| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near rocky spawning areas, becoming increasingly active with warming water temperatures
- Fish moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning locations, particularly active during dawn and dusk
- Feeding activity increasing as fish prepare for spawn, with emphasis on larger meals
| - Rocky points and shorelines with gravel/rock substrate
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning areas
- Clean hard-bottom areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows dragged slowly
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows near rocky structure
| - Yellow Perch concentrated near rocky structure
- Small Minnows in transitional areas
- Juvenile Baitfish schools
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Schools of perch starting to move from deeper wintering areas to warmer, shallower pre-spawn locations
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during mid-morning to early afternoon
- Congregating near transitions between rock and sand, especially in areas with emerging weed growth
| - Rock-sand transitions in 8-12 foot depth range
- Protected bays with emerging weed growth in 6-10 feet
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or pieces of nightcrawler
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small tungsten jigs
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along structure transitions
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic insects emerging from winter dormancy
- Small crayfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-58 | - Walleye actively spawning and post-spawn feeding near rocky structure and spawning areas
- Fish most active during low-light periods due to moderate water clarity (2.7m Secchi)
- Post-spawn fish transitioning to feeding areas while remaining close to spawning grounds
| - Rocky structure and gravel areas, particularly important from ice-out through May
- Points and bays with hard bottom composition
- Clean hard bottom areas suitable for dragging live bait rigs
| - Live Bait Rigs - Lindy rigs with minnows or leeches
- Structure Jigs - Pitched on rocky structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - During prime feeding periods
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 42-52 | - Perch are moving into shallow bays and areas with sandy or gravel bottom for spawning, typically in 3-8 feet of water
- Fish are schooling heavily during pre and post-spawn periods, with males arriving first and staying after females leave
- Feeding activity is moderate but opportunistic, with fish staying close to spawning areas
| - Sandy or gravel flats in protected bays, especially near emerging weed growth
- Rock-sand transitions in 5-10 foot depth range
- Shallow protected areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms worked slowly along bottom
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small jigs tipped with soft plastics
- Inline Spinners retrieved slowly through spawning areas
| - Small minnows and juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleye actively feeding near spawning areas, particularly during dawn and dusk due to moderate water clarity
- Fish transitioning between shallow rocky areas and adjacent deeper water, especially during bright conditions
| - Rocky points and shorelines near spawning areas in 8-15 foot depth range
- Clean hard-bottom transition areas between spawning sites and deeper water
- Main lake basin necks where fish stage during movement patterns
| - Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnows during low light periods
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along rocky points
| - Perch relating to rocky structure
- Small Minnows schooling near transition areas
- Juvenile Yellow Perch emerging in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Yellow Perch | 48-58 | - Post-spawn yellow perch are actively feeding to recover energy, forming loose schools in transitional areas between spawning grounds and summer locations
- Fish are most active during morning and evening hours, moving between shallow and mid-depth zones following baitfish movements
| - Rock-sand transitions in 8-12 foot depth range where emerging vegetation is starting to grow
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 6-15 foot depths
- Shallow weed edges forming near shoreline structure, especially near points and bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or leeches worked slowly along transitions
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs tipped with soft plastics
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to emerging weed edges
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish gathering in warming shallows
- Aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Small crayfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
