| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 44-52 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding and transitioning from winter depths to staging areas, showing aggressive feeding behavior as evidenced by recent blade bait success
- Fish are holding on structural elements in 7-20 foot depth ranges, not yet moved to spawning flats but beginning their gradual warming period transition
| - Boulder fields and rock structure in 10-20 foot depth range
- Shelves and ledges adjacent to spawning flats in 7-10 foot depths
- River channel edges where they intersect with transitional structure
| - Blade Baits with yo-yo retrieval off bottom
- Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly in the upper water column
- Drop Shot targeting specific structure
| | - Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass are transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Movement patterns follow migration routes from deep winter areas to shallow spawning zones, using points and channel edges as transition zones
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation near deep water access
- Dock areas with good sun exposure and proximity to deeper water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in transition zones
| - Bluegill moving shallow with warming trends
- Perch actively feeding in staging areas
- Smaller baitfish concentrating near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye are staging near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for the spawn
- Fish are moving from deeper winter locations to transitional structures, following temperature changes
- Most active during dawn and dusk, utilizing the moderate water clarity for feeding advantages
| - Rocky points and shoreline areas with gravel or rubble substrate
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and spawning flats (20-30 foot range)
- Wind-swept shorelines creating current breaks and oxygenated water
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with slow, deliberate presentations
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows along transition areas
- Blade Baits worked slowly through suspended fish
| - Perch (primary forage based on lake reports)
- Minnows (abundant in pre-spawn period)
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-63 | - Smallmouth bass actively spawning and guarding beds in shallow water (1-5 feet), showing aggressive territorial behavior
- Fish are highly sight-oriented during spawn, but become spooky when directly visible to anglers
| - Sandy or rocky areas in 1-5 feet of water with slow-moving water
- Rock piles in shallow water protected from heavy wave action
- Protected coves and points with suitable spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with slow, methodical presentations on beds
- Ned Rigs worked carefully around spawning areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for spooky fish
| - Bluegill around spawning areas
- Crawfish in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-63 | - Largemouth bass are in full spawn mode, with females on beds and males guarding. Fish are highly territorial and protective of their nesting sites, particularly around cover like logs
- Males become more aggressive in defending nests while females may be more skittish and require finesse presentations
| - Protected shallow areas with laydowns and logs where bass are establishing spawning beds
- Secondary points and coves with gradual slopes, especially those near deeper water
- Areas with stable bottom composition suitable for spawning, particularly near shoreline cover
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around visible beds and cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeted at spawning beds and laydowns
- Wacky Rigs presented with subtle movements near protective cover
| - Bluegill holding near spawning areas
- Perch in slightly deeper water adjacent to spawning flats
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow rocky areas and tributaries
- Most active during low-light periods (dawn/dusk) but may feed during day in moderate clarity
- Males arrive first and stay longer on spawning grounds, while females move in and out quickly
| - Rocky points and shorelines with gravel or rubble substrate
- Tributary mouths and current areas
- Shallow to mid-depth flats adjacent to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
- Blade Baits worked methodically through staging areas
| - Small perch in shallow areas
- Minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Juvenile baitfish moving to spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 63-69 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding and showing aggressive behavior, with larger fish setting up in ambush points near structure
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth zones, from shallow 3-4 feet near cover to deeper spots adjacent to drop-offs
| - Overhangs and ambush points near weed lines or drop-offs in 3-4 foot range
- Docks providing overhead cover and shade
- Rocky points with access to deeper water
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along structure and drop-offs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) for aggressive fish in ambush mode
- Neko Rigs for finicky fish around docks and cover
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish in weed edges and around structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegill and perch in vegetation edges and near docks
- Fish are most active during low-light periods (dawn/dusk) due to moderate water clarity, but will feed throughout the day in shaded areas
| - Shallow vegetation edges adjacent to slightly deeper water (8-15 feet)
- Docks and laydowns providing shade and ambush points
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked along vegetation edges and through openings
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and laydowns
- Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline structure during low light
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow vegetation
- Yellow Perch active along weedlines
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye gradually transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structural elements, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish become more active during low-light periods (dawn/dusk) in the moderate clarity water (3.5m Secchi)
- Walleye following baitfish schools along transitional areas and ledges
| - Main lake points and irregular shoreline areas with transitional depths
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Offshore structural transitions between 15-25 feet
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along depth transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with minnows or soft plastics
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along structural edges
| - Perch - primary forage base confirmed in lake reports
- Minnows - abundant in spring transitions
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
