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Grand Lake St Marys

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Grand Lake St Marys

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Crappie are beginning to transition from winter patterns to spawning areas, staging in pre-spawn locations near shallow spawning flats Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, feeding more aggressively to prepare for spawning Schools are starting to break up from tight winter groups into smaller pods	Creek channels adjacent to spawning flats, particularly where wood cover is present Brush piles in 6-12 foot depths near shoreline areas Protected coves with laydowns and woody structure Secondary points leading into spawning bays	Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Crappie Dock Shooting	Young-of-year shad beginning to become more active Small bluegill and sunfish near shallow cover Various minnow species gathering near spawning areas	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-62	Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise Fish are moving from deeper winter haunts to shallower flats and staging areas near spawning pockets Feeding activity increases during warming trends, with fish particularly active during sunny afternoons	Secondary points leading into spawning coves, especially those with wood cover Protected shallow flats (3-6 feet) adjacent to deeper water Dock areas in protected coves that warm quickly Channel swing banks where deep water meets shallow flats	Lipless Crankbaits worked through shallow vegetation and flats Bladed Jigs around dock posts and visible cover Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible wood cover	Shad schooling in pre-spawn staging areas Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows Small bluegill in protected pockets	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Crappie moving into shallow areas (1-4 feet) seeking warmer water and spawning areas, particularly around woody cover and shoreline structure Males will establish and guard nests while females stage slightly deeper, making multiple trips shallow to spawn	Shallow brush piles and laydowns in protected coves (1-4 feet) Shoreline areas with woody cover near creek channels Protected shallow bays with stable water temperatures	Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small Shad Small Baitfish Aquatic Insects	Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and behind docks where water warms first Males are actively preparing and guarding nests in 2-4 feet of water, while females stage slightly deeper Fish are highly territorial and defensive of their spawning areas	Protected shallow coves with firm bottom composition Areas behind and between docks in 2-4 feet of water Natural wood cover and laydowns in shallow water	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and finding spawning areas Wacky Rigs for slow presentations to spotted beds	Bluegill and other sunfish (primary spawning season threats) Crawfish becoming active in warming waters Shad schools in slightly deeper staging areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	62-72	Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active and aggressive in their feeding Fish are suspending near cover in the upper water column, particularly around brush and laydowns in 4-8 foot depths	Brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 foot depths Creek channel edges where they intersect with flats Protected coves with woody cover	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Crappie Dock Shooting Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Young-of-year shad beginning to school Small bluegill and other sunfish Various small minnows	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-75	Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones (2-8 feet) due to stained water conditions Most active during early morning and late evening, seeking shaded areas during bright days	Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with wood cover Shallow dock areas, especially those near deeper water access Laydowns and brush in 3-6 feet of water	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover Swim Jigs near dock areas and through scattered vegetation	Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn areas Bluegill in spawning areas and around shallow cover Young of year baitfish emerging in shallow zones	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Crappie	72-85	Crappie will be spread across multiple depth zones but concentrate around shaded cover during bright days, with more active feeding in early morning and evening Fish suspend near woody cover and brush in 4-8 foot depths, moving shallower during low light periods	Shaded areas under docks and near brush piles in 4-8 foot depths Creek channel edges where they intersect with flats Laydowns and fallen trees, especially those near deeper water access	Crappie Dock Shooting Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) Hover/Mid-Strolling	Young-of-year shad Small bluegill Juvenile sunfish	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-85	Largemouth bass establishing summer patterns with early morning/late evening shallow feeding and midday movement to deeper structure In the stained water conditions (2.3ft visibility), bass will stay relatively shallow, rarely exceeding 8-10 feet deep even during midday Active feeding periods concentrated around shaded areas and dock structures during bright conditions	Dock areas with adjacent vegetation, especially in protected coves Laydowns and brush piles in 4-8 foot depth range Main lake points with quick access to slightly deeper water	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and shallow cover Swim Jigs parallel to shoreline structure during low light Buzzbaits early morning in shallow areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along points and wood cover	Shad schools in open water and around points Bluegill around docks and vegetation Crawfish in shallow rocky areas and around dock posts	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Grand Lake St Marys

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Crappie	52-68	Crappie are transitioning from summer patterns to fall feeding, actively pursuing shad schools in the mid-depth ranges of the stained water Fish are beginning to school more tightly and moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper areas near creek channels	Creek channel bends with adjacent brush or laydowns in 6-10 foot depths Protected coves with woody cover near deeper water access Shallow flats adjacent to deeper channels where shad schools are present	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Shad schools congregating in creek channels and coves Small sunfish in and around shallow brush	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Bass actively feeding on shad in shallow to mid-depth zones, particularly around docks and other structure in stained water conditions Fish are in transition mode, following baitfish movements and utilizing ambush points in low-visibility conditions	Docks, particularly those in protected coves and near channel swings Main lake points with nearby deep water access Wood cover and laydowns in 3-8 foot depth range	Swim Jigs worked steadily around dock posts and edges Spinnerbaits parallel to dock edges and through gaps Bladed Jigs around shallow cover and points	Shad Small Bluegill	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Crappie	36-42	Crappie are holding relatively shallow (1.5-2ft) near woody cover despite cold winter temperatures, showing active feeding patterns even in 36-42°F water Fish are relating closely to channel edges and protected areas, likely moving between cover and feeding zones in short distances	Laydowns and brush in 3-4ft of water adjacent to channel edges Protected shallow coves with woody cover Bank areas with nearby deeper water access	Bobbers with small jigs set at 1.5-2ft depth, worked slowly back to the bank Crappie Dock Shooting targeting shallow cover in protected areas Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around visible cover	Shad concentrations in protected areas Small baitfish in channel edges	Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	36-45	Concentrating in deeper holes near channel breaks, reducing activity levels but still feeding opportunistically Suspending over deeper structure, staying close to primary forage sources	Deep channel breaks and primary points near winter holes Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range Protected coves with deeper water access	Blade Baits worked slowly with controlled lifts near bottom Drop Shot with minimal movement in identified winter holes Underspins targeting suspended fish following shad schools	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water Smaller baitfish seeking winter refuge near brush	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Grand Lake St Marys

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Creek channels adjacent to spawning flats, particularly where wood cover is present	Brush piles in 6-12 foot depths near shoreline areas
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points leading into spawning coves, especially those with wood cover	Protected shallow flats (3-6 feet) adjacent to deeper water
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Shallow brush piles and laydowns in protected coves (1-4 feet)	Shoreline areas with woody cover near creek channels
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow coves with firm bottom composition	Areas behind and between docks in 2-4 feet of water
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 foot depths	Creek channel edges where they intersect with flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with wood cover	Shallow dock areas, especially those near deeper water access
Summer	Crappie	Shaded areas under docks and near brush piles in 4-8 foot depths	Creek channel edges where they intersect with flats
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dock areas with adjacent vegetation, especially in protected coves	Laydowns and brush piles in 4-8 foot depth range
Fall	Crappie	Creek channel bends with adjacent brush or laydowns in 6-10 foot depths	Protected coves with woody cover near deeper water access
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Docks, particularly those in protected coves and near channel swings	Main lake points with nearby deep water access
Winter	Crappie	Laydowns and brush in 3-4ft of water adjacent to channel edges	Protected shallow coves with woody cover
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep channel breaks and primary points near winter holes	Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Young-of-year shad beginning to become more active	Small bluegill and sunfish near shallow cover
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in pre-spawn staging areas	Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small Shad	Small Baitfish
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill and other sunfish (primary spawning season threats)	Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Young-of-year shad beginning to school	Small bluegill and other sunfish
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn areas	Bluegill in spawning areas and around shallow cover
Summer	Crappie	Young-of-year shad	Small bluegill
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools in open water and around points	Bluegill around docks and vegetation
Fall	Crappie	Shad schools congregating in creek channels and coves	Small sunfish in and around shallow brush
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad	Small Bluegill
Winter	Crappie	Shad concentrations in protected areas	Small baitfish in channel edges
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water	Smaller baitfish seeking winter refuge near brush

Bait Colors by Season for Grand Lake St Marys

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors
Fall	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Winter	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors

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