| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to move from deeper winter areas to shallower flats and staging points near spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases as bass prepare for spawning, with aggressive responses to properly presented baits
| - Secondary points and channel swings leading to spawning flats
- Flooded brush and dock areas in 5-10 foot depth range
- Deep weed edges transitioning to shallow flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along transitional areas and emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through brush and around dock areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around staging points
| - Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
- Shad schools congregating near points and channel swings
- Early season crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye transitioning from winter deep water locations to shallow spawning areas, staging at key structural elements
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with peak activity during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish becoming more aggressive as they prepare for spawn, particularly responsive to larger profile baits
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas
- Wind-swept shorelines with rock or gravel substrate
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow flats
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom contours
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near transition areas
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') on primary points
| - Perch concentrating near structural elements
- Shad schools in slightly deeper water
- Small bluegills along emerging weed edges
| - Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Bluegill transitioning from winter depths to warmer shallows, staging near spawning areas but not yet on beds
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Congregating near emerging vegetation and structure that provides both cover and feeding opportunities
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth
- Dock areas providing structure and shade in 6-10 foot depth
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms worked slowly
- Ice Fishing Jigs (sized down) worked vertically around structure
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved slowly near emerging vegetation
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Tiny crustaceans active in vegetation
- Small minnows in shallow areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-65 | - Bass are actively moving between pre-spawn staging areas and spawning flats, with water temperatures between 60-65°F indicating spawn phase
- Fish showing aggressive feeding periods in shallows, particularly during stable weather, but becoming more selective during wind events over 20mph
| - Shallow flats on the south end of the lake, particularly near spawning areas
- Pad fields on the north end offering spawning habitat and cover
- Drop-off edges in 6-10 foot range where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Hard Jerkbaits with 3-4 second pauses in 6-10 foot depths
- Frogs/Toads worked through pad fields
- Hard Topwater (Popping) on shallow flats in moderate wind
- Spinnerbaits along drop-off edges when wind increases
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent reports
- Bluegill - typical spring spawn period forage
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Moving shallow (2-10 feet) to spawn near rocky points and gravel areas, most active during dawn and dusk
- Males arrive first and stay longer on spawning grounds, females move in briefly to spawn then retreat to adjacent deeper water
- Feeding becomes secondary to spawning, but opportunistic feeding occurs near spawning areas
| - Rocky points and gravel areas in 2-10 feet of water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Windward shorelines where current creates feeding opportunities
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
| | - Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) and establishing nesting colonies near vegetation and structure
- Males becoming territorial and aggressive while guarding nests, making them more likely to strike at small intruders
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increasing as water warms, with fish actively foraging near spawning areas
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near weed edges
- Areas adjacent to docks in 4-6 foot depth
- Shallow flats with scattered vegetation in 2-4 foot depth
| - Live Bait Rigs with small hooks and light line for natural presentation
- Bobbers suspended 1-3 feet deep near spawning areas
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through spawning colonies
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small aquatic worms
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Bass are actively feeding in shallow areas, particularly around vegetation and docks, with surface-oriented feeding behavior noted in recent reports
- Fish showing preference for ambush points near vegetation edges and dock structures, with less aggressive strikes (sucking vs. exploding on topwater) indicating a methodical feeding pattern
| - Thick vegetation areas, especially newly emerging weed growth
- Dock areas, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow flats with scattered vegetation
| - Hard Topwater (Popping) worked with subtle movements to match observed feeding behavior
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around docks and vegetation edges
- Frogs/Toads worked over vegetation mats
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around dock posts
| - Bluegill, especially around vegetation and dock areas
- Shad in open water areas between structure
- Various insects and small surface prey
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye recovering and actively feeding, with peak activity during dawn/dusk and overcast conditions
- Moving between shallow feeding areas and adjacent deeper water rest areas, particularly along weed edges and points
| - Wind-swept points and shorelines adjacent to deeper water
- Emerging weed edges in 8-15 feet of water
- Shallow flats with scattered vegetation near deep water access
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with live bait or soft plastics along breaks
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
| - Perch concentrating near emerging vegetation
- Shad schools in wind-blown areas
- Bluegills moving into shallow spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper feeding zones
- Fish are taking advantage of emerging insect hatches and beginning to establish summer feeding patterns near weed edges and dock areas
| - Weed edges in 6-10 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock areas providing shade and structure
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs with light line and small hooks
- Bobbers suspended at varying depths to find active fish
- Inline Spinners worked slowly near structure
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans in weed beds
- Newly hatched baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
