| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass are starting to move from winter areas to transitional staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise. They are following a gradual migration towards spawning areas in protected bays and coves.
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends, with fish particularly active during sunny afternoons when shallow areas warm up. They are beginning to target bluegill and crawfish in staging areas.
| - Protected north shoreline bays where water warms first, especially areas with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between winter depths and spawning flats, focusing on 4-6 foot breaks near vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, particularly those with cabbage or coontail
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly through emerging vegetation, allowing for coverage of transitional areas
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved with a stop-and-go cadence over vegetation tops
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to trigger neutral fish in cooler water
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Bluegill starting to move shallower with warming trends
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-52 | - Northern Pike moving into shallow bays and flooded vegetation areas for pre-spawn staging
- Aggressive feeding behavior to build energy reserves before spawning
- Fish actively patrolling weed edges and points, ambushing prey in 2-4 feet of water
| - North shore weed flats with emerging vegetation
- Shallow bays with cabbage bed edges
- Points and transitions near spawning areas in 2-4 feet of water
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges
- Bladed Jigs with steady retrieves near vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with erratic action
| - Shallow water baitfish schools
- Young-of-year panfish
- Emerging minnow species
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 48-62 | - Bluegill moving from winter deep areas to warming shallows (2-6 feet) as water temperatures rise
- Staging near emerging vegetation and protected shoreline areas, becoming more active with increasing daylight
- Feeding patterns intensifying but still relatively methodical, focused on insects and small invertebrates
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 2-4 foot depths
- Edges of coontail and cabbage beds near deeper winter holding areas
- Secondary points and small coves with morning sun exposure
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly near vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with small ice fishing plastics or live bait
| - Aquatic insects emerging from winter dormancy
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
- Bloodworms and larvae near bottom
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas 1-3 feet deep, particularly around emerging vegetation and dead rice beds
- Fish showing increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites, with activity highest during warmer parts of day
| - Emerging pad fields and dead rice beds in 1-3 foot depths
- Protected shallow bays with mixed vegetation
- North shoreline areas with early-warming potential
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Buzzbaits during warmer periods, especially in pad fields
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation edges
| - Minnows in shallow vegetation
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 45-64 | - Pike are actively feeding in shallow water zones (2-4 feet) due to post-winter kill conditions and spawning patterns
- Fish are showing aggressive behavior, readily striking lures and ambushing prey from vegetation edges
| - Submerged vegetation beds, particularly cabbage beds in 2-4 feet of water
- North shore weed flats with consistent vegetation
- Protected bays with emerging vegetation near spawning areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to vegetation lines
- Inline Spinners in open pockets between weeds
| - Minnows congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Young-of-year panfish in vegetated areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills are actively spawning in colonies in shallow protected areas, particularly around vegetation edges and shallow bays
- Males are aggressively guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, moving in and out of spawning areas
- Fish are most active during warmer parts of the day when water temperatures rise
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse to moderate vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Edges of coontail and cabbage beds in 3-5 feet of water
- Shallow coves with lily pad edges providing overhead cover
| - Bobbers with small jigs or live bait suspended 1-2 feet deep
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through spawning areas
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily just above vegetation
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae around vegetation
- Zooplankton in shallow water columns
- Small crustaceans in vegetated areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 63-67 | - Post-spawn bass are gradually becoming more active but still recovering, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns
- Fish are primarily holding in shallow vegetation (reeds, rice, matted grass) in 2-5 foot depths, most active during low-light periods
| - Reed beds in 3-5 feet of water, particularly on the southern end of the lake
- Matted grass and rice areas with sufficient water depth
- Protected bays with emerging vegetation
| - Grass Jigs worked slowly through reeds and vegetation
- Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting gaps in vegetation
| - Crawfish active in and around reed beds
- Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 48-65 | - Pike are actively feeding post-spawn, making aggressive movements along weed edges in 2-4 feet of water
- Fish are utilizing cabbage beds and reed lines as ambush points, especially during prime feeding periods
- With the turbid water conditions (1.1m Secchi), pike are relying heavily on their lateral line and showing preference for high-vibration presentations
| - Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water, particularly along cabbage bed margins
- North shore weed flats where wind-driven forage concentrates
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near drop-offs
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges with occasional pauses
- Bladed Jigs retrieved steadily through sparse vegetation
- Inline Spinners cast to visible weed pockets and retrieved at moderate speed
| - Young-of-year panfish emerging in shallow areas
- Baitfish schools concentrated along vegetation edges
- Small pike and other juvenile fish in warming shallows
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bluegill actively feeding in shallow areas, particularly around vegetation edges and shoreline cover as they recover energy
- Fish transitioning between spawning areas and summer feeding zones, with peak activity during morning and evening hours
| - Edges of coontail and cabbage beds in 2-4 foot depth range
- Protected shallow bays with lily pads and reeds
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep near vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around weed edges and cover
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near structure
| - Aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to appear in shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
