| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass actively transitioning from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more aggressive as water warms
- Fish moving along migration routes between deep wintering areas and shallow spawning grounds, often holding on transition structure
- Feeding activity increasing with warming trends, particularly during stable weather periods
| - Rocky points and boulder fields in 3-7 feet of water adjacent to deeper water
- Wind-swept shorelines with rock and gravel substrate
- Secondary points and inside turns leading to spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in shallow water
- Blade Baits worked slowly along deeper transition areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
| - Minnows and small baitfish moving shallow
- Crayfish becoming more active in rocky areas
- Young of year perch in shallow feeding zones
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-55 | - Pre-spawn walleye staging near spawning areas, making short movements to feeding locations during low light periods
- Fish become more active during early morning and evening, with feeding intensity increasing as water temperatures rise
| - Shallow rock and boulder areas in 3-7 foot depth range, particularly near spawning locations
- Secondary points and transitions leading to spawning areas in 8-15 foot range
- Hard bottom areas adjacent to deeper water providing staging locations
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with deliberate lifts and drops
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through staging areas
| - Minnows congregating near spawning areas
- Small perch in transitional areas
- Juvenile baitfish schools in slightly deeper water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn to spawning behavior with males establishing and guarding nests in shallow rocky areas
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly around boulder fields in 3-7 foot depth range
- Responding well to stop-and-go presentations with long pauses, indicating sight-feeding behavior in moderate clarity water
| - Shallow boulder fields in 3-7 foot depth range
- Protected rocky bays with slower warming water
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between quick jerks
- Tubes worked slowly through boulder fields
- Ned Rigs deadsticked around spawning areas
| - Minnows
- Smaller perch
- Crayfish emerging from winter haunts
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-55 | - Walleye are actively spawning in shallow rocky areas, particularly at night, with concentrated movements around hard-bottom spawning locations
- Fish transition between spawning areas and adjacent deeper water during post-spawn, following a daily movement pattern based on light conditions
| - Shallow boulder fields and rock piles in 3-7 feet of water, particularly those with nearby access to deeper water
- Rocky points and transitions where spawning areas meet deeper water
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs during active spawning
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during post-spawn transition
| - Minnows gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Small perch in transitional areas
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Pink Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Most active during morning and evening, moving between shallow and mid-depth structure
- Aggressive feeding behavior when weather patterns are stable, particularly targeting baitfish and crayfish
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with boulder or rock structure in 8-15 feet
- Wind-blown main lake points with scattered rock in 5-12 feet
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper water with mixed rock/boulder structure
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic action parallel to rocky points
- Drop Shot with small profile baits around deeper rock piles
- Tubes dragged and hopped through boulder fields
| - Minnows and small baitfish schooling in post-spawn patterns
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming water
- Small perch around rocky structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early-season feeding locations, becoming more active as water warms
- Fish moving between rocky structure and adjacent deeper water, following baitfish schools
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to spawning areas
- Main lake points with mixed rock and gravel in 12-20 foot range
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water where baitfish gather
| - Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows worked slowly along rock-to-sand transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs tipped with minnows
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods when fish move shallow
| - Minnows gathering in post-spawn areas
- Small perch moving shallow with warming water
- Emerging insect larvae attracting baitfish to rocky areas
| - Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
