Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-58 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn mode, transitioning to shallow warming areas and showing varied aggression levels based on water temperature. Fish are congregating around docks and other shallow structure, requiring slower presentations in the 52-58°F range
- Fish are typically holding tight to cover and structure, often requiring multiple casts to the same spot with deadsticked presentations lasting 15-30 seconds for bites
| - Docks in shallow warming areas, particularly those in protected bays where water temperatures are slightly higher
- Laydowns and woody cover adjacent to shallow flats
- Protected bays and pockets where water temperatures warm faster than the main lake
| - Wacky Rigs worked extremely slow with extended pauses
- Ned Rigs deadsticked around dock posts and bases
- Bladed Jigs when wind creates advantageous conditions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish in slightly deeper areas
| - Bluegill staging in shallow warming areas
- Minnows relating to dock areas and woody cover
| - Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are feeding opportunistically to build energy reserves for spawning, with a focus on crayfish and baitfish near transition areas
| - Docks with adjacent deep water access, particularly those near river channel edges
- Rocky transition areas between winter and spawning locations
- Channel edge structure with mixed rock and gravel bottom
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and edges
- Ned Rigs dragged along bottom near structure
- Tubes pitched to rocky areas and dock posts
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish congregating near warming shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near river channel entrances and moving into shallow spawning areas as water temperatures rise
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods, utilizing the turbid water conditions for shallow feeding opportunities
- Transitioning between wintering areas in deeper channels to shallow spawning locations, with frequent stops at transition points
| - River channel edges where they intersect with shallow flats (3-8 feet)
- Submerged weed edges adjacent to river channels
- Current areas near the dam that create staging points
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along channel edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
- Blade Baits worked through transitional areas
| - Shad concentrations near channel edges
- Small minnows in shallow feeding areas
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 47-59 | - Pre-spawn bluegills are beginning to stage in protected bays and backwater sloughs, moving from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallower zones
- Fish are increasingly active during warming trends, focusing on emerging vegetation and insect larvae for feeding
- Movement patterns show daily transitions between slightly deeper staging areas and shallow feeding zones
| - Protected bays and backwater sloughs with emerging vegetation
- Areas between docks in protected coves
- Current breaks and eddies near river channel influences
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near emerging vegetation
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly near cover
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms
| - Insect larvae and emerging aquatic insects
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
- Newly hatched minnows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, establishing nests in shallow protected areas, particularly around docks and shallow warming areas. Males are aggressively guarding nests while females move between spawning areas and slightly deeper staging zones.
- Fish are most active during warmer parts of the day, with males maintaining constant presence on nests and females making periodic movements to and from deeper water
| - Protected areas between docks where the bottom is firm and suitable for spawning
- Shallow coves and bays, especially those with brush piles or laydowns
- Backwater sloughs with warmer, more stable water temperatures
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to spawning bass
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and visible beds
- Soft Jerkbaits for intercepting cruising females between spawning areas
| - Bluegill gathering in similar spawning areas
- Shad starting to move into spawning pockets
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, moving from winter deep water locations to shallower flats and protected areas where they'll establish nests
- Males become territorial and aggressive while guarding nesting sites, making them more likely to strike reaction baits
- Pre-spawn feeding activity is heightened as fish bulk up before the spawn
| - Protected rocky flats and coves with hard bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- River channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly along potential spawning flats
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentations in clearer pockets
- Spinnerbaits for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish transitioning to spawning areas
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-55 | - Walleye are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deep river channels to shallow spawning areas near weed flats and rocky areas
- Fish are most active during low-light periods due to turbid water conditions (1.9m Secchi), making dawn and dusk prime feeding times
- Post-spawn fish transition to weed-edge transitions in 3-8 feet for recovery and feeding
| - Shallow flats adjacent to river channels in 3-8 feet of water
- Current areas near dam that provide oxygenated water
- Weed-edge transitions connecting to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to weed edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') in current areas
| - Shad congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Minnows along weed edges and channel transitions
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-75 | - Actively moving into shallow, protected bays and backwater areas for spawning, with males guarding nests in 2-4 feet of water
- Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, moving in waves as water temperatures rise
- Increased feeding activity during morning and evening hours, particularly around new moon phases
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and scattered vegetation
- Areas between docks in protected coves
- Backwater sloughs with warmer water temperatures
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structures
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Zooplankton
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy after spawning
- Fish are relating to dock edges, brush piles, and emerging vegetation, particularly during morning and evening feeding periods
| - Main lake docks with deeper water access
- Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet of water
- Emerging weed edges near points and flats
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly around docks and brush
- Swim Jigs along emerging weed edges
- Shakey Heads on deeper dock posts and brush piles
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Shad schools moving along points and flats
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding and recovering from spawn, establishing summer patterns along rocky structure and channel edges
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, often staging at intermediary depths around key structure
| - Transition areas near bluff walls where spawning flats meet deeper water
- Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to river channels
- Hard bottom areas with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily along depth changes
| - Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small bluegill in transitional areas
- Juvenile baitfish relating to current edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-65 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively feeding in shallow water (3-8 feet) near weed edges and flats adjacent to river channels
- Fish are showing increased activity during daylight hours, particularly around current areas and dam structures
| - Weed edges and flats adjacent to river channels in 3-8 feet of water
- Current areas near dam structures
- Shallow submerged vegetation areas with access to deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows or leeches
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to structure
| - Minnows congregating in shallow areas
- Shad moving along channel edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to weedlines and dock edges in 4-8 foot depths
- Fish are establishing summer feeding patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper refuge areas throughout the day
| - Weedline edges adjacent to spawning bays in 4-8 foot depths
- Dock edges and posts with nearby vegetation
- Protected coves with established vegetation
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near structure
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near docks
| - Small insects and larvae near vegetation
- Emerging aquatic invertebrates
- Small crustaceans in weed beds
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|