How to Fish Fort Patrick Henry Lake: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Apr 27, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-62	Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn transition, actively moving from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, feeding opportunistically as they prepare for spawning	River channels and their adjacent transition areas where bass stage before moving shallow Secondary points with access to both deep and shallow water Areas with boulders and brush piles near spawning flats	Spinnerbaits worked along transition areas and channel swings Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around brush piles and boulders Lipless Crankbaits across flats adjacent to deeper staging areas	Crawfish becoming more active in warming water Shad schools in transition areas Alewife moving into shallower water	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	52-62	Smallmouth bass transitioning to pre-spawn locations, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning Fish utilizing laydowns and rocky areas as staging points, showing increased aggression toward larger profile baits	Laydowns adjacent to deeper water, particularly on northern shorelines Rocky points and boulder areas near potential spawning flats Bluff walls with scattered wood cover	Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked parallel to laydowns Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around wood cover Spinnerbaits near rocky transition areas	Alewife moving into shallower water Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Largemouth bass moving shallow to spawning areas, particularly around brush piles and humps as indicated by recent reports Actively feeding on alewife in pre-spawn areas, with fish establishing territories near spawning locations	Brush piles in 4-8 foot depth range, especially those near spawning flats Shallow humps with access to deeper water Protected coves with irregular shoreline features	Texas Rigs (Worming) - confirmed effective by recent reports Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - to match alewife forage Spinnerbaits - effective for covering water in stained conditions	Alewife - primary forage based on recent reports Crawfish - likely active in the moderately stained water conditions	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	52-65	Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning areas, actively feeding on crawfish around shallow rocky areas and laydowns Males beginning to establish and guard nesting sites in protected areas with firm bottom composition Showing increased aggression and territorial behavior as spawning activity intensifies	Laydowns and woody cover in protected areas near spawning flats Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines Shallow bluff walls with adjacent spawning flats	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around laydowns and rocky cover Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline structure	Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation Small baitfish relating to spawning areas	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	68-75	Bass are actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth zones, showing increased surface activity, particularly during low light periods Fish are transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing various structure types for feeding stations	Brush piles and laydowns in 4-8 foot depth range Boulder fields and bluff walls near spawning flats Boat docks with adjacent grass beds	Hard Topwater (Popping) during low light periods and cloudy conditions Finesse Jigs worked slowly around brush and boulders Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') through grass and around docks	Crawfish actively moving in and around rocky structure Alewife schooling in the upper water column	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	65-72	Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding and recovering, utilizing shallow structures and focusing on crawfish as primary forage Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior in the shallows, particularly around wood cover and rocky areas	Laydowns and fallen trees in shallow water, especially those near rocky areas Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines Bluff walls with adjacent wood cover	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through laydowns and rocky areas Tubes dragged along rocky bottom structure Ned Rigs for finesse presentation in clear spots between cover	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports Small baitfish beginning to become active in warming waters	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	77-78	Actively feeding around structured areas, particularly early and late in the day, with a focus on boulders and brush piles as ambush points Establishing summer feeding patterns around river channels and bluff walls, especially those with wind and wave action	Brush piles near river channels, especially those in 6-10 foot depth range Wind-blown bluff walls with wave action Boulder fields, particularly those adjacent to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) - worked slowly through brush piles and around boulders Finesse Jigs - effective when pitched to bluff walls and structured areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - for precise presentations around heavy cover	Crawfish - primary forage around boulder fields and brush Shad - active around river channels and bluff walls Alewife - present in open water adjacent to structure	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	68-78	Actively feeding during early morning and late evening, seeking cooler water and optimal feeding conditions Relating strongly to rock-to-sand transitions and boulder fields as primary holding areas Moving between shallow and deep water daily, following baitfish movements and temperature preferences	Deep rocky points adjacent to main lake Boulder fields in 12-20 foot depth range Shaded bluff walls during midday	Drop Shot with finesse presentations in deeper water Tubes worked along rocky transitions Hard Topwater (Walking) during early morning/late evening Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) along bluff walls	Crawfish in rocky areas Small baitfish schools Young of year sunfish in shallow areas	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Bass are transitioning to a fall feeding pattern, following baitfish and actively feeding in the mid-depth range around 8 feet as evidenced by recent catches Fish are relating strongly to cover (laydowns) and likely moving between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper staging areas	Laydowns and brush piles in the 8-foot depth zone River channel swings near shallow flats Points and irregular shoreline areas with access to deeper water	Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') - matching recent success reports Spinnerbaits - excellent for covering water in fall conditions Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - for working laydowns and brush effectively	Shad - primary forage based on recent successful bait patterns Insects - noted in recent fishing reports Crawfish - indicated by lake profile analysis	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	52-68	Actively feeding on crawfish and baitfish, following forage to progressive depths as water cools Schooling behavior increases, with fish gathering around key structure points More aggressive feeding patterns during low-light periods, especially on cloudy days	Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to deeper water Bluff walls with scattered laydowns Deep ledges near main lake points	Drop Shot with slow, subtle movements along bottom structure Spybaits worked through suspended fish Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky structure	Crawfish retreating to deeper rock structure Baitfish schools in open water Small bluegills along remaining vegetation	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-52	Largemouth bass are moving slowly and conserving energy, primarily holding near hard structure like chunk rock and boulders that retain heat Feeding windows are shorter and more concentrated during warmer parts of the day, with fish showing preference for slow-moving prey	Boulder fields and chunk rock areas in 8-12 foot depth range Deep channel swings adjacent to hard structure Protected coves with rock structure, especially on sunny afternoons	Finesse Jigs worked slowly along bottom with minimal movement Ned Rigs dragged slowly through rocky areas Football Jigs bounced along deeper rock transitions	Crawfish seeking shelter in rocky areas Smaller baitfish holding tight to structure	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Smallmouth Bass	48-52	Smallmouth bass are congregating in deeper water near rocky structure and bluff walls, typically moving less but feeding opportunistically Fish tend to school more tightly in winter, following baitfish schools and holding near the thermocline	Deep rocky points and bluff walls adjacent to deeper water Deep boulder fields near primary lake channels Steep break lines with rock transitions near primary points	Blade Baits worked vertically with slow lifts and drops Drop Shot with subtle movements near bottom structure Tubes dragged slowly across rocky bottom	Smaller baitfish schools concentrated in deeper water Dormant or slow-moving crawfish in rocky areas Small sunfish near deeper structure	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Metallic Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	River channels and their adjacent transition areas where bass stage before moving shallow	Secondary points with access to both deep and shallow water
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Laydowns adjacent to deeper water, particularly on northern shorelines	Rocky points and boulder areas near potential spawning flats
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Brush piles in 4-8 foot depth range, especially those near spawning flats	Shallow humps with access to deeper water
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Laydowns and woody cover in protected areas near spawning flats	Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Brush piles and laydowns in 4-8 foot depth range	Boulder fields and bluff walls near spawning flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Laydowns and fallen trees in shallow water, especially those near rocky areas	Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Brush piles near river channels, especially those in 6-10 foot depth range	Wind-blown bluff walls with wave action
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Deep rocky points adjacent to main lake	Boulder fields in 12-20 foot depth range
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and brush piles in the 8-foot depth zone	River channel swings near shallow flats
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to deeper water	Bluff walls with scattered laydowns
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Boulder fields and chunk rock areas in 8-12 foot depth range	Deep channel swings adjacent to hard structure
Winter	Smallmouth Bass	Deep rocky points and bluff walls adjacent to deeper water	Deep boulder fields near primary lake channels

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish becoming more active in warming water	Shad schools in transition areas
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Alewife moving into shallower water	Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Alewife - primary forage based on recent reports	Crawfish - likely active in the moderately stained water conditions
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation	Small baitfish relating to spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish actively moving in and around rocky structure	Alewife schooling in the upper water column
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports	Small baitfish beginning to become active in warming waters
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage around boulder fields and brush	Shad - active around river channels and bluff walls
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish in rocky areas	Small baitfish schools
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on recent successful bait patterns	Insects - noted in recent fishing reports
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish retreating to deeper rock structure	Baitfish schools in open water
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish seeking shelter in rocky areas	Smaller baitfish holding tight to structure
Winter	Smallmouth Bass	Smaller baitfish schools concentrated in deeper water	Dormant or slow-moving crawfish in rocky areas

Bait Colors by Season for Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Metallic Colors

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