I can't speak for other lakes: Pike in Audubon will smash top water in shallow water shorty after ice out. The best situation IME is gray/dingy water and minimal wind. Good luck with that... I'd prefer some sort of muskrat lure. I've had success with a Jitterbug with a slow retrieve hoping to mimic the rodent. In fact the Boy's first fish on BC tackle was an 8lb which POPPED like a pistol shot--twice: Holy hell. It was a 50F; overcast afternoon with some slush still along the bank:
