As mentioned, trout follow the shoreline and accompanying shallows during spring, seeking suitable spawning areas and food. Shallows also are the first areas of a lake to produce aquatic plant growth, which attracts insects, which then lure fish. During the spring season, anglers might encounter hatches of blue-winged olive, Callibaetis and pale morning dun mayflies, a variety of caddisflies, midges, damselflies and dragonflies. Typically, midges are present in the morning and evening hours, followed by damselfly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs and a variety of caddis and mayfly nymphs. Those offerings are especially effective early and late in the day as trout move out of the depths and onto the flats.
Shoals are also important to trout during late spring and early summer for similar reasons.
Shoals are essentially submerged islands, so the sun promotes aquatic vegetation growth in these areas, just like in the shallows. Forage fish are attracted to these areas in good numbers, and that draws the attention of mature trout. Shoals are especially convenient for trout, because they can move quickly from the fertile shallow water back to the safety of deep water just off the shoal's edge. Anglers can anchor a boat near the edge of a shoal and cast jigs or leeches off a sinking line and bounce them along the drop-off. Anglers also should pay attention to drop-offs where trout hide during midday hours, particularly on bright days.