| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near spawning areas, making predictable movements from wintering areas to shallow spawning grounds
- Feeding actively but in shorter windows, primarily during dawn and dusk transitions
- Fish becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving into shallower areas especially during low light periods
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines that will be used for spawning
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning grounds
- Shoreline areas adjacent to emerging vegetation in 6-12 foot depths
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near staging areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') during prime feeding windows
| - Small minnows concentrated near spawning areas
- Young perch in slightly deeper transition zones
- Smaller baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass are actively seeking warmer water pockets near remaining vegetation, beginning their pre-spawn staging process
- Fish are becoming more active feeders as water temperatures rise, particularly targeting minnows around vegetation edges
| - Remaining patches of green submerged vegetation, especially in warming shallow bays
- Secondary points with vegetation near deeper water access
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation growth
| - Soft Jerkbaits with nose-hooked drop shot presentation for sparse vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with EWG hooks for thicker vegetation
- Shakey Heads worked slowly along vegetation edges
| - Minnows congregating around vegetation
- Small panfish beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye moving into shallow spawning areas at night, staging in adjacent deeper water during day
- Fish becoming more active during low-light periods, especially around dusk and dawn
- Post-spawn fish transitioning to feeding patterns, focusing on abundant baitfish in the system
| - Rocky points and gravel areas in 2-8 feet for spawning activity
- Adjacent deeper breaks in 12-18 feet for daytime staging
- Shallow weed edges emerging in post-spawn areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows during prime periods
- Blade Baits worked through staging areas
| - Spawning minnows in shallow areas
- Small perch in transitional areas
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to school
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are moving from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, staging on transition areas before moving to nests. Fish become increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise and spawning urge intensifies.
- Males will begin creating and guarding nests in protected shallow areas, while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water until ready to spawn.
| - Protected shallow bays with remaining green vegetation, especially in areas with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points and staging areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow pockets with leftover vegetation near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around remaining vegetation and potential spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly through staging areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow spawning areas
| - Bluegills beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish (shiners and young-of-year perch)
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 58-68 | - Post-spawn walleye are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating to submerged vegetation in moderate depths, likely using these areas as ambush points for feeding
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 10-19 foot depth range
- Secondary points near spawning areas
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Young of the year perch
- Minnows
- Small baitfish schools
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are spreading out along remaining vegetation edges and beginning to establish summer feeding areas
- Most active during morning and evening hours, utilizing moderate depths (8-15 feet) during midday
| - Remaining green vegetation patches in 5-12 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Outer edges of emerging weed growth near deeper water access
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves parallel to vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through patchy vegetation
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around visible cover
| - Young of year baitfish emerging in vegetation
- Bluegills beginning to stage for spawn
- Crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
