| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Walleye transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallow spawning locations, staging on transition areas like points and breaks
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with most active periods during dawn and dusk
- Fish become more aggressive as they prepare for spawning, but are still relatively lethargic compared to post-spawn
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas in 12-18 feet
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats
- Rock and gravel breaks in 8-15 feet near potential spawning areas
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Live Bait Rigs
- Blade Baits
| - Perch gathering in pre-spawn locations
- Shiners moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Migrating to shallow spawning areas, particularly near hard bottom or rocky areas in 3-10 feet of water
- Actively feeding in pre-spawn staging areas near spawning locations, especially during warming trends
- Post-spawn females quickly moving to recover in slightly deeper adjacent areas
| - Rock and gravel areas in 3-10 feet of water near mainland points
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water in 12-15 feet
- Wind-swept shorelines with good hard bottom composition
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along spawning areas and transition zones
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with lighter jigs during calm conditions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water to locate active fish
| - Small perch gathering in similar spawning areas
- Shiners moving into shallow water with warming trends
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Post-spawn walleyes are actively recovering and beginning to feed, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations
- Fish are relating to the first major break after spawning areas, often suspending near structure during daylight
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays in 12-18 feet
- Weed edges developing in 8-12 feet of water
- Secondary points and inside turns on primary break lines
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along break lines
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with minnows
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
| - Small perch in the 2-3 inch range
- Shiners moving shallow to spawn
- Young of the year baitfish starting to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
