| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are moving from winter deep-water haunts to transitional rocky areas, staging for the upcoming spawn
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, but still maintaining proximity to deep-water escape routes
- Feeding activity increases during sunny afternoons when shallow rocks warm up faster than surrounding areas
| - Rocky points and shorelines adjacent to deep water, especially those receiving afternoon sun
- Secondary points in bays that will be used for spawning
- Transition areas where rock meets submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses in clear water
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish or during cold fronts
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small yellow perch in transitional areas
- Juvenile cisco in deeper adjacent areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Muskie | 45-58 | - Muskies are transitioning from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, following rising water temperatures and becoming more active
- Fish are staging near spawning areas but still making feeding movements to deeper adjacent structures
- Primarily feeding during warmer afternoon periods when water temperatures peak
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Points and breaks leading into spawning bays
- Submerged humps near spawning areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Hard Jerkbaits
- Spinnerbaits
| - Cisco schools in transition areas
- Perch in emerging vegetation
- Small suckers moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Transitioning from winter depths to shallow warming bays and spawning areas, with frequent stops at staging points
- Increasing feeding activity as water warms, focusing on larger meals to prepare for spawning
| - Protected shallow bays with dark bottoms that warm quickly
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Deeper staging areas near emerging vegetation in 8-12 feet
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits with long pauses around staging points
- Football Jigs worked slowly along deeper transitional areas
| - Ciscoes concentrated in transitional areas
- Early season bluegills moving shallow
- Emerging crawfish becoming more active
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly on the north side of the lake where water warms first
- Males are actively guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths, becoming aggressive toward any potential threat
- Pre-spawn females staging on adjacent points and deeper structure, moving shallow during warm fronts
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and scattered rock
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Shallow rock/gravel flats near deep water access
| - Tubes worked slowly around spawning areas
- Ned Rigs for finicky pre-spawn fish
- Soft Jerkbaits for aggressive pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in shallow vegetation
- Juvenile ciscos in deeper transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Muskie | 48-58 | - Post-spawn females recovering in shallow bays near spawning areas, while males remain protective of spawning sites
- Transitioning from lethargic winter patterns to more active feeding as water temperatures rise
- Fish are moving into shallow areas (2-12 feet) as water warms, particularly focusing on emerging vegetation
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially areas near deeper water access
- Protected shorelines with early-warming potential, particularly on north banks
- Shallow rock/gravel areas near spawning sites
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Spinnerbaits
- Hard Jerkbaits
| - Shallow-running Ciscoes
- Yellow Perch
- Small Suckers
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet), particularly in protected coves and bays with firm bottom
- Males creating and guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nests, with fish more likely to strike out of defense than hunger
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom, especially those with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow areas adjacent to lily pad fields noted in summer reports
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - precise presentations to visible beds or likely spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs - effective for both bedding fish and females staging nearby
- Soft Jerkbaits - excellent for triggering reaction strikes from defensive males
| - Bluegill and small panfish gathering in the same spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving into warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting baitfish and crawfish in transitional areas
- Fish are moving from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, utilizing points and deeper structure
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays
- Transitional areas between shallow flats and deeper water
- Submerged vegetation edges in 8-15 foot range
| - Tubes worked along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs fished slowly on points
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools
- Young-of-year perch
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Muskie | 52-65 | - Post-spawn muskies are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting cisco and other large baitfish in transitional depths
- Fish are moving from shallow spawning areas to early-summer locations, following baitfish schools and utilizing structural elements as ambush points
| - Deep weed edges adjacent to spawning bays, particularly where they intersect with points
- Submerged humps with emerging vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points and inside turns near main lake basins
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along weed edges and over structure
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through transitional depths
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
| - Cisco schools beginning to suspend in transitional depths
- Yellow Perch utilizing emerging weed growth
- White Suckers in post-spawn recovery
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing submerged vegetation edges and points as primary feeding zones, making frequent moves between shallow and moderate depths
| - Secondary points with access to deeper water, especially those adjacent to spawning bays
- Emerging weed edges in 8-10 foot depth range
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked along weed edges and through scattered vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to points and shoreline breaks
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves over emerging vegetation
| - Young of the year panfish emerging in shallow areas
- Bluegills returning to shallow feeding areas
- Small perch along weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
