| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-64 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding while transitioning from winter areas to spawning locations, focusing on current breaks near rocky structure
- Fish are making predictable movements along migration routes, often staging in areas adjacent to future spawning flats
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends, with fish particularly active during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Rocky points and current breaks near spawning flats in 4-8 foot depth range
- River channel bends with boulder clusters providing current breaks
- Protected areas with rock piles adjacent to deeper wintering holes
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Blade Baits worked through current breaks
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Spinnerbaits slow-rolled near current seams
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish congregating in current breaks
- Young of year perch in protected areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are staging near spawning areas and beginning to move from winter depths to shallower staging areas. With the lake's 1.5m Secchi depth, they're likely to be more active during dawn/dusk periods
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, taking advantage of current areas and rock-to-sand transitions
| - River channel edges where current meets rocky structure, particularly in 8-15 foot depths
- Rocky points and boulder areas adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Current seams near estuary mixing zones where baitfish concentrate
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges with occasional pauses
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows dragged slowly near rocky transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with aggressive lift-drop cadence in current areas
| - Minnows congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Shad schools in current seams and mixing zones
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 64-67 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning and feeding in shallow water, with fish holding tight to banks and current breaks as evidenced by recent reports
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly during afternoon hours, targeting crawfish in protected areas
| - Current breaks and pockets of slower water, especially near laydowns
- Banks and docks with tight proximity to deeper water
- Rocky areas in shallow water providing spawning habitat
| - Bladed Jigs - especially effective for covering water quickly in current
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') - productive when targeting fish tight to banks
- Tubes - effective for spawning fish around rocky areas
| - Crawfish - primary forage as indicated by recent catches and reports
- Small baitfish - secondary forage based on lake profile
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are in spawning mode, moving to rocky areas and current-influenced zones, most active during dawn and dusk due to the lake's 1.5m clarity
- Post-spawn fish gradually transition to feeding patterns, targeting minnows and shad in current seams and along structure edges
| - Rocky areas and boulder fields with current influence, particularly in 3-8 foot depths
- River channel edges where current meets structure
- Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas with hard bottom composition
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, controlled presentations
- Live Bait Rigs with minimal weight to maintain bottom contact
- Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom structure
| - Minnows concentrating in spawning areas and current seams
- Shad moving into warming shallow areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are transitioning to summer patterns, holding near but not directly on structure, actively feeding but with selective strikes
- Fish are responding to current changes and dropping water levels, positioning in deeper areas with current breaks
| - River channels with moderate to fast current, focusing on deeper sections
- Current breaks near rock piles and boulders in 4-8 foot depth range
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and summer holding areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom in current
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for pressured fish
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas
| - Crawfish - primary forage during post-spawn period
- Small baitfish moving through current areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations, actively seeking forage in current-influenced areas and around structure
- Fish are most active during low-light periods due to the lake's moderate turbidity (1.5m Secchi), with peak feeding occurring during dawn and dusk
| - Current-swept rocky areas and boulder piles where river channels meet structure
- Shoreline areas with laydowns and overhanging trees during low light periods
- Transition areas between spawning grounds and deeper summer haunts
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rock piles and current seams
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow-tipped jigs near structure
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through current areas for active fish
| - Minnows concentrating around current breaks and structure
- Shad schools beginning to form in warming waters
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
