| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-63 | - Bass are transitioning from winter depths to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy for spawning
- Fish are moving along migration routes between deep wintering areas and shallow spawning flats, using points and channel edges as travel corridors
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep weed edges near shallow spawning bays
- Protected shallow bays with emerging reed growth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill in and around vegetation edges
- Small baitfish schooling in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near shallow spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish moving from winter deep holes to transitional areas, particularly active during early morning and evening hours
| - Rocky points and shallow gravel areas near deeper water
- Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot depth range
- Wind-swept shorelines with good structure
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow presentations
- Lipless Crankbaits along emerging weed edges
| - Small Minnows
- Young Bluegills
- Emerging Crawfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, focusing on protected areas with firm bottom composition
- Pre-spawn feeding activity is high, with fish targeting bluegill in and around submerged vegetation
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats with mixed vegetation near deeper water access
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations in cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for actively feeding fish
| - Bluegill
- Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleye are transitioning from winter locations to shallow spawning areas, particularly around rocky or gravelly shorelines and tributary inflows
- Fish become most active during dawn and dusk periods, with males arriving at spawning areas first and staying longer
- Post-spawn females quickly move to recovery areas near deeper breaks adjacent to spawning grounds
| - Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 2-6 foot depths with good water flow
- Transition areas between spawning grounds and deeper water (8-15 feet)
- Protected bays with firm bottom adjacent to deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations using leeches or minnows
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with lightweight jigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along bottom transitions
| - Small Minnows gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Young of year bluegill in warming shallow bays
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 63-72 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active and establishing feeding zones near post-spawn recovery areas
- Fish are moving between shallow and mid-depth areas, utilizing weed edges and reed beds as primary movement corridors
| - Deep weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Reed bed points and gaps intersecting with deeper water
- Secondary points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges
- Swim Jigs through reed bed gaps and along vegetation edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves near cover
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas and along weed edges
- Bluegill beginning to spawn in protected shallow areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Walleye are transitioning from spawning areas to early-summer feeding patterns, actively feeding during dawn/dusk periods near structural transitions
- Fish are becoming more active throughout the day as they recover from spawn, with particular emphasis on low-light feeding in moderate depths
| - Deep weed edges adjacent to spawning areas, particularly in 8-15 foot depth range
- Wind-swept points with emerging weed growth
- Transition areas between reed beds and deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along weed edges and transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow presentations
| - Young-of-year perch gathering near emerging weed growth
- Bluegills moving into warming shallow areas
- Minnow species concentrated around reed beds
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
