| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish moving from winter depths to warmer, shallower staging areas, particularly focusing on areas near spawning flats
- Actively feeding during warming trends, with increased activity during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Congregating around the first significant depth changes adjacent to spawning areas
| - Secondary points with access to deeper water near spawning bays
- Emerging coontail and cabbage edges in 6-12 foot depths
- Protected dock areas with southern exposure
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses
- Blade Baits worked vertically near depth changes
| - Bluegill staging in emerging weed growth
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish schools relating to warming shoreline areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near spawning areas and beginning to move shallow, especially during low-light periods given the 4.3m clarity
- Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to spring feeding, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
| - Rocky points and shoreline areas with gravel or rock substrate
- Shallow bays adjacent to deeper water
- Dock areas in 8-15 foot depths providing structure and shade
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitional areas
- Blade Baits worked with slow, vertical presentations
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved steadily through staging areas
| - Bluegills in and around dock areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
- Juvenile perch along rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass transitioning to spawning areas, moving from winter deep water to shallow flats and protected coves
- Males actively creating and guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths, particularly near hard bottom areas adjacent to vegetation
- Females staging in slightly deeper water (8-12 feet) near spawning flats, making periodic moves shallow
| - Protected shallow coves with mix of coontail and cabbage
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow dock areas with hard bottom
- Vegetation edges in 8-12 feet adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and vegetation
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly in spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for staging fish
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish on beds
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming water
- Small baitfish in staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are transitioning to spawning areas, moving from deeper wintering locations to shallow rocky or gravelly areas for spawning
- Fish become more active during low-light periods, especially around dusk and dawn, taking advantage of the moderate water clarity
- Post-spawn females will quickly move to nearby feeding areas while males linger in spawning areas
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 2-6 feet of water for active spawning
- Adjacent drop-offs in 8-15 feet for staging areas
- Protected bays with emerging coontail vegetation for post-spawn recovery
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along spawning areas and transition routes
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with occasional pauses for tentative biters
- Blade Baits worked slowly through staging areas
| - Small Bluegills in emerging weed areas
- Minnows congregating near spawning areas
- Young-of-year perch in shallow flats
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, moving from shallow spawning areas to nearby feeding zones
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, relating strongly to emerging weed growth and dock structures
| - Coontail and cabbage weed edges in 8-12 feet of water
- Docks adjacent to deeper water, especially those near weed growth
- Secondary points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through weed edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to dock edges and through gaps
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) along weed edges
- Wacky Rigs near dock posts and vegetation pockets
| - Bluegill gathering near emerging weed growth
- Crayfish active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish relating to dock areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-65 | - Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegills around docks and vegetation edges
- Fish are showing aggressive behavior, willing to chase moving baits as evidenced by success with bladed jigs
| - Docks with nearby vegetation, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Weed edges in coontail and cabbage beds
- Complex points with access to both shallow and deeper water
| - Bladed Jigs worked along dock edges and through vegetation gaps
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking bluegill profile
- Live Bait Rigs near structure during lower light conditions
| - Bluegill
- Young of the year perch
| - Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
