| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn mode, actively cruising shallow rocky areas and transitional zones. Fish are highly visible but spooky in the clear water conditions, requiring long casts and stealth approaches.
- Feeding activity is increasing with warming water temperatures, with fish showing aggressive responses to moving baits like jerkbaits and spinnerbaits
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 7-10 feet of water
- Docks adjacent to deeper water, especially those with rocky bottom composition
- Points and transitions where rock meets deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses, making long casts to avoid spooking fish
- Spinnerbaits slow-rolled near dock posts and along rocky transitions
- Tubes dragged slowly across boulder fields
| - Yellow Perch moving into shallow rocky areas
- Smaller baitfish relating to warming shallow water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn pike actively feeding and moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning bays and tributaries
- Most aggressive during warming trends, particularly active during overcast conditions given the moderate water clarity
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
- Rock and gravel areas adjacent to potential spawning habitat
- Transition areas where hard bottom structure meets emerging weed growth
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along transitions
- Spinnerbaits retrieved at moderate speeds parallel to structure
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near emerging vegetation
| - Perch concentrating in emerging weed areas
- Smaller pike and suckers preparing for spawning runs
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, actively moving into shallower rocky areas to establish nesting sites
- Fish are becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive, defending prime spawning areas around boulder fields and rocky shorelines
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 7-10 feet of water
- Protected rocky bays with gravel or small rock bottom
- Transition areas between deep water and spawning flats
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations, working slowly around boulder fields
- Tubes worked through rocky areas mimicking crayfish
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near spawning areas
| - Crayfish emerging from winter habitats
- Small perch in rocky areas
- Juvenile baitfish beginning to school
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Northern Pike are moving into shallow, weedy bays and tributaries for spawning, typically right after ice-out when water temperatures begin to rise
- Fish are highly active during daylight hours, especially during stable weather patterns, making them more susceptible to sight-feeding
| - Shallow, weedy bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Tributary mouths and inflowing streams where warmer water enters the lake
- Rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to spawning bays
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) presented with steady retrieves near spawning areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in slightly deeper transitional areas
| - Perch gathering in similar shallow areas
- Small pike and panfish in spawning bays
- Minnow species moving into warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are most active during morning and evening hours, utilizing rocky points and transitions as feeding zones
| - Rocky points and shorelines in 7-10 feet of water
- Transitions between spawning flats and deeper water
- Weed edges beginning to form near rocky structure
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged on points and rock piles
- Soft Jerkbaits with twitching retrieve in clearer water
| - Yellow Perch congregating near newly forming weed edges
- Crayfish emerging from winter haunts in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 48-62 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, especially during early morning and evening hours
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to adjacent deeper structure, following baitfish movements
| - Weed-to-rock transition areas in 8-15 feet of water
- Points and inside turns with emerging vegetation
- Secondary drop-offs adjacent to spawning bays
| - Spinnerbaits worked along weed edges and through scattered vegetation
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near structure transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through emerging weed growth
| - Perch gathering near emerging weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish schools starting to develop
- Spring-spawning minnow species
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
