| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Actively feeding on shad around rocky structure, particularly near the dam, as they prepare for spawn
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, showing strong reaction to moving baits
| - Dam areas with rocky structure
- Main lake points with chunk rock
- Secondary points in major creek arms
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive jerks and longer pauses
- Tubes dragged on rocky bottom
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around structure
| - Shad schooling near dam and main lake structure
- Crawfish emerging from winter haunts in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
- Moving from deep winter haunts to staging areas near spawning flats, particularly active during warming trends
| - Secondary points and channel swings leading into spawning bays
- Deeper docks adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with access to deep water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs around cover and emerging vegetation
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along points and channel edges
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallower
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Lake Trout | 38-48 | - Lake trout are transitioning from winter deep-water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are following baitfish schools while gradually moving toward spawning areas near rocky structures and points
| - Rocky points and boulder-strewn areas in 15-30 foot depth range
- Deep water adjacent to spawning areas, particularly near the dam
- Areas where baitfish schools are suspended over main lake basins
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with large profile baits to target actively feeding fish
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are spotted on electronics
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along rocky structure and points
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish utilizing rocky structure for cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are in various spawning phases, with some actively on beds while others are in pre or post-spawn stages
- Fish are relating to shallow structure, particularly around laydowns and rocky banks, with some showing aggressive following behavior in afternoon hours
| - Rocky banks and shallow laydowns where spawning activity is occurring
- Secondary points with mixed rock and wood cover
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) with smaller profile baits for bed fishing
- Hard Jerkbaits for actively feeding fish
- Tubes for spawning areas
| - Crawfish in rocky areas
- Shad in open water and around points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - During spawn, bass move into shallow protected areas, particularly in coves and near docks, focusing on nest building and protection
- Pre-spawn females stage on adjacent deeper structure, making feeding forays into shallower areas, especially during shad spawn activity
| - Protected shallow coves with hard bottom, particularly near docks and laydowns
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
- Shoreline areas with brush piles in 2-6 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds
- Bladed Jigs near shoreline structure during shad spawn
- Soft Jerkbaits for sight fishing and targeting pre-spawn females
| - Spawning shad in shallow areas near structure
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Lake Trout | 42-52 | - Lake trout are transitioning from winter deep-water patterns to spawning areas, making frequent moves between deep and shallow rocky structures
- Fish become more aggressive as water temperatures rise, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
| - Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines in 15-30 foot depth range
- Transition areas between deep basins and spawning grounds near rock structures
- Dam area structure offering deep water access and current breaks
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with downriggers along transitional areas
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are found concentrated
- Spoons worked through suspended fish marked on electronics
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallower with warming water
- Small lake trout gathering in spawning areas becoming target prey
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding and recovering, focusing on shad spawn activity near rocky banks and riprap in early mornings
- Fish are establishing summer transition patterns, moving between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper recovery areas throughout the day
| - Riprap banks with overhanging trees, especially during early morning shad spawn
- Rocky points and transitions near deeper water
- Complex shoreline areas with mixed rock and boulder structure
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to riprap banks during early morning hours
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking shad in shallow areas
- Tubes worked around rocky structure during non-peak feeding periods
| - Spawning Shad - primary forage during this period
- Crawfish in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Bass are actively feeding on spawning shad near shoreline structure during early morning hours, with activity declining by mid-morning
- Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and summer patterns, utilizing laydowns and docks as primary feeding zones
| - Shoreline areas with laydowns and docks during shad spawn (especially early morning)
- Secondary points and ledges near spawning flats
- Creek arms with 20-foot depth zones nearby
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure during shad spawn
- Bladed Jigs around docks and other cover
- Drop Shot for when the bite gets tough later in the day
| - Spawning Shad concentrated near shoreline structure
- Post-spawn Baitfish schools transitioning to summer patterns
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Lake Trout | 45-53 | - Lake trout beginning to transition from winter deep water patterns to more active feeding in cooler mid-depth zones, following post-spawn recovery
- Fish are actively pursuing baitfish schools around structural elements, particularly during early morning and late evening periods
| - Deep points and rock structures adjacent to spawning areas in 30-45 foot depth range
- Steep rocky walls near dam structure where baitfish schools congregate
- Boulder fields and rock piles in 25-40 foot depth range that provide ambush points
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with downriggers along rocky structure edges
- Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) through suspended baitfish schools
- Spoons worked vertically through baitfish schools
| - Suspended shad schools in mid-depth water column
- Small yellow perch around rocky structure
- Juvenile whitefish in deeper water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
