How to Fish Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 16, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Pre-spawn bass actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, with increased activity during warming trends Fish transitioning between deeper winter areas and shallow spawning flats, using migration routes and stopping points	Rock piles and bars in transition areas between deep and shallow water Laydowns and reed edges in protected shallow bays Rip rap banks with deep water access	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover Hard Body Swimbaits for actively feeding fish Lipless Crankbaits around shallow flats Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') on rock piles	Shad concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are actively moving shallow for spawning, with some fish staging on deeper points at bay mouths as transition areas Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around shad concentrations, as they build energy reserves for spawning	Points at the mouths of bays, especially those with access to spawning flats Protected shallow coves with stable bottoms for spawning Secondary points with mixed rock and wood cover	Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along point transitions Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for spawning areas and shallow cover Swim Jigs for covering water and targeting actively feeding fish	Shad concentrating around points and bay mouths Bluegill beginning to move shallow for their own spawn	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	64-87	Post-spawn females actively transitioning from spawning areas to summer locations, following shad schools and utilizing ambush points Fish establishing early summer feeding patterns, relating to hard structure and actively pursuing bait schools	Ledges and hard structure adjacent to spawning flats Reeds and shallow cover near deeper water access Rocky points and boulder fields	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and ambush points Structure Jigs worked along hard edges and transition areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') for covering water and targeting active fish	Shad schools transitioning to summer patterns Baitfish relating to structure and cover	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Natural Baitfish Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	82-92	Actively feeding on shad in shaded areas during high summer temperatures, seeking thermal refuge while maintaining feeding opportunities Moving between deep summer holding areas (humps) and shallower feeding zones, particularly during lower light periods	Shaded areas near main lake points where shad schools are present Offshore humps with access to deep water Deep weed edges adjacent to primary points	Ned Rigs worked slowly through shaded areas Carolina Rigs dragged across offshore humps Deep Diving Crankbaits along deep weed edges	Shad schools in open water and around structure Bluegill in shaded areas and weed edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Largemouth bass are actively feeding on shad schools to build energy reserves for winter, following baitfish migrations to creek arms and coves Fish are relating to transition areas between shallow and deep water, making frequent moves between feeding zones throughout the day	Main lake points and creek channel bends with access to deep water Shallow coves with abundant baitfish, especially near creek channels Laydowns and rock piles adjacent to deeper water	Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline transitions Spinnerbaits burned through baitfish schools or slow-rolled along depth changes Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) matching shad size and movement	Shad schools migrating into creeks and coves Remaining summer bluegill in shallow cover	Bold Striped Patterns Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-55	Largemouth bass are transitioning to slower, more lethargic winter patterns, preferring deeper, stable water temperatures near main lake points and channel swings Fish are actively feeding on shad schools that are migrating to deeper water, but feeding windows are shorter and more concentrated during warmer parts of the day	Deep channel swings adjacent to creek mouths where shad are congregating Rock piles and laydowns in 15-25 foot depth range near primary points Deeper dock areas that provide both cover and access to deeper water	Football Jigs worked slowly along bottom structure Blade Baits vertically jigged through suspended bait schools Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) slowly dragged on deep structure	Shad schools congregating in deeper water Inactive/dormant crawfish in rocky areas	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Rock piles and bars in transition areas between deep and shallow water	Laydowns and reed edges in protected shallow bays
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Points at the mouths of bays, especially those with access to spawning flats	Protected shallow coves with stable bottoms for spawning
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Ledges and hard structure adjacent to spawning flats	Reeds and shallow cover near deeper water access
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shaded areas near main lake points where shad schools are present	Offshore humps with access to deep water
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points and creek channel bends with access to deep water	Shallow coves with abundant baitfish, especially near creek channels
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep channel swings adjacent to creek mouths where shad are congregating	Rock piles and laydowns in 15-25 foot depth range near primary points

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas	Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad concentrating around points and bay mouths	Bluegill beginning to move shallow for their own spawn
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools transitioning to summer patterns	Baitfish relating to structure and cover
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools in open water and around structure	Bluegill in shaded areas and weed edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools migrating into creeks and coves	Remaining summer bluegill in shallow cover
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools congregating in deeper water	Inactive/dormant crawfish in rocky areas

Bait Colors by Season for Braidwood Power Plant Cooling Pond

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bold Striped Patterns Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

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