How to Fish French: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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French

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 16, 2026

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Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on French

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	48-58	Pre-spawn crappies are transitioning from deep winter haunts to shallower staging areas, often suspending near the first break adjacent to spawning flats Fish become increasingly active during warming trends, making frequent feeding movements up in the water column, especially during afternoon periods	Protected coves with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats Deep breaks adjacent to shallow flats, especially in 12-18 foot range Transition areas between the deep basin and shoreline structure	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Hover/Mid-Strolling	Small minnows and shad Zooplankton concentrations Emerging aquatic insects	Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Moving into shallow bays and protected areas during spring spawning phase, actively seeking warmer water temperatures Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, becoming increasingly active as water warms Males arriving first to prepare nests in 3-8 foot depths, with females following as temperatures stabilize	Protected shallow bays with stable bottom composition for spawning Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water Areas near woody cover or brush in 4-8 foot depths	Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small minnows and fry gathering in warming shallows Emerging aquatic insects Zooplankton concentrations in warmer water	Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors Pink Colors
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 suspending in loose schools near structural elements, particularly in the compressed feeding zones created by low water clarity	Deeper edges of spawning bays where 8-15 foot depths meet shoreline structure Suspended schools near points and inside turns of coves in 12-18 foot depths Brush piles and woody cover in 10-15 foot range	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')	Small baitfish and fry Zooplankton Aquatic insects	Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors Pink Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Crappie	68-78	Crappies will form loose schools in and around cover, primarily suspending at the thermocline level during summer Most active feeding periods occur during dawn and dusk, with fish moving shallower during these times Due to turbid conditions (1.1m Secchi), fish will typically suspend higher in the water column than in clearer lakes	Main lake points with adjacent deep water access Deeper coves with submerged vegetation or woody cover Suspended over main lake basin near the thermocline	Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')	Young-of-year baitfish Plankton Small invertebrates	Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for French

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Crappie	48-62	Crappies are actively feeding to build energy reserves for winter, forming loose schools around primary forage areas Fish are transitioning from shallow feeding areas to deeper winter holding locations, often suspending in the water column	Deep basin edges near the 20-28 foot contours where they stage for winter Remaining vegetated areas in 8-15 foot depths that still hold baitfish Points and breaks adjacent to deep water that provide access to multiple depth zones	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Spider Rigging Hover/Mid-Strolling	Young-of-year baitfish schooling in remaining vegetation Zooplankton concentrations in the water column Small invertebrates in transition areas	Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Crappie	38-42	Suspending crappies forming tight schools in deep basin areas, typically 7-8 feet off bottom in 25-28 foot zones Most active during low-light periods, with feeding windows compressed due to turbid conditions Schools are mobile but concentrated, requiring systematic searching to locate	Deep basin areas with 25-28 foot depths where schools suspend Transition areas between deep basins and structural elements Areas where wind-driven currents concentrate plankton and small baitfish	Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with light line and sensitive rod Damiki Rig worked slowly through suspended schools Drop Shot with small profile baits held at fish level	Small minnows and shiners suspended in water column Zooplankton concentrated in turbid layers Young-of-year panfish in deeper water	Purple Colors Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors
Ice	Crappie	34-39	Suspended crappies schooling tightly in deep basin areas, holding 7 feet off bottom in 28-foot zones Schools are mobile but concentrated, requiring search patterns to locate active fish	Deep basin areas in 25-30 feet of water Transition areas between basin and secondary drop-offs Deep holes adjacent to remaining green weeds	Ice Fishing Spoons - work small spoons with subtle jigging motions Ice Fishing Jigs - particularly micro-sized presentations Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) - maintain contact with suspended schools	Small Minnows Zooplankton Micro invertebrates	Purple Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in French

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Protected coves with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats	Deep breaks adjacent to shallow flats, especially in 12-18 foot range
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Protected shallow bays with stable bottom composition for spawning	Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Deeper edges of spawning bays where 8-15 foot depths meet shoreline structure	Suspended schools near points and inside turns of coves in 12-18 foot depths
Summer	Crappie	Main lake points with adjacent deep water access	Deeper coves with submerged vegetation or woody cover
Fall	Crappie	Deep basin edges near the 20-28 foot contours where they stage for winter	Remaining vegetated areas in 8-15 foot depths that still hold baitfish
Winter	Crappie	Deep basin areas with 25-28 foot depths where schools suspend	Transition areas between deep basins and structural elements
Ice	Crappie	Deep basin areas in 25-30 feet of water	Transition areas between basin and secondary drop-offs

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows and shad	Zooplankton concentrations
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows and fry gathering in warming shallows	Emerging aquatic insects
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small baitfish and fry	Zooplankton
Summer	Crappie	Young-of-year baitfish	Plankton
Fall	Crappie	Young-of-year baitfish schooling in remaining vegetation	Zooplankton concentrations in the water column
Winter	Crappie	Small minnows and shiners suspended in water column	Zooplankton concentrated in turbid layers
Ice	Crappie	Small Minnows	Zooplankton

Bait Colors by Season for French

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

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