offs in 8-15 feet
- Reef structures with adjacent vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms worked slowly along bottom
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs tipped with live bait
- Inline Spinners retrieved slowly through spawning areas
| - Small baitfish and minnows
- Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small invertebrates near bottom
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Warm Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 50-58 | - Transitioning from spawning areas to early summer locations, actively feeding but still light-sensitive in clear water conditions
- Most active during lower light periods, holding near structure during bright conditions
- Feeding patterns focused on minnows around hard-bottom structures like reefs and rock piles
| - Reefs and rock piles in 10-19 feet of water
- Humps with access to deeper water
- Shallow rock piles near spawning areas
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow cover and adjacent deeper water, especially during daily temperature changes
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 5-12 feet of water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Reed lines and grass mats in shallow water areas
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits for aggressive post-spawn fish
| - Bluegill starting to become active in the shallows
- Young of the year baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 48-62 | - Post-spawn perch are actively feeding and beginning to form loose schools, moving from shallow spawning areas to transitional depths
- Fish are keying in on emerging weed growth and utilizing hard-bottom areas near drop-offs for feeding
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-15 feet of water near drop-offs
- Hard-bottom areas and reef structures with fresh vegetation growth
- Secondary points and inside turns with mixed bottom composition
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small jigs tipped with live bait
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to weed edges
| - Small invertebrates and emerging insect larvae
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school
- Newly hatched aquatic insects
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
