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

Fathers Day Promo: Buy Any Reel, Get Omnia PRO Free. Learn More

20% Off Xzone Lures, Through 06/17. Save Now

20% Off All St. Croix Mojo Bass Rods, Through 06/28. Save Now

PRO Members: Get 2X Credit Back On All Fishing Line. Learn More

Built to Serve Tee + PRO = $20 Donated Per Order → Shop Now

Save Up To $500 on Select Minn Kota, Through 06/18. Save Now

Buy One, Get One FREE P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon. Learn More

PRO members get free shipping, rewards & local lake data! Join Today

Markdowns on popular products - See all bargain offers

Horseshoe Lake

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Horseshoe Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-62	Staging near spawning areas in pre-spawn, moving from winter depths to shallower transitional areas Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends	Secondary points and creek channels leading to spawning flats Laydowns and rock structure in 4-8 foot depth range Areas where emerging curly leaf pondweed meets harder bottom	Bladed Jigs worked slowly through emerging vegetation Lipless Crankbaits retrieved over vegetation tops Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and sparse vegetation	Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows Crawfish becoming more active with warming water	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Pre-spawn and spawning bass are moving into shallow areas with vegetation and staging near spawning flats Fish are actively feeding on bluegill in and around grass beds as they prepare for spawning	Submerged vegetation in 3-6 foot depth range, particularly areas with curly leaf pondweed Protected shoreline areas with laydowns near spawning flats Offshore rock structures adjacent to spawning areas	Swim Jigs burned through grass as reported successful Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation edges Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and vegetation	Bluegill, confirmed primary forage from reports Young of year perch in vegetation	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-75	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in and around vegetation, particularly in the early morning and evening hours, recuperating from the spawn while defending newly established summer territories Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior in the 2-6 foot depth range, especially around grass edges and dock areas	Grass edges and holes in matted vegetation, particularly where curly leaf pondweed grows to 6-foot depths Docks and laydowns adjacent to vegetation Protected coves with emerging vegetation	Swim Jigs worked through and around grass edges Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation and holes Wacky Rigs around docks and laydowns	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge in the shallows	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-78	Bass are actively feeding along weed edges and near laydown wood, particularly during early morning hours Fish are holding tight to vegetation edges where it meets deeper water, especially in wind-blown areas Showing aggressive reaction strikes to moving baits in 6-foot depth zone	Weed edges in 6-foot depth adjacent to deeper water Laydown wood, especially in protected areas Wind-blown grass lines with good proximity to deeper water	Bladed Jigs worked parallel to weed edges Swim Jigs around laydown wood Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for detailed working of cover	Bluegill in and around vegetation Young of year baitfish relating to weed edges	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Horseshoe Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	62-68	Bass are actively feeding on laydowns and shoreline wood, with multiple fish holding on single pieces of cover Fish are transitioning from offshore rock to shallower areas, following forage and responding to cooling water temperatures	Shoreline laydowns and fallen timber, especially those near deeper water access Emergent vegetation patches in shallow water Offshore rock piles transitioning to nearby shallow areas	Structure Jigs worked thoroughly through laydowns, making multiple presentations to productive cover Swim Jigs around emergent vegetation and between cover Carolina Rigs worked along offshore rock to shallow water transitions	Crawfish seeking shelter in woody cover Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation and wood cover	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Horseshoe Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points and creek channels leading to spawning flats	Laydowns and rock structure in 4-8 foot depth range
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation in 3-6 foot depth range, particularly areas with curly leaf pondweed	Protected shoreline areas with laydowns near spawning flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Grass edges and holes in matted vegetation, particularly where curly leaf pondweed grows to 6-foot depths	Docks and laydowns adjacent to vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Weed edges in 6-foot depth adjacent to deeper water	Laydown wood, especially in protected areas
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shoreline laydowns and fallen timber, especially those near deeper water access	Emergent vegetation patches in shallow water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows	Crawfish becoming more active with warming water
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill, confirmed primary forage from reports	Young of year perch in vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges	Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge in the shallows
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in and around vegetation	Young of year baitfish relating to weed edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish seeking shelter in woody cover	Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation and wood cover

Bait Colors by Season for Horseshoe Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Enter your email address to get 10% off your first order

Join over 100k anglers who receive our newsletter.
Techniques, tips and tackle breakdowns personalized to your local area.

© 2025 Omnia Fishing Inc. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy