How to Fish Big Kandiyohi Lake: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Big Kandiyohi Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Big Kandiyohi Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	48-58	Staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning Moving from deeper wintering areas to warming shallow flats, particularly near future spawning sites Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding activity increasing during warming trends	Transition areas where rock/boulder fields meet deeper water Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and scattered rock Main lake points with boulder structure	Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions Tubes dragged through rocky areas Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in shallow zones	Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy Small baitfish congregating in warming shallows Young-of-year perch in protected areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	55-65	Smallmouth bass are in spawning mode, with males creating and guarding nests in protected areas with hard bottom. Given the turbid conditions (0.7m Secchi), nests will be concentrated in very shallow water (1-4 feet) where sufficient light penetration exists Fish are highly territorial and aggressive during this period, defending nests against intruders. Limited light penetration will keep spawning activities confined to the shallowest zones possible	Protected shallow bays with hard bottom (rock/gravel) substrate, especially near boulder fields Shallow flats adjacent to shoreline points where rock or gravel bottom is present Areas between docks with hard bottom, particularly where protection from wind is offered	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - Ideal for precise presentations to visible or suspected nest locations Tubes - Perfect for mimicking nest-invading crayfish and triggering defensive strikes Ned Rigs - Effective for scanning areas to locate nests with its subtle presentation	Crayfish actively moving in shallow zones Small sunfish and minnows threatening nests Juvenile perch in shallow areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	65-72	Actively feeding fish transitioning from spawning areas to main lake structure, particularly focused on boulder fields in post-spawn recovery Aggressive surface feeding behavior during warming conditions, especially over hard structure in shallow to moderate depths	Main lake boulder fields and scattered rock piles in 5-15 foot depth range Secondary points with rock/boulder structure near spawning bays Shallow rock flats adjacent to deeper water	Hard Topwater (Prop) Spinnerbaits Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)	Crayfish emerging from winter holding areas Small baitfish schools in shallow water	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	68-82	Fish are actively feeding during early morning and evening, seeking cooler water and optimal feeding conditions in this shallow, turbid system Smallmouth are relating strongly to boulder fields and scattered rock structure, using these areas as ambush points Due to turbid conditions (0.7m Secchi), fish are concentrating in shallower zones (2-8 feet) where they can effectively locate prey	Main lake boulder fields in 4-8 foot depth range Wind-blown points with rock/boulder structure Shallow rock piles adjacent to slightly deeper water	Spinnerbaits worked just above boulder fields for reaction strikes in turbid water Tubes bounced through rock structure Hard Topwater (Walking) during low-light periods	Crayfish utilizing boulder fields Small baitfish schools in wind-driven areas Young-of-year perch around scattered rock structure	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Big Kandiyohi Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	52-65	Actively feeding and schooling in response to cooling water temperatures, following baitfish movements Transitioning from shallow to deeper structured areas as water temperatures decline Increased aggression during feeding windows, particularly during low-light periods	Main lake boulder fields in 8-12 foot depth range Wind-swept points with rock or gravel transitions Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water access	Blade Baits worked with aggressive vertical presentations Spinnerbaits parallel to rocky structure Tubes dragged through boulder fields	Young-of-year baitfish schools Crayfish in rocky areas Small panfish near structure	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Purple Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Big Kandiyohi Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Transition areas where rock/boulder fields meet deeper water	Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and scattered rock
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Protected shallow bays with hard bottom (rock/gravel) substrate, especially near boulder fields	Shallow flats adjacent to shoreline points where rock or gravel bottom is present
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Main lake boulder fields and scattered rock piles in 5-15 foot depth range	Secondary points with rock/boulder structure near spawning bays
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Main lake boulder fields in 4-8 foot depth range	Wind-blown points with rock/boulder structure
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Main lake boulder fields in 8-12 foot depth range	Wind-swept points with rock or gravel transitions

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy	Small baitfish congregating in warming shallows
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crayfish actively moving in shallow zones	Small sunfish and minnows threatening nests
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crayfish emerging from winter holding areas	Small baitfish schools in shallow water
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Crayfish utilizing boulder fields	Small baitfish schools in wind-driven areas
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Young-of-year baitfish schools	Crayfish in rocky areas

Bait Colors by Season for Big Kandiyohi Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Purple Colors

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