| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 40-47 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, moving from deeper vegetation to shallower flats while remaining fairly lethargic, requiring slow presentations as evidenced by multiple reports emphasizing slow retrieves
- Fish are actively feeding but with subtle strikes, primarily targeting bluegill in and around submerged vegetation as shown in fishing reports
| - Submerged vegetation edges near potential spawning flats, particularly in areas that warm first
- Secondary points with vegetation where bass stage before moving to spawning areas
- Protected coves with vegetation that offer warming water and feeding opportunities
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked with a slow, steady retrieve as proven successful in multiple reports
- Inline Spinners retrieved very slowly, matching the successful pattern shown in reports with 20+ fish days
- Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through vegetation, as evidenced by successful catches in reports
| - Bluegill, consistently mentioned as primary forage in fishing reports
- Smaller baitfish, as indicated by success with shad-colored baits
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 40-55 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving along migration routes between wintering areas and spawning flats, holding at key structural elements
| - Secondary points and drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep weed edges near sand flat transitions
- Rocky points with quick access to deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged on bottom near staging areas
- Drop Shot with subtle presentations in deeper holes
| - Bluegill holding in remaining green vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active as water warms
- Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleye are transitioning from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are staging near spawning areas and showing increased activity during low-light periods, especially around vegetation edges and structural elements
| - Shallow vegetated areas adjacent to deeper water, particularly where winter holes transition to spawning flats
- Points and inside turns with submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transition areas between deeper winter holding areas and shallow spawning zones
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows near vegetation edges
- Blade Baits worked vertically along depth transitions
| - Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
- Juvenile perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Males actively guarding nests in shallow areas near submerged vegetation, while females stage on nearby drop-offs
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with periodic feeding during stable weather conditions
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Vegetation edges near drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible beds and vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along vegetation edges
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow spawning areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively seeking spawning areas on sand flats, with some early spawning activity beginning as water temperatures reach upper 50s
- Fish are transitioning between pre-spawn feeding and spawning behavior, making both feeding and bedding areas important
- Males are starting to prepare and guard beds, while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
| - Sand flats in 3-8 feet of water where spawning beds are being established
- Deeper edges adjacent to spawning flats where females stage
- Points and irregular shoreline features near spawning areas
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly around potential bed sites
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing beds
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish staging near spawning areas
| - Bluegill, which are primary forage based on fishing reports
- Small baitfish moving into shallow areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 48-58 | - Walleye are in transition between spawning and post-spawn phases, with some fish still shallow and others beginning to move to feeding areas
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on bluegill-sized prey in shallow to medium depths, as evidenced by success with both Ned rigs and crankbaits
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 5-15 foot depth range
- Points and structural elements with nearby deep water access
- Shallow bays with vegetation that warm quickly
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to weed edges
- Ned Rigs worked slowly through vegetation gaps
- Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows near structure
| - Bluegill
- Young of the year perch
- Minnows concentrated in spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing shallow to mid-depth vegetation edges as primary feeding zones
- Fish are showing aggressive behavior, willing to chase moving baits like crankbaits while also taking slower presentations
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points with vegetation near spawning flats
- Irregular shoreline features with weed growth
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along weed edges
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation gaps
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges
| - Bluegill concentrated in shallow vegetation
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 75-82 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegill in and around vegetation
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and nearby deeper water rest areas
| - Submerged vegetation edges, especially near deeper water access
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and rock
- Sand flats adjacent to deeper water with scattered vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation
- Ned Rigs on vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
- Crayfish
| - Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish relating to submerged vegetation edges and points, particularly during dawn and dusk feeding periods
| - Weed edges adjacent to deeper water, especially near points and bays
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper feeding zones
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows along vegetation transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly through sparse vegetation
| - Bluegills concentrated in and around vegetation
- Young of the year perch beginning to emerge
- Various minnow species utilizing vegetated areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
