| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn bass staging near spawning flats, moving between winter and spawning areas with warming trends
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn, particularly around sunrise and sunset
- Fish become more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with reports showing spawning activity starting at 57°F
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Dock areas in 5-15 foot depths near spawning areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around dock posts and vegetation edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in clear pockets
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving along depth transitions and relating to rocky structure, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
| - Main lake points with proximity to deep water and rocky structure
- Steep breaklines and ledges in 15-25 foot range
- Secondary points in major bays that offer pre-spawn staging areas
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along steep breaks
- Drop Shot with subtle presentations for pressured fish
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in clearer water
| - Yellow Perch congregating near structure
- Smaller baitfish schools suspending near points
- Crayfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near shallow spawning areas but maintaining access to deeper water, most active during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving from wintering areas to pre-spawn locations
| - Rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to deeper water
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
- Inside turns of major bays with emerging vegetation
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') during peak activity periods
| - Small perch concentrated near transition areas
- Shiner minnows moving shallow with warming water
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Fish are in various spawning stages (pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn) with some actively feeding, particularly during morning periods
- Bass are utilizing shallow areas for spawning activities while maintaining proximity to deeper water access
- Some post-spawn fish showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around cover
| - Shallow areas near docks with spawning habitat
- Rock piles in spawning zones
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with complex shoreline features
| - Hard Body Swimbaits worked slowly in shallow areas during morning hours
- Grass Jigs flipped under docks and around vegetation
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses between twitches
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover
| - Bluegill gathering in spawning areas
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and around docks
- Small baitfish in shallow zones
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning areas, with pre-spawn fish staging on adjacent points and drops
- Males actively preparing and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between staging and spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, with aggressive responses to prey-mimicking presentations
| - Protected rocky or gravel bays with depths of 2-8 feet for spawning
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays for staging fish
- Steep drops and ledges near spawning areas for transitioning fish
| - Drop Shot with subtle presentations for bedding fish
- Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas and transition zones
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear water situations
- Hard Jerkbaits for aggressive pre-spawn fish
| - Yellow Perch, particularly prevalent in spring reports
- Smaller baitfish relating to spawning areas
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are moving into shallow spawning areas near gravel or rocky substrate, primarily active during dawn and dusk with reduced feeding during peak spawn
- Post-spawn fish gradually transition to feeding locations, becoming more active as water temperatures stabilize
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 2-8 foot depth range for spawning
- Transition areas between spawning grounds and deeper water
- Protected bays with emerging vegetation for post-spawn recovery
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lifts and long pauses
- Blade Baits worked methodically through transition areas
| - Small Perch in shallow areas
- Minnows gathering near emerging vegetation
- Juvenile Baitfish schools in warming bays
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth are recovering and actively feeding, splitting time between shallow cover and nearby deeper breaks
- Fish are primarily targeting bluegill in and around vegetation, with increased feeding activity during warmer parts of the day
| - Matted grass and vegetation adjacent to docks in shallow water
- Break lines with emerging grass in 10-15 foot depth range
- Wood cover in backs of shallow areas
| - Frogs/Toads worked through matted vegetation and around docks
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations along grass break lines
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow wood cover and dock posts
| - Bluegill concentrating around vegetation and dock areas
- Various small baitfish utilizing emerging grass edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding post-spawn, using steep drops and ledges as ambush points for perch
- Fish are showing aggressive reaction strikes on moving baits coming over depth changes
| - Steep ledges and drop-offs, especially those adjacent to flats
- Main lake points with quick access to deep water
- Rocky structure along depth transitions
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with pauses over depth changes
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
- Tubes worked along rocky transitions
| - Perch - primary forage based on multiple reports
- Baitfish schools suspended near structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Post-spawn walleye are recovering and beginning to actively feed, moving from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations
- Fish are transitioning between shallow and mid-depth ranges, especially active during low light periods given the moderate clarity
| - Secondary points and transition areas adjacent to spawning sites
- Emerging weed edges in 8-15 foot range
- Rocky points and humps near deep water access
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') during midday
| - Small Perch
- Minnows gathering near emerging vegetation
- Young of year baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
