Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 50-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to shallow pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. Fish are showing aggressive behavior towards moving baits in 2-8 feet of water
- Fish are relating strongly to rock and boulder areas in shallow water, with increased activity during wind conditions
| - Boulder-strewn flats in 2-8 feet of water
- Sand flats with scattered rock in 4-10 feet
- Transition areas between deeper wintering areas and shallow spawning flats
| - Hard Jerkbaits with varied retrieve speeds based on wind conditions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom in calm conditions
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for pressured fish
| - Perch in shallow rocky areas
- Smelt moving shallow for spring patterns
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 51-62 | - Staging for spawn in 6-8 foot depth range, congregating near weedy flats with cabbage
- Fish are schooling, with multiple bass typically found in the same area when located
- Actively feeding while preparing for spawn energy demands
| - Weedy flats with healthy cabbage in 6-8 foot depth range
- Points adjacent to spawning bays with vegetation
- Deeper weed edges transitioning to spawning areas
| - Swim Jigs worked steadily through vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges
- Lipless Crankbaits over emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrating in weed beds
- Perch relating to weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements to adjacent structure
- Most active during dawn and dusk, with increased daytime activity due to spring conditions
- Transitioning from winter deep water patterns to shallower staging areas
| - Rock and gravel points adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 feet
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
- Inside turns of main lake points with access to deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near staging areas
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with aggressive jigging cadence
| - Yellow Perch congregating near transition areas
- Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Juvenile perch in emerging weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Pike are staging in pre-spawn locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning bays and tributaries
- Most active during warming trends, particularly in afternoons when water temperatures peak
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-8 foot depth range
- Points and breaklines adjacent to spawning areas in 8-14 foot depth
- Protected coves with warmer water temperatures
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along emerging weed edges
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through transitional areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near points and breaks
| - Perch gathering in pre-spawn locations
- Smelt moving into shallower water
- Minnows beginning to become more active in warming areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 53-62 | - Actively moving from winter deep water locations to shallow spawning areas, staging at transitional structures
- Males preparing and guarding nests in protected shallow areas with hard bottom, while females stage slightly deeper
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with aggressive territorial behavior near spawning sites
| - Rock and boulder areas in 2-8 feet of water, especially those protected from prevailing winds
- Transition areas between deep winter haunts and shallow spawning flats
- Secondary points and rocky shorelines adjacent to deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky bottom areas
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations around staging areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for deeper staging fish
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Smelt schools in transitional areas
- Small perch in shallow rock areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Fish are moving from pre-spawn staging areas at 6-8 feet into shallow spawning zones in pencil reeds and protected bays
- Males actively guarding nests in shallow areas while females move between spawning areas and nearby deeper water
| - Protected shallow bays with pencil reeds and sparse vegetation
- Hard bottom areas in 2-4 feet of water near deeper water access
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Soft Jerkbaits
- Wacky Rigs
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are transitioning from winter locations to shallow spawning areas, typically moving along shoreline points and rocky areas
- Pre-spawn feeding is aggressive but location-specific, with fish staging in transitions between deep wintering areas and spawning grounds
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but gradually disperse to feeding areas, especially near emerging weed growth
| - Rocky points and shorelines with gravel or rubble substrate
- Shallow bays with firm bottom adjacent to deeper water
- Transition areas between winter deep water and spawning grounds
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements
- Blade Baits worked with slow lifts near staging areas
| - Small perch in transition areas
- Minnows moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-56 | - Pike are moving into shallow bays and tributaries for spawning, typically holding in or near vegetation
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding mode, targeting abundant baitfish in warming waters
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-8 foot depth range
- Tributary mouths and connected channels
- Protected coves with stable water temperatures
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near emerging weed edges
| - Perch congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Smelt moving into tributary areas
- Shallow-running minnow schools
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 53-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding but easily spooked in clear water conditions, requiring rest periods between fishing pressure
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, focusing on points and deeper structure
| - Main lake points, especially those with rock/boulder structure
- Transitions between spawning flats and deeper water
- Rocky areas in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations and long casts to maintain stealth
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Tubes dragged on rocky points
| - Smelt in open water areas
- Crayfish in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding in shallow water (1-6 ft) around reed edges and pockets, showing aggressive response to baits on the fall
- Fish are utilizing reed edges as ambush points to feed on recovering post-spawn, targeting bluegill and perch in vegetation zones
| - Reed edges and open pockets within reed beds in 1-6 foot depths
- Shallow flats adjacent to reed beds
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot range
| - Drop Shot with slow, subtle movements focusing on open pockets
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked along reed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked parallel to vegetation edges
| - Yellow Perch - primary forage based on recent fishing reports
- Bluegill - typical post-spawn forage in vegetation zones
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow and mid-depth areas following baitfish
- Fish are most active during dawn and dusk, utilizing weedline edges and points as primary feeding zones
| - Weedline edges adjacent to deep water in 14-18 foot range
- Shallow feeding flats near complex shoreline areas
- Points and structural elements transitioning to deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with minnow presentations
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Perch (primary forage based on fishing reports)
- Small baitfish concentrating near emerging weed growth
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between shallow warming bays and adjacent deeper structure
- Fish are opportunistic and aggressive, often hunting in small groups along weed edges and points
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Points and breaklines in the 18-20 foot range
- Weed edges in 14-18 foot depth range
| - Spinnerbaits worked along weed edges and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near structure
- Inline Spinners in shallow bays
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along breaklines
| - Smelt gathering in post-winter schools
- Perch active in warming shallows
- Minnows beginning to populate emerging weed growth
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|