| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-54 | - Bass are staging on drop-offs and transitioning toward spawning areas, with increased activity during afternoon hours as water warms
- Fish are actively feeding on crawfish around rock piles and showing aggressive responses to moving baits near structure
| - Rock piles in 5-10ft of water
- Drop-offs adjacent to shallow spawning flats
- Inside edges of weed lines in 3-6ft of water on northern end of lake
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with 3/8oz weight dragged over rock piles
- Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges
- Lipless Crankbaits slow-rolled up drop-offs
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish holding near structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallow spawning flats, staging on the first major structural elements adjacent to spawning areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased aggression during warming trends
- Moving shallower during sunny afternoons when water temperatures rise, retreating to adjacent deeper water during cold fronts
| - Rock piles and ledges in 12-15 foot range adjacent to shallow flats
- Deep grass line edges where they meet hard bottom
- Transition areas where rock meets sand in 8-12 foot depth
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rock piles
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses over deeper grass edges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch schools
- Various minnow species gathering in pre-spawn areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are actively moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning grounds, following distinct migration routes along structural elements
- Fish are becoming increasingly active with warming water temperatures, feeding heavily to prepare for spawning
| - Rock and gravel shorelines transitioning into deeper water, particularly near tributary inflows or current areas
- Main lake points and drop-offs that connect deep wintering areas to shallow spawning grounds
- Shallow flats adjacent to deep water basins, especially those with emerging weed growth
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas between deep and shallow water
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow-tipped jigs near spawning areas
- Blade Baits worked through staging areas where fish are actively feeding
| - Small minnows concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Young perch moving along weed edges and transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass are in spawn phase at 60°F, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Fish showing aggressive response to both finesse presentations (drop shot) and active presentations (wacky rig) in varying depths
| - Points adjacent to spawning flats, as confirmed by recent fishing success
- Shallow protected areas with vegetation for spawning
- Transitional areas between deep and shallow water for staging fish
| - Drop Shot with light finesse presentations, proven effective in recent reports
- Wacky Rigs in shallow areas, particularly successful in recent catches
- Damiki Rig, showing success in current conditions
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Perch in transitional areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from pre-spawn staging to spawning, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning flats
- Males actively guarding nests in protected areas, becoming increasingly aggressive toward threats to their spawning sites
- Feeding activity peaks during early morning and late evening, with defensive behavior dominating during spawning
| - Protected shallow rock and gravel flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially near deeper water access
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel near spawning flats
- Shallow grass lines adjacent to hard bottom areas
| - Tubes worked slowly around spawning areas and rock piles
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle presentations near potential nest sites
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses to trigger defensive strikes
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in shallow areas
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to school in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are moving into shallow spawning areas, typically focusing on hard-bottom areas like gravel or rock
- Fish become more active during low-light periods, especially at dusk and dawn
- Post-spawn fish begin transitioning to deeper water, following established deep structure
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 3-8 feet of water
- Transition areas near drop-offs connecting to spawning flats
- Weed edges adjacent to hard-bottom spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with controlled movements
- Blade Baits worked slowly near bottom structure
| - Minnows in shallow spawning areas
- Small perch near weed edges
- Suspended baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-78 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth zones, from shallow areas (2-8ft) to deeper drops (12-15ft) as temperatures fluctuate
- Showing aggressive feeding behavior on various forage, with particular focus on bluegill and crawfish near vegetation
| - Submerged vegetation edges, especially where it meets depth changes
- Protected shallow coves with lily pads and matted vegetation
- Humps and drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation in 6-8ft
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around heavy cover
- Frogs/Toads over lily pads in shallow areas
- Lipless Crankbaits ripped through sparse grass
| - Bluegill gathering near vegetation edges
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and vegetation
- Minnows schooling in transitional areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing rocky areas and grass edges as primary feeding zones, often moving between depth ranges throughout the day
| - Rocky points and outcroppings near spawning flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Deep grass edges adjacent to hard bottom areas
- Ledges transitioning from 14 to 40 feet, focusing on the upper breaks
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along rock-to-grass transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped across rocky points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily along grass edges
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch relating to grass edges
- Juvenile baitfish schools beginning to form
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish staging along transitions between spawning areas and deeper summer habitat, often relating to weed edges and drop-offs
| - Weed edges adjacent to deeper water in 8-15 foot range
- Main lake points and drop-offs near spawning areas
- Deep structure transitions leading to summer holding areas
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with steady retrieves
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') targeting active fish
| - Minnows gathering in post-spawn recovery areas
- Young of year perch beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
