How to Fish Choke Canyon Reservoir: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Choke Canyon Reservoir

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 12, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Choke Canyon Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-62	Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise Fish are moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower flats and creek arms, staging near spawning areas Feeding activity increases as bass prepare for spawning, with aggressive reactions to prey in staging areas	Secondary points leading into spawning bays and creek arms Submerged vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depth range Rock piles and brush near shallow flats	Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation Bladed Jigs along transition areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to points	Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas Crawfish becoming more active in warming water	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are actively spawning in shallow areas, particularly in grass and around rock, with new fish moving up daily. Activity increases in afternoon hours. Fish are holding in protected spawning areas in 1-4 foot depths, using vegetation and rock as primary spawning habitat	Shallow grass flats and drains in 1-4 feet of water Rock piles and boulder areas in protected spawning pockets Grassy bank lines, especially in areas with clear water	Bladed Jigs worked through grass and around spawning areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with soft plastic craws around rocks and vegetation Swim Jigs targeting transitional areas between spawning pockets	Crawfish actively moving in shallow rocky areas Bluegill in spawning areas and around vegetation Minnows in shallow flats and around vegetation edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-75	Post-spawn bass actively feeding on shad during shad spawn, particularly during early morning hours near shallow structure Fish transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing submerged vegetation as prime ambush points	Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats Points with access to deeper water Flooded brush in shallow to mid-depth zones	Swim Jigs worked through vegetation and around shallow cover Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and targeting actively feeding fish Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) for aggressive presentations around vegetation and points	Shad (primary forage during spawn activity) Bluegill (secondary forage around vegetation)	Light Neutral Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	75-80	Bass are actively feeding in shallow water, targeting both crawfish and baitfish. They're showing aggressive behavior, especially around structure and cover. Fish are maintaining consistent feeding patterns throughout the day, with a preference for ambushing prey near structure in 75-80°F water.	Brush piles in shallow water, especially near dam areas Rock piles and rocky areas Shallow flats where baitfish are present	Texas Rigs (Worming) with weightless presentation and deadstick/twitch retrieves Structure Jigs worked slowly across rocks and through brush Football Jigs with slow drag and hop presentation	Baitfish schools in shallow water Crawfish around rocky structures and brush piles	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Choke Canyon Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	65-79	Actively chasing shad and other baitfish in shallow water, particularly in coves and around vegetation Utilizing ambush points near submerged vegetation and structure to feed opportunistically	Submerged vegetation in coves, especially areas with hydrilla Shallow humps and ledges near baitfish concentrations Points and creek channels with vegetation	Neko Rigs worked slowly through vegetation Spinnerbaits around baitfish schools and wind-blown areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around humps Texas Rigs (Worming) worked along ledges and through vegetation	Shad schooling in shallow water Bluegill relating to vegetation	Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	48-55	Largemouth bass are moving slower and seeking stable temperatures in deeper water, particularly around key structure Feeding windows are shorter and more concentrated during warmer parts of the day, with fish suspending near deep structure Bass are primarily feeding opportunistically on larger, slower-moving prey for maximum energy efficiency	Deep brush piles and rock piles adjacent to creek channels Deep hydrilla edges where vegetation meets channel swings Protected coves with remaining vegetation near deeper water access	Blade Baits worked vertically along structure edges Football Jigs dragged slowly through deeper structure Underspins fished slowly through suspended fish	Shad schooling in deeper water Larger bluegill holding near structure Crawfish becoming less active but still present near rocky structure	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals

Key Seasonal Structures in Choke Canyon Reservoir

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points leading into spawning bays and creek arms	Submerged vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depth range
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow grass flats and drains in 1-4 feet of water	Rock piles and boulder areas in protected spawning pockets
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats	Points with access to deeper water
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Brush piles in shallow water, especially near dam areas	Rock piles and rocky areas
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation in coves, especially areas with hydrilla	Shallow humps and ledges near baitfish concentrations
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep brush piles and rock piles adjacent to creek channels	Deep hydrilla edges where vegetation meets channel swings

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas	Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish actively moving in shallow rocky areas	Bluegill in spawning areas and around vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad (primary forage during spawn activity)	Bluegill (secondary forage around vegetation)
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Baitfish schools in shallow water	Crawfish around rocky structures and brush piles
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in shallow water	Bluegill relating to vegetation
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in deeper water	Larger bluegill holding near structure

Bait Colors by Season for Choke Canyon Reservoir

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

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