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

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Fish Lake Reservoir

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Fish Lake Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	48-58	Moving from winter deep-water areas to shallow staging areas near spawning flats, becoming increasingly active as water warms Congregating in larger schools during pre-spawn, often relating to the first available cover near deep-water winter areas Feeding more aggressively as metabolism increases with warming water temperatures	Protected coves and bays with submerged vegetation in 6-8 feet of water Transitions between deeper winter holes and shallow spawning flats Secondary points leading into spawning bays with emerging vegetation	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Live Bait Rigs	Small minnows congregating in warming shallows Early-season plankton blooms in warming bays Small invertebrates becoming active in vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Crappies are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and along shoreline areas with vegetation Males will be the first to move shallow and begin creating nests, with females staging slightly deeper until ready to spawn Most active during dawn and dusk, but will feed throughout the day during the spawn in the stained water conditions	Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water Secondary points leading into spawning bays Shallow flats adjacent to slightly deeper water	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) Bobbers Finesse Hair Jigs	Small minnows Young of the year panfish Aquatic insects	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	62-72	Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish are gathering in loose schools around emerging weed growth and spreading out along shoreline structure	Emerging weed edges in 6-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats Secondary points and brush near shoreline areas Shallow coves with developing vegetation	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around weed edges Bobbers with live bait or small soft plastics suspended at 4-6 feet Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weed edges and points	Small minnows concentrating around new weed growth Emerging aquatic insects in shallow areas Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Crappie	68-78	Crappies are most active during early morning hours, feeding aggressively in and around weed edges in 8-10 ft depths Fish likely retreat to slightly deeper water or denser cover during bright midday periods due to the stained water conditions Actively feeding on small minnows and zooplankton around weed edges, particularly during dawn periods	Large weedbeds in 8-10 foot depth range, particularly edges and openings Secondary points with emerging vegetation near deeper water access Shallow coves with submerged vegetation, especially during early morning	Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly through weed openings Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) along weed edges Hover/Mid-Strolling parallel to weed edges	Small minnows (particularly fatheads) Zooplankton concentrations around weed edges	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Fish Lake Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Crappie	52-65	Crappies are actively schooling and feeding more aggressively as they prepare for winter, following baitfish movements to shallow bays and creek arms Fish are transitioning between summer and winter patterns, moving between deeper weed edges and shallow flats based on daily temperature fluctuations	Deep weed edges in 8-10 feet of water adjacent to shallow flats Protected coves and bays, especially those with remaining vegetation Points and channel edges leading into shallow feeding areas	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small minnows and fatheads congregating in schools Young-of-year baitfish Zooplankton near remaining vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Crappie	38-45	In late fall/early winter, crappies are transitioning to deeper water and suspending near deep basin areas, often schooling tightly in response to cooling temperatures Feeding activity becomes more concentrated during prime low-light periods, with fish generally more lethargic but still willing to feed when properly targeted	Deep basin areas adjacent to shallow flats, particularly in 12-15 foot depths where schools suspend Channel edges and deeper holes that exceed the lake's average depth Any remaining green weed edges in deeper water that haven't yet died off	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Live Bait Rigs Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)	Small minnows, particularly fatheads as indicated in fishing reports Young-of-year baitfish Zooplankton in deeper water columns	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Crappie	33-39	Crappies will suspend in deeper basins, typically in loose schools 1-3 feet off bottom Most active feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with a secondary bite during stable weather	Deep basins beyond the average lake depth (8-12 feet) Transitions where dying weed edges meet deeper water Areas where creek channels or ditches lead into deeper basins	Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements just above fish Ice Fishing Spoons for more aggressive fish and to call fish in Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set at varying depths to locate active fish	Small minnows suspended in the water column Zooplankton concentrations in deeper water Young-of-year panfish in deeper basins	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Fish Lake Reservoir

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Protected coves and bays with submerged vegetation in 6-8 feet of water	Transitions between deeper winter holes and shallow spawning flats
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water	Secondary points leading into spawning bays
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Emerging weed edges in 6-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats	Secondary points and brush near shoreline areas
Summer	Crappie	Large weedbeds in 8-10 foot depth range, particularly edges and openings	Secondary points with emerging vegetation near deeper water access
Fall	Crappie	Deep weed edges in 8-10 feet of water adjacent to shallow flats	Protected coves and bays, especially those with remaining vegetation
Winter	Crappie	Deep basin areas adjacent to shallow flats, particularly in 12-15 foot depths where schools suspend	Channel edges and deeper holes that exceed the lake's average depth
Ice	Crappie	Deep basins beyond the average lake depth (8-12 feet)	Transitions where dying weed edges meet deeper water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows congregating in warming shallows	Early-season plankton blooms in warming bays
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows	Young of the year panfish
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows concentrating around new weed growth	Emerging aquatic insects in shallow areas
Summer	Crappie	Small minnows (particularly fatheads)	Zooplankton concentrations around weed edges
Fall	Crappie	Small minnows and fatheads congregating in schools	Young-of-year baitfish
Winter	Crappie	Small minnows, particularly fatheads as indicated in fishing reports	Young-of-year baitfish
Ice	Crappie	Small minnows suspended in the water column	Zooplankton concentrations in deeper water

Bait Colors by Season for Fish Lake Reservoir

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Fall	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Winter	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

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