| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 47-55 | - Actively feeding on pre-spawn baitfish, aggressively chasing jerkbaits in shallow water as evidenced by recent reports
- Moving up from winter locations to staging areas near spawning flats, utilizing points and ledges as transition zones
| - Shallow flats and adjacent points, particularly where pre-spawn staging is occurring
- Ledges and transition areas leading to spawning flats
- Rocky points with access to deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive jerks and longer pauses
- Drop Shot along ledges and transition areas
- Blade Baits for covering water and targeting actively feeding fish
| - Minnows - primary forage based on multiple recent reports
- Smelt - specifically mentioned in spring run patterns
- Small Yellow Perch - common pre-spawn forage in clear northern lakes
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pike are staging in pre-spawn locations near rocky structure, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are showing aggressive behavior in shallow water, particularly around rock piles that warm quickly in spring sun
| - Rock piles in 3-8 feet of water, especially those adjacent to spawning bays
- Points and rocky shorelines with quick access to deeper water
- Protected coves with rocky structure where water warms faster
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly around rock structure
- Spinnerbaits parallel to rocky shorelines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve
| - Smelt gathering for spring runs
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Small panfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with periods of increased feeding activity during stable weather conditions
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning bays where bass stage before moving shallow
- Rocky transitions where hard bottom meets softer substrate, especially near future spawning areas
- Protected coves with gradual slopes, particularly those with emerging vegetation or wood cover
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses, especially effective given the clear water and reported success
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas where rock meets softer bottom
- Blade Baits worked slowly along deeper staging areas during cold fronts
| - Minnows in open water and along transition areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning areas, actively guarding nests in shallow water between 2-6 feet deep
- Males become territorial and aggressive, responding well to sight-fishing presentations
- Pre-spawn feeding heavily on pelagic baitfish before settling into spawning locations
| - Rock and boulder fields in protected coves with gravelly bottom, 2-6 feet deep
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Lee-side shorelines protected from prevailing winds
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near spawning areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing spawning bass
| - Smelt gathering in pre-spawn schools
- Minnows moving shallow with warming water
- Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 42-52 | - Pike are in shallow, warmer bays and tributary mouths for spawning, becoming increasingly active post-spawn as water temperatures rise
- Fish are aggressive and territorial during spawn, transitioning to active feeding on abundant smelt runs post-spawn
| - Shallow, weedy bays and backwater areas near rocky points for spawning
- Tributary mouths and connecting channels where smelt runs occur
- Rocky points and structure adjacent to spawning bays for post-spawn feeding
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) mimicking smelt near tributary mouths
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to shoreline structure
| - Smelt (primary forage during spring runs)
- Crawfish (becoming active in rocky areas as water warms)
- Various Minnow Species
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and bays where water warms first
- Males establishing and guarding nests in 2-6 feet of water, while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom
- Areas where rock transitions to softer bottom near spawning flats
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Soft Jerkbaits
- Spinnerbaits
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Minnows in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, moving from deeper spawning areas to shallower feeding zones
- Fish are showing aggressive surface feeding behavior, evidenced by success with topwater presentations
- Following typical seasonal movements with clear sight-feeding patterns in clearer water conditions
| - Rocky points and ledges with access to deeper water
- Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas
- Boulder-strewn shorelines in 5-15 foot depth range
| - Hard Topwater (Popping)
- Hard Jerkbaits
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Bluegill and sunfish in shallow areas
- Pelagic baitfish (smelt and minnows)
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 47-58 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting smelt runs and baitfish schools in transitional areas
- Fish are moving from spawning areas to early-season feeding locations, particularly utilizing rocky points and shallow bays
| - Rocky points and shoreline areas where smelt runs are occurring
- Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near spawning areas
- Boulder-strewn areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Inline Spinners worked parallel to rocky shorelines and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through transitional areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') targeting rock piles and points
| - Smelt during spring runs
- Various minnow species concentrated in warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad and bluegill in transition areas
- Fish are moving from spawning areas to early summer locations, utilizing points and subsurface vegetation as staging areas
| - Points and inside turns with subsurface vegetation
- Secondary points near spawning bays
- Transition areas where rock meets softer bottom
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around points
| - Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Minnows in open water and around points
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
