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Fish Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 23, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Fish Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, making short movements between deeper staging areas and shallow pre-spawn zones Fish are showing a clear pattern of holding in 6-10 feet of water near vegetation, with subtle feeding behavior as noted by 'faint bites' in recent reports	Submerged vegetation edges in 6-10 feet of water, especially near drop-offs Secondary points with vegetation leading into spawning pockets Shallow vegetation transitions near shoreline areas where water warms first	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation, matching recent successful reports Shakey Heads along vegetation edges and drop-offs for pressured fish Bladed Jigs worked parallel to vegetation edges for actively feeding fish	Shad (confirmed in recent reports as primary forage) Bluegill beginning to move shallow with warming trends	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors Green Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-65	Bass are transitioning between pre-spawn staging and active spawning, with some fish pulling back to first drop-offs due to cold fronts Fish showing mixed aggression levels - some subtle bites and some aggressive strikes, indicating varying stages of spawn Movement patterns focused between shallow spawning areas and nearby deeper staging areas around 10 feet	First drop-offs near spawning flats in 8-12 feet Protected shallow areas with vegetation for active spawners Transition areas between shallow vegetation and deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) with slow presentation on drop-offs Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas Wacky Rigs for finesse presentation during cold fronts	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas Shad in slightly deeper water near drop-offs	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	73-76	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding along weed edges and near shallow cover, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior in 2-3 feet of water during optimal conditions, with some fish holding on beds	Weed lines in 2-3 feet of water adjacent to slightly deeper water Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats Shallow cover near drop-offs providing quick access to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation Soft Jerkbaits along weed edges Wacky Rigs for bed fish and clear pockets	Crawfish emerging in shallow vegetation Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	83-88	Bass are holding tight to vegetation edges and dock areas during high summer temperatures (83-88°F), actively feeding during early morning and late evening Fish are positioning just outside vegetation lines in slightly deeper water (6-10 feet) during midday hours, using weed edges as ambush points	Weed edges where vegetation meets cleaner water, especially in 6-10 foot depth range Docks with adjacent vegetation, particularly those near depth changes Lily pad fields with access to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) near drop-offs and in open water pockets Frogs/Toads over vegetation during morning and evening periods	Bluegill congregating around vegetation and dock areas Shad relating to deeper edges of vegetation Minnows utilizing shallow vegetation areas	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Fish Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	74-85	Bass are actively feeding on baitfish and transitioning between summer and winter patterns, utilizing wood and vegetation combinations as ambush points Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior during the cooling trend, with water temperatures dropping from 85°F to 74°F Bass are relating strongly to hard cover (docks and wood) while staying close to vegetation edges	Docks with adjacent vegetation, particularly those near depth changes Weedlines and edges of lily pad fields Wood cover (fallen trees, stumps) near vegetation edges	Texas Rigs (Worming) with soft plastics worked slowly around cover Swim Jigs worked through vegetation edges Spinnerbaits parallel to dock lines and weed edges	Minnows Bluegill Shad	Green Pumpkin Watermelon Black with Blue Flake

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	70-78	Bass are actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth areas (4-12 feet), particularly around structure and vegetation edges Fish are showing consistent patterns along dock areas and weed edges, suggesting stable winter patterns in this subtropical climate	Docks with adjacent vegetation in 4-8 feet of water Weed edges and reed lines, especially near depth transitions Protected coves with submerged vegetation	Texas Rigs (Worming) with slow, methodical presentations Shakey Heads worked along dock pilings and vegetation edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water between productive areas	Shad concentrating in protected areas Bluegill relating to dock and vegetation cover	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Fish Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation edges in 6-10 feet of water, especially near drop-offs	Secondary points with vegetation leading into spawning pockets
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	First drop-offs near spawning flats in 8-12 feet	Protected shallow areas with vegetation for active spawners
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Weed lines in 2-3 feet of water adjacent to slightly deeper water	Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Weed edges where vegetation meets cleaner water, especially in 6-10 foot depth range	Docks with adjacent vegetation, particularly those near depth changes
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Docks with adjacent vegetation, particularly those near depth changes	Weedlines and edges of lily pad fields
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Docks with adjacent vegetation in 4-8 feet of water	Weed edges and reed lines, especially near depth transitions

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad (confirmed in recent reports as primary forage)	Bluegill beginning to move shallow with warming trends
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas	Shad in slightly deeper water near drop-offs
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish emerging in shallow vegetation	Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill congregating around vegetation and dock areas	Shad relating to deeper edges of vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Minnows	Bluegill
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad concentrating in protected areas	Bluegill relating to dock and vegetation cover

Bait Colors by Season for Fish Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors Green Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Green Pumpkin Watermelon Black with Blue Flake
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

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