Been out quite a bit around the Duluth area chasing pike and bass. The smallmouth are still holding out at the edge of their spawning areas in about 10-15 ft. A few smallmouth are making their way into protected warmwater bays with gravel, rock, but must have some wood. Most of the fish are just about to go into their pre-spawn feeding blitz in the shallows. On Island Lake, yesterday the main body water temps were only in the high 40's, with a few bays reaching the low 50's. Way to cold for shallow water bass. Smaller lakes should be a little warmer.
Largemouth are definately making their move for the pre-spawn feeding binge. Look for protected bays with wood and gravel off points and close to deep water.
Northern Pike are on fire! Fishing topwater will work, but they are in the mood for shallow water minnow imitations on a fairly fast strip retrieve. With the cool weather we've been having, it's keeping the bigger pike up shallow longer than normal, plus no weeds!
The warmwater fishing is about a 1 to 1.5 weeks behind a 'normal' spring. In the next 2 weeks, get ready for some awesome warmwater action. I think what will happen is that the water will warm up quickly and big schools of fish will move into the shallows for the quick pre-spawn then right onto spawn. In the past is more a gradual event leading up to spawn and post-spawn.
Good luck out there and tight lines!