| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-60 | - Transitioning from winter deep water to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Most active during warmer parts of the day, particularly around rocky structures that retain heat
| - Rocky points and transitions adjacent to spawning flats in 3-8 foot range
- Submerged vegetation edges in 1-4 feet of water
- Fallen trees and dock structures providing cover in shallow water
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged on bottom near vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through staging areas
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Bluegills in and around vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 58-64 | - Pre-spawn walleye are actively staging near spawning areas, making frequent moves between shallow and slightly deeper water as they prepare to spawn
- Fish are exhibiting increased feeding activity due to optimal water temperatures (60-62°F), particularly during low light periods due to turbid conditions
| - Hard-bottom areas in 4-8 foot depth range, particularly near points and in bays
- Rock piles and scattered boulder areas in shallow water
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near rocky structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along rock edges
| - Crayfish around rocky structure
- Minnows in shallow water areas
- Bluegills near dock areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Bass are following a warming trend, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower flats near spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases as fish prepare for spawn, with more aggressive behavior during warm fronts
| - Secondary points and channel swings leading to spawning flats
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially near emerging vegetation
- Laydowns and dock posts in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water
- Bladed Jigs near emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill moving shallow with warming water
- Smaller baitfish schooling in pre-spawn areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Actively spawning and defending nests in shallow areas with vegetation and hard bottom, particularly in 1-4 foot depth range
- Feeding opportunistically on crawfish and bluegills around shallow cover, with most activity in 3-8 foot zone
| - Shallow flats with submerged vegetation in 1-4 feet of water, especially near harder bottom
- Transition areas from 3-8 feet where vegetation meets deeper water
- Points and coves with mixed cover (vegetation and rocky areas)
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation in 1-4 feet
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') dragged from shallow to deeper water
- Tubes worked around vegetation edges
| - Crawfish actively moving in shallow areas
- Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Minnows relating to vegetation edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 58-64 | - Walleye are actively feeding in shallow water (4-8 ft) during spawn/post-spawn period, particularly around hard-bottom areas and structure
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase crankbaits, taking advantage of optimal 60-62°F water temperatures
| - Rock piles and boulder areas in 4-8 foot depth range
- Shallow water areas near docks, especially where they intersect with the first break line
- Points and bays with hard bottom composition
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked with slow retrieves, letting them bounce off rocks
- Live Bait Rigs near structure during lower light conditions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around dock areas and rock piles
| - Crayfish, especially around rocky structure
- Bluegill in shallow areas near docks
- Minnows along break lines and structure edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-68 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas (1-4 feet) and establishing nesting sites near visible cover
- Male bass guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water between spawning periods
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow flats in 1-4 foot depth range with gradual slopes
- Areas near submerged vegetation in shallow zones
- Docks and laydowns providing cover adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn females
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 60-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting crawfish and bluegills in shallow to moderate depths
- Fish are establishing summer feeding patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper recovery zones throughout the day
| - Shallow weed edges in 1-4 feet adjacent to deeper water
- Fallen trees and dock structures in 3-8 foot range
- Rocky areas with crawfish populations in 4-8 foot depth
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation and around cover
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas
- Wacky Rigs worked around docks and fallen trees
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear conditions
| - Crawfish emerging and active in rocky areas
- Bluegills in and around shallow vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to dock structures
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 58-65 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly during dawn and dusk periods in the turbid conditions
- Fish are relating strongly to hard-bottom areas and structure in 4-8 foot depth range, moving between feeding zones
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 4-8 foot range
- Dock areas with nearby rocky structure
- Points and inside turns of bays with gravel or rock bottom
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along hard bottom areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near dock posts and rock piles
| - Crayfish around rocky structure
- Bluegills in dock areas
- Minnows relating to shallow structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper staging areas, particularly around docks and laydowns
| - Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially in 4-8 foot depth range
- Submerged vegetation edges in 3-6 foot range
- Fallen trees and laydowns near deeper water access
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water between structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting laydowns and dock shadows
| - Bluegill focusing around dock areas and vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish active in shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
