| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding and cruising shallow areas, particularly around emerging vegetation and staging points
- Fish are showing aggressive behavior, willing to chase and strike reaction baits as they prepare for spawning
| - Weed lines adjacent to emerging lily pads in 3-6 foot depth
- Main lake and secondary points with scattered rock and submerged vegetation
- Shallow flats with pre-emergent vegetation in protected areas
| - Spinnerbaits burned through shallow cover
- Shallow diving crankbaits worked along weed edges
- Bladed jigs with swimbaits trailers around submerged vegetation
- Drop shot with minnow profile baits on staging points
| - Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation
- Crappie moving into shallow staging areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 45-55 | - Pike are moving from winter locations to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawning. They are especially active during wind events in the stained water conditions.
- Fish are transitioning between deeper vegetation (6-10 feet) and shallow spawning areas, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise.
| - Weed edges in 5-12 foot range adjacent to shallow spawning areas
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation near cattails
- Wind-blown points with submerged vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges and through scattered vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves parallel to vegetation lines
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation with sporadic pauses
| - Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation
- Various baitfish species staging in pre-spawn areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-69 | - Bass are in various spawning phases - some actively spawning on beds, others cruising shallow areas looking for spawning sites, as evidenced by recent reports of bed fishing success
- Fish showing mixed behavior with some relating to wind-driven patterns and others focused on spawning activities, becoming more scattered and less aggressive in warmer water (67-69°F)
| - Protected shallow bays with reeds and emerging vegetation, particularly important during windy conditions
- Submerged vegetation edges in 6-11 foot range where pre/post spawn fish are staging
- Hard bottom areas near shoreline structures where spawning beds are located
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly and stealthily around spawning areas and vegetation
- Drop Shot along deep weed edges and rock spines for staging fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and targeting active fish
| - Bluegill - multiple reports confirm this as primary forage, especially around vegetation
- Minnows - particularly in wind-blown areas and along weed edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 67-69 | - Northern Pike are actively hunting in shallow areas and weed edges, targeting spawning bluegills, with increased activity during windy conditions
- Fish are holding 10-50 feet out from shoreline along weed transitions, using vegetation for ambush points
| - Weed edges 10-50 feet from shore, particularly where submerged vegetation creates ambush points
- Shallow vegetation zones (1-4 feet) near cattails and lilypads
- Complex shoreline areas with coves and points, especially where they intersect with weed edges
| - Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges with moderate retrieve speed
- Spinnerbaits in windy conditions, particularly around vegetation transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to weed lines
| - Bluegill schools in shallow spawning areas
- Various baitfish relating to weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-80 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding around shallow cover, with observed bluegill chasing behavior near shorelines
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, transitioning between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper holding areas as temperatures fluctuate
| - Docks with adjacent submerged vegetation
- Weed edges in 6-12 foot range
- Points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along weed edges and dock areas
- Wacky Rigs for more pressured fish around vegetation
- Bladed Jigs near shoreline cover where bluegill are present
- Drop Shot with finesse worms for deeper presentations
| - Bluegill - primary forage based on multiple reports and observations
- Shad - secondary forage mentioned in reports
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 58-72 | - Pike are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, actively hunting along weed edges and points where bluegill concentrate
- Fish are particularly active during windy conditions, using the disturbed water to ambush prey in 5-12 foot vegetation zones
| - Weed edges 10-50 feet from shore in 5-12 foot depth range
- Shallow vegetation zones near cattails and lilypads in 1-4 feet of water
- Points and irregular shoreline features with emerging vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through vegetation transitions
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily in shallow areas
| - Bluegill concentrating near emerging vegetation
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear in shallows
- Perch relating to weed edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
