| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn Northern Pike actively feeding and staging near spawning areas, most active during daylight hours in shallow water
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, particularly concentrated around emerging vegetation and tributary inflows
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially near reed beds
- Tributary inflows and connected channels where warmer water first enters the system
- Protected shoreline areas with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through shallow staging areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near pre-spawn staging points
| - Perch congregating in similar shallow areas
- Bluegills moving into warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass are transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, following the warming trend and becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively to prepare for spawning, with primary focus on larger meals like bluegill and perch
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats, particularly those with submerged vegetation
- Deep water access points near emerging reed beds in 5-10 foot depth ranges
- Protected coves with early-warming water, especially those with complex shoreline features
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation with sporadic pauses
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near vegetation edges and transition areas
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked methodically through staging areas
| - Bluegill congregating near emerging vegetation
- Perch schools in slightly deeper water near structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Northern Pike are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly reed beds and flooded vegetation in bays where water warms first
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding, targeting abundant perch and bluegill populations around vegetation edges
| - Shallow bays with emergent vegetation, particularly reeds and lily pad stems in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with submerged vegetation
- Vegetation edges adjacent to slightly deeper water (6-10 feet)
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through vegetation edges and over emerging weed growth
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves parallel to spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near vegetation edges for post-spawn feeding fish
| - Perch congregating near vegetation edges
- Bluegill moving into shallow warming bays
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass moving into shallow staging areas and spawning sites, particularly in protected coves and bays with stable temperatures
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between deeper pre-spawn staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, followed by territorial behavior during spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with emergent vegetation and stable bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
- Wacky Rigs
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting perch and bluegills in and around vegetation edges
- Fish are most active during early morning and evening hours, moving between shallow vegetation and slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Pike are utilizing ambush points near structural elements, particularly where vegetation meets deeper water
| - Edges of reed beds and lily pads where they transition to deeper water
- Points and bays with emerging vegetation in 8-14 foot depth range
- Shallow vegetation flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked along vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near cover
- Inline Spinners in open pockets between vegetation
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') parallel to weed edges
| - Perch
- Bluegill
- Young-of-year baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing the abundant vegetation edges and points as primary feeding zones, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Secondary points and vegetation edges adjacent to spawning bays
- Emerging reed and lily pad beds in 2-6 foot depths
- Deeper vegetation edges in 8-14 foot range for midday periods
| - Spinnerbaits worked along vegetation edges and points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around emerging vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to vegetation edges
| - Bluegill gathering in spawning areas and vegetation
- Perch schools around vegetation edges
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
