Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bass actively moving shallow and staging near spawning areas, targeting laydowns and rock walls as reported
- Fish becoming more aggressive as water warms, showing increased feeding activity in 5 feet or less
| - Laydowns and fallen timber in shallow water (0-5 feet)
- Rock walls and riprap areas warming quickly in spring
- Vegetation edges near potential spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked around cover and vegetation edges
- Swim Jigs paralleling shoreline structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting specific pieces of cover
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow areas
- Shad schools moving into warming shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving along migration routes near river channels and moving into staging areas near potential spawning locations
- With water temperatures rising, smallmouth becoming more active and aggressive, especially during warming trends
| - Current breaks near wingdams with moderate flow
- Points with scattered eelgrass adjacent to deeper water
- River channel edges where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along channel edges and current breaks
- Tubes dragged and hopped near wingdam structure
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around vegetation edges
| - Shad schools concentrating in current breaks
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
- Small baitfish utilizing vegetation edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn pike are staging in or near shallow spawning bays, actively feeding to build energy reserves before spawning
- Fish are making frequent movements between slightly deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, particularly active during warming trends
| - Shallow weedy bays with emerging vegetation, especially near tributary influences
- Laydowns and woody cover adjacent to spawning areas
- Edges of reed beds where they meet slightly deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges and through woody cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves parallel to structure
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
| - Bluegills congregating in shallow spawning bays
- Shad moving into warming shallow areas
- Small pike and juvenile fish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-56 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for the spawn
- Fish are highly active in shallow water due to turbid conditions (1.1m secchi), particularly during low light periods
- Walleye utilizing current breaks and dam areas as staging points, with noted activity at 54°F
| - Current breaks and areas near the dam where pre-spawn fish stage
- River channel edges in 5-10 feet of water
- Shallow flats with flooded timber and brush adjacent to deeper water
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations
- Blade Baits worked along current breaks
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure
| - Shad concentrated in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegill relating to shallow cover
- Small baitfish using current breaks as shelter
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Fish are in various spawning stages (pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn), with most active fish relating to vegetation edges and current areas
- Bass are holding in extremely shallow water (5 feet or less), particularly around vegetation and flooded cover
| - Standing weeds/vegetation in 5 feet or less, especially areas with moderate current
- Flooded brush and timber in shallow water
- Protected spawning pockets near vegetation
| - Bladed Jigs worked through sparse vegetation
- Swim Jigs around vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) in areas with current
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Shad around current areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning through pre-spawn to spawn periods, with males actively preparing and guarding nests in protected areas
- Fish are moving from deeper winter areas to spawning flats, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
- Males will remain shallow and stationary on beds, while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
| - Protected areas near points with eelgrass in 2-6 feet of water
- Current-protected pockets near wingdams with gravel or rocky substrate
- Shallow flats adjacent to river channel edges with scattered vegetation
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential spawning areas
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentation in clear pockets between vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish staging in slightly deeper water
| - Shad concentrating in areas with current breaks
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
- Small bluegill around vegetated areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Northern Pike are actively spawning in shallow weedy bays and around laydowns, exhibiting aggressive territorial behavior
- Fish are utilizing edge areas and ambush points near spawning zones, responding well to reaction strikes
| - Shallow weedy bays with laydowns and woody cover
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Protected backwater areas with emerging vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked along weed edges and around laydowns
- Inline Spinners in open pockets between vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked through spawning areas
| - Bluegill congregating near shallow cover
- Shad moving through spawning areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 48-56 | - Walleye actively moving in and around spawning areas, utilizing current breaks near the dam as staging points
- Feeding patterns concentrated in shallow to mid-depth zones due to turbid conditions (1.1m clarity) allowing for extended daylight activity
| - Current breaks and eddies near dam structures
- Flooded timber and brush areas providing spawning habitat
- River channel edges with moving water
| - Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly in current breaks
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around timber
| - Shad concentrations near current areas
- Bluegill in flooded timber zones
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, relating heavily to vegetation and current breaks
- Fish are showing preference for shallow water zones (under 5 feet) with a mix of hard cover and vegetation
| - Green grass beds with slight current
- Reed beds in shallow water
- Flooded timber areas adjacent to vegetation
| - Bladed Jigs worked through sparse vegetation
- Frogs/Toads over matted grass
- Swim Jigs around grass edges
| - Bluegill in vegetation
- Minnows around current breaks
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Smallmouth bass are actively recovering from spawn, establishing feeding patterns around current breaks and vegetation edges
- Fish are transitioning to more aggressive feeding behavior, often staging near deeper water access but feeding in moderate depths
| - Current breaks near wingdams with adjacent vegetation
- Points with eelgrass that intersect with river channel edges
- Moderate flow areas with scattered vegetation and depth transitions
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with a stop-and-go retrieve parallel to current breaks
- Tubes dragged along vegetation edges and current seams
- Ned Rigs worked slowly through scattered vegetation
| - Shad concentrating around current breaks and vegetation
- Smaller fish utilizing eelgrass beds for cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 55-68 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting abundant prey in shallow to mid-depth areas with cover
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and laydowns as ambush points, particularly during lower light conditions
- Given the stained water (1.1m secchi), pike are staying relatively shallow and edge-oriented, focusing on reaction strikes
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning bays where pike are transitioning post-spawn
- Laydowns and woody cover in 4-8 foot depth range
- Current-influenced areas where tributary effects create feeding opportunities
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges and through scattered wood cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieves near structure
- Inline Spinners for aggressive reaction strikes in shallow water
| - Bluegill congregating near shallow cover
- Shad schools in current-influenced areas
- Young-of-year panfish emerging in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 52-65 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning to active feeding patterns, primarily during low light periods due to the turbid conditions (1.1m secchi)
- Fish relating heavily to current breaks and structure, particularly in shallower water (5 feet or less) due to low light penetration
- Aggressive feeding behavior near flooded timber and weed edges, taking advantage of ambush points
| - River channel edges and current breaks near the dam
- Shallow weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Flooded timber areas in 5 feet or less of water
- Current-swept points with structure
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along channel edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') near timber and weed edges
- Jig and Minnow combinations on structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) through current breaks
| - Shad concentrating in slack water areas near current
- Bluegill relating to shallow cover and vegetation
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|