How to Fish Chequamegon Bay: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Chequamegon Bay

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 30, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Chequamegon Bay

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	52-65	Smallmouth bass are transitioning into pre-spawn patterns, actively feeding while moving towards spawning areas in shallow water Fish become more active as water temperatures rise throughout the day, with feeding increasing during warm periods	Shallow brush piles and laydowns in 5 feet or less of water Protected coves and bays with warming water Channel edges adjacent to shallow flats	Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly around cover Ned Rigs worked along bottom near staging areas Tubes pitched to visible cover in shallow water	Small baitfish (including fatheads and shiners) Early season crawfish emerging from winter areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	58-65	Smallmouth bass are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in areas with less stained water and temperatures around 64°F Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase faster-moving baits like swimbaits in pre-spawn patterns	Sand Cut Slough and similar shallow areas (5 feet or less) with clearer water Protected areas with laydowns in shallow water Shallow flats that warm quickly in spring	Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked with brisk retrieves Wacky Rigs worked slowly around cover Drop Shot with small profile baits for clear water areas	Small baitfish (evident from swimbait success) Young of year perch	Light Neutral Colors Vibrant Assorted Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	58-68	Fish are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, particularly around submerged vegetation as noted in recent reports Fish showing aggressive behavior with willingness to chase moving baits like spinnerbaits and swimbaits Moving between shallow spawning areas and early summer feeding zones along migration routes	Submerged vegetation edges in 5-10 feet of water, as supported by recent fishing reports Channel edges near Sand Cut Slough providing migration routes Mixed rock and vegetation areas where multiple structure types intersect	Spinnerbaits worked steadily through and over vegetation, matching recent successful reports Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish as noted in reports Swim Jigs around vegetation edges as an alternative power-fishing technique	Small baitfish schools as evidenced by swimbait success Young of year perch beginning to emerge Small bluegills around vegetation	Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	68-78	Smallmouth bass establishing summer patterns with fish transitioning to deeper structures and main lake areas, actively feeding during morning and evening periods Fish relating strongly to the thermocline, typically suspended near structure and making periodic movements to shallower areas to feed	Deep boulder fields and rock piles near channel edges in 15-25 feet Main lake points with access to deep water Weed edges adjacent to hard bottom areas	Drop Shot along deep structure edges Football Jigs worked through boulder fields Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish	Crayfish in rocky areas Small baitfish schools Young of the year perch	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Chequamegon Bay

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	52-65	Actively feeding on crawfish around rocky structure, with increased feeding activity during warmer parts of the day Transitioning to deeper structure while maintaining aggressive feeding patterns before winter	Boulder fields and rocky structure in 15-25 foot depth range Deep channel edges adjacent to rocky structure Main lake points with mixed rock and gravel	Football Jigs worked slowly through rocky structure Ned Rigs for numbers of fish in same areas Drop Shot along channel edges and deeper structure	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports Small baitfish transitioning to deeper water	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Chequamegon Bay

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Shallow brush piles and laydowns in 5 feet or less of water	Protected coves and bays with warming water
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Sand Cut Slough and similar shallow areas (5 feet or less) with clearer water	Protected areas with laydowns in shallow water
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Submerged vegetation edges in 5-10 feet of water, as supported by recent fishing reports	Channel edges near Sand Cut Slough providing migration routes
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Deep boulder fields and rock piles near channel edges in 15-25 feet	Main lake points with access to deep water
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Boulder fields and rocky structure in 15-25 foot depth range	Deep channel edges adjacent to rocky structure

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Small baitfish (including fatheads and shiners)	Early season crawfish emerging from winter areas
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Small baitfish (evident from swimbait success)	Young of year perch
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Small baitfish schools as evidenced by swimbait success	Young of year perch beginning to emerge
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Crayfish in rocky areas	Small baitfish schools
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports	Small baitfish transitioning to deeper water

Bait Colors by Season for Chequamegon Bay

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

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