| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 44-55 | - Bass are still in late winter/early pre-spawn pattern, holding in deeper wintering areas despite some surface warming. Fish are lethargic and require slow presentations.
- Movement patterns are more influenced by photoperiod than water temperature, with fish not yet transitioning to shallow areas despite temps reaching low 50s.
| - Deep wintering areas in open water basins where fish are concentrated
- Brush piles and sunken structures in moderate depths
- Laydowns near deeper water access
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom in deeper areas
- Finesse Jigs with minimal movement
- Soft Jerkbaits hover-strolled around structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly near structure
| - Minnows/small baitfish around structure
- Insects, particularly in slightly warmer areas
- Inactive crawfish beginning to emerge
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Warm Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 44-52 | - Transitioning from winter deep water holding areas (observed at 45°F) to pre-spawn staging areas, with fish moving slowly and feeding opportunistically
- Showing preference for deeper water despite warming trends, suggesting heavy reliance on winter-to-spring transition areas
| - Deep water areas adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Brush piles in transitional depths
- Main lake points with access to deep water
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly in deep water
- Drop Shot with subtle movements in deeper holding areas
| - Perch - confirmed in recent catch reports
- Minnows - actively targeted by bass in open water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pike are actively feeding in shallow areas immediately post ice-out, with aggressive behavior noted even toward small baits at 44.5°F
- Fish are staging near spawning areas in submerged vegetation, making short feeding movements into slightly deeper adjacent areas
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 5-12 foot depth range, particularly where cabbage weeds are present
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
- Transition areas between spawning locations and deeper water feeding zones
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily in shallow areas
- Spoons worked with a moderate retrieve near weed edges
| - Minnows concentrating in warming shallow areas
- Small Yellow Perch moving along weed edges
- Juvenile Bluegills in protected vegetated areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Staging near shallow spawning flats with gradual slopes, particularly near cabbage weed edges and brush piles
- Males actively building and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with increased reaction to intrusive baits
| - Protected shallow flats with firm bottom near cabbage weed edges
- Brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning areas
- Transitional areas between deep wintering holes and spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and nesting areas
- Swim Jigs along weed edges and transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') for covering water between spots
| - Bluegill gathering in similar spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Males actively constructing and guarding nests in protected areas, while females stage in slightly deeper water
- Fish moving from winter deep water areas to shoreline spawning locations as water temperatures climb
| - Protected shallow flats near cabbage bed transitions (4-8 feet)
- Hard bottom areas near lily pad edges
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near staging areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for wary pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Perch along weed transitions
- Small minnows in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 44-55 | - Pike are moving into shallow spawning areas with vegetation, particularly around emerging lily pads and cabbage beds in 2-6 foot depths
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding, targeting abundant prey in weedlines and vegetation edges
| - Shallow bays and backwater areas with emerging vegetation
- Weedline edges in 7-10 foot range near spawning areas
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Spinnerbaits
- Inline Spinners
| - Yellow Perch
- Bluegill
- Minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-78 | - Largemouth bass are actively patrolling bluegill spawning beds, exhibiting increased feeding activity as they recover from their own spawn
- Fish are transitioning to more aggressive feeding patterns, moving between shallow bedding areas and slightly deeper adjacent structure
| - Shallow bluegill spawning beds near cabbage weed edges
- Secondary points and breaks in 7-10 foot depth adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles and laydowns near transitional areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around bluegill beds
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with erratic retrieves near weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and laydowns
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting abundant forage in vegetation and transitional areas
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth areas, utilizing cabbage beds as primary feeding zones
| - Cabbage bed edges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Main lake points with submerged vegetation
- Transitional areas between lily pads and deeper water
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits worked slowly through cabbage beds
- Ned Rigs dragged along vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved parallel to weed edges
| - Perch actively moving in weed beds
- Bluegill beginning to establish in vegetation
- Minnows schooling along weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 44-65 | - Pike are actively feeding post-spawn, recovering energy and moving to ambush locations near emerging weed growth
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to established weed edges, particularly focusing on cabbage beds in 7-10 foot range
| - Cabbage weed edges in 7-10 foot depth range
- Emerging weed growth near spawning areas
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Spinnerbaits
- Inline Spinners
| - Yellow Perch
- Bluegill
- Various Minnow Species
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
