| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn pike actively feeding to build energy reserves, patrolling shallow areas near potential spawning sites
- Fish are moving more aggressively in the warmer parts of the day, particularly in wind-blown areas where turbidity increases
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near points, especially on the north side where water warms first
- Wind-blown points with turbid water conditions
- Transition areas between deeper water and emerging weed growth
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow areas, allowing flash and vibration to attract fish in turbid conditions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked with steady retrieves parallel to emerging weed edges
- Inline Spinners retrieved at varying speeds to trigger reaction strikes in low visibility
| - Shad concentrating in warming shallow areas
- Young of year panfish emerging from winter areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Northern Pike are actively spawning in shallow, vegetated areas immediately after ice-out, with females quickly departing post-spawn while males linger
- Fish are aggressive but localized, defending spawning territories in extremely shallow water (1-3 feet) with vegetation or woody debris
| - Shallow, vegetated bays with emerging vegetation or last year's dead vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to any available creek channels or deeper water access
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved with occasional pauses
- Live Bait Rigs under bobbers near spawning areas
| - Spawning suckers and minnows
- Young-of-year shad from previous season
- Smaller pike and panfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily hunting in shallow vegetated areas and along ambush points in 2-4 feet of water
- Fish are most active during early morning and evening hours, moving between established patrol routes connecting structural elements
| - Shallow weed edges and emerging vegetation beds in 2-4 feet of water
- Points and small bays where pike can ambush prey in turbid conditions
- Transition areas between vegetation types where baitfish concentrate
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through vegetation with occasional pauses
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily near surface to create flash and vibration
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along weed edges with erratic retrieves
| - Shad concentrating in warming shallow areas
- Young-of-year panfish beginning to emerge
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Pink Colors
|
