| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 46-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but temperature sensitive. Recent reports show increased activity with water temps between 50-58°F
- Fish are relating strongly to current breaks and creek mouths, with feeding activity increasing during warmer periods of the day
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in creek mouths with current breaks
- Outside edges of current seams in 4-8 foot depths
- Protected areas with rocky structure adjacent to deeper water
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked aggressively against current
- Ned Rigs worked slowly in current breaks
- Drop Shot presentations for less active fish
| - Minnows - primary forage based on multiple recent reports
- Crawfish - becoming more active as waters warm
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively staging on shallow points and near submerged vegetation, preparing for spawn with increased feeding activity
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallow feeding zones, particularly active during warmer parts of the day
| - Shallow points with submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along shallow points and vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs retrieved steadily through and around submerged vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near vegetation edges
| - Shad concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving along channel edges and rock structures, following baitfish schools and responding to warming water temperatures
| - Rock piles and boulder fields near spawning tributaries and current seams
- Channel edges and drop-offs in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transitional areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning grounds
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along channel edges and current breaks
- Jigs (Finesse Hair Jigs) tipped with minnows around rock structure
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows slow-dragged along transition areas
| - Large minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Shad schools following warming water temperatures
- Small baitfish concentrated near current seams
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 56-72 | - Fish are transitioning into spawning mode, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning flats, particularly active in 1-3 ft depths during morning hours and shifting to 3-6 ft in afternoons
- Actively feeding on crawfish in rocky areas, with increased aggression during pre-spawn and territorial behavior during spawn
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 1-3 ft water, especially near current breaks
- Current seams along main river channel edges
- Rip rap banks with access to deeper water
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom, especially effective when 'ticking' rather than dragging
- Shallow diving crankbaits (0-6') crashed into rocks to trigger reaction strikes
- Drop Shot with extended pauses for finicky fish
| - Crawfish - primary forage based on multiple reports and rocky habitat
- Minnows - secondary forage especially near current breaks
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and moving into spawning zones in protected coves and points with vegetation
- Males preparing and guarding nests in shallow water, while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning zones
- Actively feeding during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial and defensive during spawn
| - Protected, vegetated coves with stable spawning substrate
- Shallow points with submerged vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Flooded brush and vegetation in shallow bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Bladed Jigs worked through submerged vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish near staging areas
- Spinnerbaits along points and through shallow cover
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming active in shallow areas
- Small bluegill near spawning areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye moving into shallow rocky areas and current-influenced zones for spawning, typically most active during low-light periods
- Post-spawn fish transitioning to feeding areas near spawning sites, holding along current breaks and rock-to-sand transitions
| - Rocky shorelines and points with current influence in 2-8 feet of water
- Current seams near channel edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Rock-to-sand transitions near tributary mouths
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rocky breaks
- Blade Baits worked with slow lift-drop near current seams
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with hair jigs around spawning areas
| - Small Minnows congregating near spawning areas
- Shad schools in slightly deeper adjacent areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-75 | - Smallmouth bass are dispersing from spawning areas and establishing summer feeding patterns, actively pursuing baitfish in current-influenced areas
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and willing to chase moving baits as water temperatures rise into the 70s
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 5-15 feet of water with current influence
- Creek mouth areas with current breaks
- Transition areas between spawning flats and summer haunts
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked with the current
- Tubes dragged along rocky bottom
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Minnows
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are holding near drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats, using submerged vegetation and brush as ambush points
| - Points and drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats with submerged vegetation
- Flooded brush areas in 5-15 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along points
- Swim Jigs around brush and vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for shad imitation
| - Shad schools moving along points and flats
- Bluegill beginning to spawn in protected areas
- Young of year baitfish emerging in vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from spawning areas to early summer feeding patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving along rocky breaks and current seams, following baitfish schools
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- Current breaks near channel edges
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with live bait or soft plastics
- Blade Baits worked along bottom structure
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near current breaks
| - Shad schools moving along channel edges
- Minnows concentrated around rock structure
- Small baitfish in current seams
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
