| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-55 | - Largemouth bass staging on points adjacent to spawning flats, actively feeding but requiring slower presentations in cooler water
- Fish moving between deeper staging areas and shallow pre-spawn zones, showing increased activity during warmer parts of the day
| - Points leading to shallow spawning flats in 5-12 foot depth range
- Sparse submerged vegetation in 5 feet or less
- Outside edges of remaining winter vegetation near deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits with varied cadence, longer pauses in cooler water
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging points
| - Minnows concentrated around staging points
- Perch residing in remaining vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 46-52 | - Smallmouth bass are staging on pre-spawn locations, actively feeding on crawfish while maintaining position near spawning flats
- Fish are holding tight to specific depth zones (8-10 feet) and ambush points, requiring precise bait presentation parallel to structure
| - Main lake points with gradual transitions in 8-10 foot depth range
- Rocky areas adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Hard-bottom transitions near shoreline points
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked parallel to depth transitions
- Tubes dragged along bottom in rocky areas
- Football Jigs worked slowly through staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Perch relating to similar structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements during low-light periods
- Fish transitioning from winter deep-water locations to shallower staging areas, particularly active during dusk and dawn
| - Rocky points transitioning from deep water to shallow spawning areas
- Shallow gravel and rock areas in 4-8 foot range near spawning locations
- Deep-water staging areas adjacent to spawning grounds in 12-15 foot range
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near staging areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations
| - Yellow Perch transitioning from deep winter locations
- Small Minnows in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass transitioning into spawning phase, actively moving between staging areas and spawning flats, becoming increasingly territorial
- Fish actively patrolling shallow areas and points, with increased feeding activity during warming trends
| - Points leading into spawning bays and flats, especially those with weed growth
- Shallow weed lines in 5-10 foot depth adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with stable water temperatures
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along weed edges and points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline structure during warming periods
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow areas
- Young of year baitfish moving shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively engaged in spawning activity, with fish positioned on hard bottom areas and near laydowns for bed construction
- Fish are territorial and aggressive in defending nesting sites, making them more likely to strike reaction baits and crawfish imitators
| - Hard bottom areas with laydowns in 8-10 feet of water
- Rocky points with gradual depth transitions for staging areas
- Protected coves with firm bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with 1/4oz weight for precise bed presentations
- Tubes worked slowly around spawning areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
| - Crawfish are the primary forage during spawn
- Perch in slightly deeper water near spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly near rocky points and gravel shorelines
- Males arrive first and stay longer, with females moving in during peak spawn when water temperatures reach optimal range
- Post-spawn fish gradually transition to deeper structure, following the lake's defined weed edges
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 3-7 foot depths
- Transition areas between spawning sites and deeper water (7-12 foot range)
- Protected bays with firm bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Blade Baits worked with subtle lifts near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations
| - Small perch gathering near spawning areas
- Minnows concentrated in warming shallows
- Young of year bluegill in protected bays
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, moving from spawning flats to nearby deeper structure
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, relating heavily to the outside weed edges and dock areas for feeding and cover
| - Outside weed lines adjacent to spawning flats in 7-12 foot depth range
- Dock posts with access to deeper water
- Points leading to spawning flats with submerged vegetation
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically along weed edges
- Swim Jigs paralleling dock lines and weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through submerged vegetation
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Yellow Perch along weed edges
- Minnows schooling in mid-depth ranges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between deeper recovery areas and shallow feeding zones
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, often relating to points and ledges that provide access to both shallow and deep water
| - Points and ledges with transitions from 8-15 feet, especially those near spawning areas
- Rocky areas with grass lines in 10-12 feet
- Hard bottom areas with mixed rock and wood cover adjacent to deeper water
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around points and grass edges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Small perch relating to rocky areas
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to school
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye are transitioning to early summer feeding patterns, actively pursuing perch and minnows near weed edges and points
- Fish are moving between shallow and mid-depth areas (7-12 feet) as they recover from spawn, with most active feeding during lower light conditions
| - Points adjacent to spawning areas in 7-12 foot depth range with emerging vegetation
- Rocky points with access to deeper water
- Weed edges forming along depth breaks around 10-12 feet
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along points and weed edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking local forage
| - Yellow Perch concentrating near emerging weed growth
- Minnows (particularly fatheads) in transitional areas
- Small bluegills starting to become active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
