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Dead Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 26, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Dead Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	63-67	Pre-spawn largemouth are actively staging near spawning areas, particularly in northern bays and vegetation transitions, with groups of fish congregating in key areas Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior when found, with reports indicating multiple fish in small areas and frequent catches	Transitions where green cabbage meets pencil reeds, especially on points and corners Northern protected bays with emerging vegetation Areas with current and rock/vegetation mixed habitat	Bladed Jigs with trailer (like speed craw) worked through vegetation transitions Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through vegetation and around rocks Wacky Rigs (Senko style) for slower presentations in key areas	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas mixed with vegetation	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Craw Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Pre-spawn walleyes are actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, particularly during dawn and dusk periods Fish are transitioning between winter and spawning locations, following structural elements and concentrating near current areas Aggressive feeding in shallow water (4-7 feet) during low light conditions, moving to adjacent deeper water during bright periods	River mouth areas and current breaks, particularly near the Dead River input Shallow rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to deeper water Green vegetation edges in 4-7 feet of water Secondary points leading into spawning bays	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) Live Bait Rigs Blade Baits	Shad schools concentrating near current areas Bluegills relating to emerging vegetation Small perch in transitional areas	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	55-65	Fish transitioning from winter areas to warming shallows, staging near emerging vegetation and protected bays Actively feeding during warming trends, especially during mid-morning to early afternoon when water temperatures peak Gathering in pre-spawn groups near future spawning areas, particularly in areas with good sun exposure	Protected bays with emerging vegetation, especially near the Dead River inlet Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly those with early-growing cabbage Secondary points leading into spawning bays with pencil reeds	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along vegetation edges Micro Crankbaits retrieving through warming shallows Bobbers with suspended baits near emerging vegetation	Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water Tiny crustaceans in vegetation Small minnows gathering in warming shallows	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	63-67	Bass are in various spawning phases, with some actively spawning on beds while others are in pre or post-spawn stages, particularly active during early morning periods Fish are showing aggressive behavior in shallow areas, especially around emerging vegetation and warmer protected bays Daily movement patterns show fish pushing into dense cover during sunny conditions but remaining active on edges during overcast periods	Shallow flats with emerging lily pads and spawning pockets Main lake points with hard bottom and rip rap Weed edges, particularly around reed beds and emerging vegetation	Bladed Jigs worked around vegetation edges and hard bottom areas Frogs/Toads in calm pockets around lily pads and shallow cover Hard Body Swimbaits along weed edges during early morning periods Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for bed fishing and working through vegetation	Bluegill in shallow vegetation areas Shad along weed edges and points Minnows around hard bottom areas	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Walleye moving into shallow river mouths, current areas, and rocky points during spawn, actively staging in 4-7 feet of water Most active during dawn and dusk due to light penetration matching average depth, with increased daytime activity in stained water	Current areas and river inputs, particularly around the Dead River mouth Rocky points and gravel areas in 4-7 feet of water Edges of green cabbage weed beds near spawning areas	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom near spawning areas Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with slow retrieve near staging areas Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with subtle movements in current areas	Shad congregating in pre-spawn areas Bluegill relating to emerging vegetation Small baitfish in current areas	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	65-75	Bluegills moving into shallow, warmer bays and protected areas to establish spawning beds, with males becoming increasingly territorial Pre-spawn feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish targeting insects and small invertebrates in vegetation	Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and emerging vegetation, especially near the Dead River inlet Edges of pencil reeds and emerging cabbage beds in 3-6 foot depths Shallow flats with early-growing vegetation, particularly areas with dark bottom that warm quickly	Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep, worked slowly around spawning areas Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near bedding areas Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along edges of vegetation	Aquatic insects and larvae in emerging vegetation Small invertebrates and bloodworms in bottom substrate Young-of-year minnows starting to appear in shallows	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	63-67	Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy and establishing patterns around vegetation edges and points Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones throughout the day, with increased activity during morning and evening periods around grass edges	Grass edges and weed transitions, particularly where cabbage meets pencil reeds Secondary points with mixed rock and vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range Protected northern bays with emerging vegetation	Bladed Jigs worked parallel to grass edges and through scattered vegetation Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting pockets in vegetation and transition areas Swim Jigs around sparse vegetation and over emerging grass beds	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas and around vegetation edges Young of year shad beginning to appear in warmer bays	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	62-67	Active feeding in shallow water (4-7 feet) particularly around healthy green vegetation edges during post-spawn Responding well to active presentations like snap jigging and swim baits, indicating aggressive feeding behavior	Healthy green vegetation edges in 4-7 feet of water Wind-blown shorelines with submerged vegetation Current areas near river inputs	Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow rolled along vegetation edges Snap jigging with buck tails and flukes on 1/4oz jig heads Live Bait Rigs near vegetation edges during slower periods	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation Young of year baitfish emerging in shallow areas	Light Neutral Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	63-76	Post-spawn bluegills moving off nesting areas to nearby deeper vegetation edges for recovery and feeding Actively feeding during morning and evening hours, seeking invertebrates and small insects in vegetation	Deep weed edges near cabbage beds in 8-9 foot depths Transition areas between lily pads and pencil reeds Protected bays with matted grass near Dead River inlet	Bobbers with light jigs suspended near weed edges Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along vegetation transitions Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms	Aquatic insects and larvae in vegetation Small invertebrates and zooplankton Newly hatched fry in shallow areas	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	74-78	Fish are exhibiting strong light-dependent movement patterns - utilizing grass edges early, then pushing deep into dense cover during bright conditions for shade Actively feeding in vegetation-oriented patterns, with fish schooling around premium cover areas like reed islands and isolated grass mats	Matted grass and rice beds in 4-6 feet of water, particularly focusing on isolated patches and open pockets Back sides of reed islands with blown-in grass mats Offshore rock piles with mixed vegetation, especially those near deep water access	Grass Jigs worked through mat pockets and reed edges Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dense cover and matted vegetation Bladed Jigs worked along grass edges and through sparse vegetation	Bluegill - primary forage evidenced by multiple recent reports Cisco/Whitefish - particularly around offshore structure	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors
Summer	Walleye	68-78	Walleye transitioning to deeper water during daylight hours, moving along weed edges and drop-offs Most active feeding during dawn/dusk periods, particularly around vegetation-sand transitions Suspending near thermocline during peak daylight hours	Deep weed edges adjacent to sand flats (8-12 feet) Current areas near river inputs, especially Dead River junction Main lake points with mixed rock and vegetation	Live Bait Rigs worked along weed edges Trolling Shallow (0-9') during low light periods Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) along vegetation transitions	Bluegill concentrating around weed edges Shad schools in open water and along vegetation Young-of-year perch in cabbage beds	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	68-78	Bluegills are actively feeding in and around vegetation, particularly lily pads, with peak activity during morning and evening hours Fish are establishing feeding patterns in vegetation zones, moving between shallow and deeper edges based on sunlight and temperature	Lily pad fields near the Dead River inlet, focusing on deeper pockets Vegetation edges where cabbage meets deeper water Protected bays with mixed vegetation including pencil reeds and matted grass	Bobbers with small jigs or live bait suspended at varying depths Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around vegetation edges Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through vegetation gaps	Aquatic insects and larvae in vegetation Small invertebrates near river inlet Zooplankton in open water areas	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for Dead Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-68	Bass are actively feeding on baitfish and transitioning from shallow vegetation to deeper structure, following cooling water temperatures Fish are showing increased aggression during feeding windows, particularly during overcast conditions and around major weather changes	Deep weed edges adjacent to main lake points, especially where grass meets rocky structure Remaining green vegetation in 6-12 foot depth range, particularly near deeper water access Secondary points with mixed vegetation and rock in protected bays	Spinnerbaits worked along deep weed edges and through scattered vegetation Lipless Crankbaits ripped through remaining vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled near vegetation edges	Bluegill concentrating near remaining green vegetation Cisco moving into shallower water during cold fronts	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Fall	Walleye	48-62	Transitioning to deeper main lake structures as water cools, actively feeding to build up reserves for winter Exhibiting peak feeding activity during low-light periods near structural elements and weed edges Following baitfish schools, particularly in areas with current or near deep-water access	Deep weed edges adjacent to main lake basins Current areas near the Dead River inlet Main lake points with access to deeper water	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) Trolling Mid Depth (10-19')	Shad schools congregating in deeper water Bluegills relating to remaining green vegetation Young-of-year perch in deeper weed edges	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	52-65	Transitioning to deeper water and suspending near deeper vegetation edges as surface temperatures cool Schooling more tightly and feeding heavily to build up reserves for winter Following baitfish movements and concentrating around areas with remaining green vegetation	Deep weed edges near cabbage beds in 8-9 foot depth range Deeper holes near the Dead River inlet Deeper vegetation transitions where green cabbage remains	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Live Bait Rigs Ice Fishing Jigs	Small invertebrates in remaining vegetation Micro crustaceans Small minnows congregating near vegetation edges	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Walleye	45-52	Late fall walleye transitioning to deeper winter locations, actively feeding during low-light periods to build up energy reserves Fish congregating near deeper structural elements adjacent to shallow feeding flats, particularly near current areas	Deep water areas near river inputs, especially the Dead River junction Deep edges of healthy green cabbage beds in 8-12 feet of water Main lake points with access to both shallow and deep water	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) Blade Baits	Shad schools moving to deeper water Bluegills relating to remaining green vegetation	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	34-45	Bluegills are suspending over deeper vegetation edges and basin areas, typically schooling tightly in predictable locations Fish become less active during midday, with prime feeding windows during early morning and late afternoon	Deep vegetation edges near the Dead River inlet, particularly in 8-9 foot depths Basin areas adjacent to shallow flats, especially where remnant cabbage beds are present Deeper holes near structure transitions where schools congregate	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Ice Fishing Jigs Live Bait Rigs	Small aquatic insects and larvae in remnant vegetation Bloodworms and other invertebrates in basin areas Zooplankton in the water column	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Ice	Walleye	34-39	Schooling in deeper basins near structural elements, particularly where green vegetation existed during growing season Most active during early morning and late afternoon, with a strong bite window during low-light conditions Suspending near bottom in areas with current influence from river inputs	Deep basin areas adjacent to vegetation flats in 12-15 feet of water Channel edges near river inputs, especially the Dead River confluence Transition areas between hard bottom and dying weed edges	Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements near bottom Ice Fishing Spoons with aggressive jigging during prime feeding windows Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set along depth transitions	Bluegills concentrated in deeper winter holding areas Shad schools suspended near bottom structure Small perch relating to remaining vegetation edges	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	34-39	Bluegills will be concentrated in areas near deeper vegetation edges, typically suspending in 8-12 foot ranges where oxygen levels remain stable Most active feeding occurs during early morning and late afternoon periods, with fish becoming more lethargic during extreme cold fronts	Deep weed edges near the Dead River inlet where cabbage vegetation persists Deeper basins adjacent to shallow flats, particularly in 9-12 foot ranges Areas where green cabbage remains intact under the ice, providing oxygen and invertebrate habitat	Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements just above the fish's level Ice Fishing Spoons with erratic action to trigger reaction strikes Live Bait Rigs with smaller presentations for finicky winter fish	Small aquatic invertebrates in remaining vegetation Bloodworms and other larvae in bottom substrate Tiny crustaceans suspended in water column	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

Key Seasonal Structures in Dead Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Transitions where green cabbage meets pencil reeds, especially on points and corners	Northern protected bays with emerging vegetation
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	River mouth areas and current breaks, particularly near the Dead River input	Shallow rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to deeper water
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Protected bays with emerging vegetation, especially near the Dead River inlet	Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly those with early-growing cabbage
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow flats with emerging lily pads and spawning pockets	Main lake points with hard bottom and rip rap
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Current areas and river inputs, particularly around the Dead River mouth	Rocky points and gravel areas in 4-7 feet of water
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and emerging vegetation, especially near the Dead River inlet	Edges of pencil reeds and emerging cabbage beds in 3-6 foot depths
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Grass edges and weed transitions, particularly where cabbage meets pencil reeds	Secondary points with mixed rock and vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Healthy green vegetation edges in 4-7 feet of water	Wind-blown shorelines with submerged vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep weed edges near cabbage beds in 8-9 foot depths	Transition areas between lily pads and pencil reeds
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Matted grass and rice beds in 4-6 feet of water, particularly focusing on isolated patches and open pockets	Back sides of reed islands with blown-in grass mats
Summer	Walleye	Deep weed edges adjacent to sand flats (8-12 feet)	Current areas near river inputs, especially Dead River junction
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Lily pad fields near the Dead River inlet, focusing on deeper pockets	Vegetation edges where cabbage meets deeper water
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Deep weed edges adjacent to main lake points, especially where grass meets rocky structure	Remaining green vegetation in 6-12 foot depth range, particularly near deeper water access
Fall	Walleye	Deep weed edges adjacent to main lake basins	Current areas near the Dead River inlet
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep weed edges near cabbage beds in 8-9 foot depth range	Deeper holes near the Dead River inlet
Winter	Walleye	Deep water areas near river inputs, especially the Dead River junction	Deep edges of healthy green cabbage beds in 8-12 feet of water
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep vegetation edges near the Dead River inlet, particularly in 8-9 foot depths	Basin areas adjacent to shallow flats, especially where remnant cabbage beds are present
Ice	Walleye	Deep basin areas adjacent to vegetation flats in 12-15 feet of water	Channel edges near river inputs, especially the Dead River confluence
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep weed edges near the Dead River inlet where cabbage vegetation persists	Deeper basins adjacent to shallow flats, particularly in 9-12 foot ranges

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges	Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas mixed with vegetation
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Shad schools concentrating near current areas	Bluegills relating to emerging vegetation
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water	Tiny crustaceans in vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in shallow vegetation areas	Shad along weed edges and points
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Shad congregating in pre-spawn areas	Bluegill relating to emerging vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Aquatic insects and larvae in emerging vegetation	Small invertebrates and bloodworms in bottom substrate
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas and around vegetation edges	Young of year shad beginning to appear in warmer bays
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation	Young of year baitfish emerging in shallow areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Aquatic insects and larvae in vegetation	Small invertebrates and zooplankton
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill - primary forage evidenced by multiple recent reports	Cisco/Whitefish - particularly around offshore structure
Summer	Walleye	Bluegill concentrating around weed edges	Shad schools in open water and along vegetation
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Aquatic insects and larvae in vegetation	Small invertebrates near river inlet
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating near remaining green vegetation	Cisco moving into shallower water during cold fronts
Fall	Walleye	Shad schools congregating in deeper water	Bluegills relating to remaining green vegetation
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Small invertebrates in remaining vegetation	Micro crustaceans
Winter	Walleye	Shad schools moving to deeper water	Bluegills relating to remaining green vegetation
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Small aquatic insects and larvae in remnant vegetation	Bloodworms and other invertebrates in basin areas
Ice	Walleye	Bluegills concentrated in deeper winter holding areas	Shad schools suspended near bottom structure
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Small aquatic invertebrates in remaining vegetation	Bloodworms and other larvae in bottom substrate

Bait Colors by Season for Dead Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Craw Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Light Neutral Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors
Summer	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Fall	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Winter	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Ice	Walleye	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

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