Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-67 | - Bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, with increased feeding activity as water temperatures rise through the 50s and 60s
- Fish are relating heavily to submerged vegetation, particularly isolated clumps and outside weed edges, showing both aggressive and passive feeding depending on temperature trends
| - Outside weed edges and isolated weed clumps in pre-spawn staging areas
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Rip rap areas that warm quickly and hold bait
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation edges and in shallow bays
- Spinnerbaits and Bladed Jigs burned through grass during warming trends
- Ned Rigs and Drop Shot for tough conditions and colder periods
| - Bluegill holding in and around vegetation
- Shad schooling in pre-spawn areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to school more tightly and moving closer to spawning areas near vegetation and shoreline structure
- Due to the turbid water conditions (1.9m Secchi), fish are most active during dawn and dusk periods
| - Shallow coves with emerging vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Protected areas between docks where pre-spawn staging occurs
- Edges of lily pad fields and matted grass in 5-12 feet of water
| - Bobbers with live minnows near vegetation edges
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around cover
- Crankbaits Shallow (0-6') along staging areas
| - Yellow Perch (juvenile)
- Small Minnows
- Young of Year Baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are staging near spawning areas and actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are making transition movements from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning zones
| - Rock piles and gravel areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Tributary mouths and current-swept points
- Edges of emerging weed growth near spawning areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with hair jigs
| - Yellow Perch
- Small Baitfish
- Juvenile Crappie
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 45-52 | - Pre-spawn perch are actively feeding and schooling in preparation for spawning, typically moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower spawning zones
- Fish are seeking warmer water temperatures in protected areas, especially on sunny days, and will be most active during mid-morning to afternoon periods
| - Shallow weed edges in 3-6 foot depth range, especially near wind-blown areas
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between deeper wintering areas and shallow spawning flats
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Blade Baits
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Small invertebrates near vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are transitioning into spawning areas, moving from pre-spawn staging points into shallow bays and protected coves
- Males are actively preparing and guarding nests in 2-4 foot depths, while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Feeding activity is opportunistic, with aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation and stable bottom composition
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with submerged vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - precise presentations to visible beds and spawning areas
- Bladed Jigs - effective for covering water and triggering reaction strikes from territorial fish
- Soft Jerkbaits - excellent for suspended pre-spawn females
- Spinnerbaits - ideal for fishing transition areas and during cloudy or windy conditions
| - Bluegill gathering in similar shallow spawning areas
- Perch moving through transitional areas
- Shad schools beginning to move shallow
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Fish moving into shallow bays and coves, staging near spawning areas around vegetation
- Most active during dawn and dusk due to turbid conditions (1.9m Secchi depth)
- Males guarding nests in protected areas while females stage slightly deeper
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation
- Lily pad fields and matted grass areas in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with live minnows near vegetation edges
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn fish
| - Young-of-year perch
- Small minnows
- Juvenile bluegill
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are in shallow spawning areas, typically moving into rocky or gravelly areas at night to spawn, and retreating to nearby deeper water during daylight
- Post-spawn fish remain relatively shallow, actively feeding to recover energy, taking advantage of the turbid conditions for daytime feeding
| - Rock piles and gravel areas in 2-6 feet of water, particularly near drop-offs
- Submerged vegetation edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Wind-swept points and shorelines where current creates feeding opportunities
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Blade Baits
| - Yellow Perch
- Crappie
- Small Baitfish in emerging weed growth
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Yellow perch are spawning in shallow areas with vegetation, typically moving in large schools during daylight hours
- Fish are more active during warming trends, with males arriving first to spawning areas followed by females
| - Shallow bays with submerged vegetation in 3-6 foot depth range
- Windblown weed edges where emerging vegetation meets firmer bottom
- Protected coves with gradual slopes and vegetative cover
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or pieces of nightcrawler
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through vegetation
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic invertebrates near vegetation
- Freshwater shrimp and small crustaceans
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy after spawn
- Fish are utilizing submerged grass in 3-5ft depth range, moving between shallow and slightly deeper areas based on sunlight and temperature
| - Submerged grass edges in 3-5ft depth range adjacent to spawning bays
- Secondary points with vegetation near deeper water access
- Shallow vegetation flats with mixed grass species
| - Swim Jigs worked through and over submerged vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered grass
| - Bluegill establishing in shallow vegetation
- Young perch schools around grass edges
- Emerging shad schools in vegetation zones
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappie are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting minnows near vegetation edges
- Fish are suspending near submerged vegetation in relatively shallow water, especially active during low-light periods due to turbid conditions
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 feet of water
- Protected coves with emergent vegetation
- Secondary points with nearby vegetation
| - Bobbers with live minnows near vegetation edges
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) with worm harnesses
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow-tipped jigs
| - Minnows
- Young Yellow Perch
- Small Baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-62 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting perch around vegetation edges and rock-weed transitions
- Utilizing wind-driven current patterns for feeding opportunities, particularly along windblown weed lines
| - Windblown weed lines adjacent to rock piles
- Submerged vegetation edges in 8-15 feet
- Rock pile transitions near weed growth
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with crawler harnesses
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around structure
- Live Bait Rigs along weed edges
| - Yellow Perch
- Small Baitfish
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 52-62 | - Post-spawn yellow perch are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to weed edges and shallow flats in 3-6 foot depths
- Fish are showing preference for areas with current, particularly wind-blown weed lines where food is concentrated
- In the turbid conditions, perch are relying heavily on lateral line sensitivity and scent to locate prey
| - Wind-blown weed edges in 3-6 foot depths
- Shallow flats with submerged vegetation
- Protected coves with emerging weed growth
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along weed edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through vegetation gaps
| - Small minnows congregating around vegetation
- Aquatic insects emerging in shallow zones
- Young-of-year baitfish in protected areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|