Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-62 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Strongly relating to current breaks and warming water areas, particularly near river mouths and shallow bays
- Showing aggressive feeding behavior during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning bays
- River mouth areas with current breaks and slightly warmer water
- Shipping dock areas providing current breaks and deep water access
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points
- Drop Shot with subtle presentations near vertical structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Baitfish schools congregating near current breaks
- Small perch relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming increasingly active with warming trends
- Fish are feeding opportunistically, with increased activity during warm afternoons, particularly on wind-blown banks
| - Protected coves with reed edges adjacent to deeper water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats with emerging vegetation near deep-water access
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse reeds and along edges
- Bladed Jigs with slow, steady retrieves near vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, with daily movements between deeper holding areas and shallow feeding zones
- Fish becoming more active with warming water temperatures, making feeding movements along channel edges and towards shallow staging areas
| - River channel edges and connecting points leading to spawning areas
- Rocky points and shallow flats adjacent to deep water
- Transition areas where hard bottom meets soft bottom near spawning locations
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lifts and holds
- Live Bait Rigs with minnows worked slowly along transition areas
- Blade Baits worked with controlled lifts near channel edges
| - Small baitfish concentrated near spawning areas
- Yellow Perch in transitional areas
- Juvenile whitefish and ciscos in slightly deeper adjacent areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn pike staging near spawning areas in shallow bays and reed beds, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones as water temperatures fluctuate
| - Shallow bays with emerging reed beds and vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with scattered rocks in 8-12 feet
- Brush piles near spawning areas serving as staging points
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through staging areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along emerging weed edges
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near brush piles and rocky points
| - Perch congregating near emerging vegetation
- Minnows schooling in shallow bays
- Bluegills moving into warmer shallow areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 57-62 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning in shallow bays and river mouths, with males guarding nests on or near rocky structure
- Fish are moving between pre-spawn staging areas and spawning flats as water temperatures fluctuate between 57-62°F
| - Rocky bays with boulder and rock pile structure
- River channels and river mouths
- Protected shallow areas with hard bottom composition
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Wacky Rigs
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Minnows in shallow spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are in a spawning pattern, moving between staging areas and spawning flats. Early morning finds them cruising shallow flats, transitioning to isolated reed patches with gravel bottom as sun rises
- Some fish still actively spawning and on beds, while others have completed spawning and are beginning their post-spawn feeding activity
| - Isolated reed patches with gravel bottom in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected shallow flats in early morning
- Spawning bays with hard bottom composition
| - Spinnerbaits worked through reed edges with a steady retrieve
- Underspins with swimbaits for actively feeding fish
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting isolated reed patches
| - Bluegill gathering near spawning areas
- Baitfish relating to reed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Walleye | 42-52 | - Walleyes are transitioning from winter areas to spawning locations, primarily utilizing river channels and rocky areas for spawning activity
- Fish are moving in waves, with pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn fish all potentially active in different areas
- Most active during low-light periods, especially around sunrise and sunset, with increased daytime activity due to spawning behavior
| - River channel entrances and current areas with rock or gravel bottom
- Rocky points and shoreline areas adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow bays with gravel or rock substrate
| - Live Bait Rigs
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Blade Baits
| - Minnows concentrating near spawning areas
- Small perch in adjacent slightly deeper water
- Smaller baitfish following warming water trends
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-52 | - Northern Pike are in spawning mode, moving into shallow reed beds and back bays immediately after ice-out when water temperatures reach 40-52°F
- Post-spawn fish transition to brush piles and scattered rock areas for recovery, actively feeding to regain energy
- Fish are highly aggressive during pre-spawn, becoming more selective during actual spawn, then returning to active feeding post-spawn
| - Shallow reed beds and emergent vegetation in protected bays (2-4 feet deep)
- Brush piles near spawning areas (5-8 feet deep)
- Rock-strewn flats adjacent to spawning bays (6-10 feet deep)
| - Inline Spinners cast parallel to reed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved near brush piles for post-spawn fish
| - Perch gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Bluegill moving into warming shallows
- Minnows congregating near emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, relating heavily to rocky structure and transitional areas
- Fish are moving between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer haunts, stopping at intermediary structure to feed
| - Rock veins and ridges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Protected bays near river mouths with rocky structure
- Main lake points with boulder fields
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along rock transitions
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for less aggressive fish
- Tubes dragged along rocky structure
| - Alewife moving along structural elements
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegills in shallow water near reed beds
- Fish are establishing predictable daily patterns, moving between reed edges and slightly deeper adjacent areas as temperatures fluctuate
| - Reed edges in 3-5 feet of water, especially where they create distinct lines adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation, particularly near the Pinconning marsh area
- Secondary points with reed growth that provide access to both shallow and slightly deeper water
| - Buzzbaits worked along reed edges, especially during low light conditions
- Soft Jerkbaits worked parallel to reed lines with erratic retrieves
- Swim Jigs moving through gaps in reeds and along edges
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas around vegetation
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in warming shallows
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Walleye | 48-62 | - Post-spawn walleyes are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer locations, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating to transitional structure between spawning areas and summer depths, particularly active during dawn and dusk periods
| - River channel edges and adjacent flats in 8-15 feet of water
- Rocky points and emerging weed edges in 6-12 feet
- Secondary points leading into major bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows worked slowly along transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline breaks
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily over emerging vegetation
| - Small Minnows - particularly spot-tail shiners gathering for their own spawn
- Young Yellow Perch
- Emerging Juvenile Baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 57-72 | - Post-spawn pike actively recovering and feeding around brush piles and woody cover
- Fish transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer locations, utilizing various depth ranges from 2-20 feet
- Increased feeding activity as water temperatures warm, with pike targeting multiple forage species
| - Brush piles in moderate depths (8-15 feet)
- Reed bed edges transitioning to deeper water
- Points and irregular shoreline areas with scattered rocks
| - Spinnerbaits worked along brush pile edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve
- Inline Spinners near reed bed edges
| - Yellow Perch
- Bluegills
- Minnows
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|