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

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Lake Ann

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Ann

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-62	Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise Males begin moving shallow to scout spawning areas while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water Feeding activity increases significantly as fish prepare for spawning, with aggressive strikes during warming trends	Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 feet of water Deep weedline edges near shallow spawning bays in 8-12 feet Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet	Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation Bladed Jigs slow-rolled along transition areas Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas	Bluegills in and around emerging vegetation Shad schools in slightly deeper water near points Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning Moving from deeper winter areas to warming shallows, particularly active during early morning and evening hours Congregating in schools around emerging vegetation and structure in 8-12 foot depths	Protected bays with emerging vegetation in 8-11 foot depths Secondary points leading into spawning areas Transitions between hard bottom and emerging weed growth	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small bluegills Emerging aquatic insects Small minnows gathering in warming shallows	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are in various spawning phases with some females having recently spawned, while others may still be preparing to spawn Fish are actively moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats, becoming more aggressive when protecting beds	Shallow flats with sparse vegetation where spawning beds are located Protected areas near developing lily pads Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water	Buzzbaits with shad trailers in shallow spawning areas Wacky Rigs worked slowly around beds Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds	Spawning Bluegills Shad	Light Neutral Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Moving into shallow areas (2-6 feet) to stage for spawning, particularly active during dawn and dusk periods Males establishing and guarding nests in protected areas while females stage slightly deeper Feeding actively but opportunistically between spawning activities	Protected shallow bays with stable bottom and vegetation Areas adjacent to milfoil and coontail beds in 4-8 feet Transition areas between shallow flats and slightly deeper water	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) Bobbers Finesse Hair Jigs	Small bluegills and juvenile panfish Aquatic insects emerging in spring Small minnows gathering in spawning areas	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-68	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding on bluegills, cruising shallow weedlines and targeting bluegill spawning beds. Fish are wary of close approaches but aggressive toward prey. Fish showing dual pattern behavior - either shallow (2-3ft) hunting bluegills or setting up deeper (9-11ft) along weedlines for feeding opportunities	Inside weed lines in 2-3ft of water, especially along east shoreline Deeper weed edges in 9-11ft of water Areas adjacent to bluegill spawning beds near shoreline	Hard Body Swimbaits worked parallel to weedlines Drop Shot rigs worked along deeper weed edges Soft Jerkbaits for skittish shallow fish	Spawning Bluegills Small Baitfish along weed edges	Purple Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	63-72	Post-spawn crappies transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish suspending near emerging weed edges and utilizing cover during daylight hours	Emerging weed edges in 8-11 foot depth range with proximity to spawning areas Secondary points and inside turns with vegetation Shallow bays with developing vegetation adjacent to deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weed edges and through suspended fish Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations around cover Bobbers with adjustable depths for suspended fish near vegetation	Young-of-year bluegills in and around vegetation Small minnows relating to newly established weed growth Emerging aquatic insects in warming waters	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	68-82	Fish are showing a clear depth stratification pattern, actively feeding in two distinct zones: shallow early/late (around lily pads) and deep during midday (8-11ft near weedlines) Aggressive feeding observed around baitfish schools, particularly when wind creates advantageous feeding conditions	Deep weedlines at 8-11 feet, especially where milfoil meets clean bottom Lily pad fields during lower light conditions Docks providing shade during bright conditions	Texas Rigs worked along weedlines and color breaks at 8-11 feet Ned Rigs with subtle presentation on the outside edge of vegetation Topwater presentations (frogs/poppers) early morning around lily pads Chatterbaits when wind is present and baitfish are active	Bluegill in and around vegetation Baitfish schools in open water and along structure edges	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Summer	Crappie	72-82	Crappies are suspending near weed edges in 8-15 feet of water, moving shallower during early morning and evening to feed Fish are schooling in loose groups around submerged vegetation, particularly in areas with milfoil and coontail	Deep weed edges at 15-20 feet where vegetation meets open water Submerged vegetation in 8-11 feet of water, especially areas near irregular shoreline features Shaded areas near complex shoreline structures during peak daylight hours	Crappie Spider Rigging Hover/Mid-Strolling Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')	Small bluegills Young-of-year baitfish Aquatic insects around vegetation	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Ann

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Bass are actively transitioning between summer and fall patterns, following baitfish and becoming more aggressive in feeding behavior Fish are showing varied depth preferences from shallow (1-6') to deeper (15-18') areas, often relating to weed edges and structure Activity levels vary with weather conditions - more active on overcast, breezy days in shallow water	Deep weed edges in 15-18 feet, particularly where they meet points Shallow vegetation in 1-6 feet, especially during overcast conditions Protected areas between docks, particularly in the south bay	Spinnerbaits with double willow blades and swimbaits trailers Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) along deep weed edges Football Jigs worked along points in 8-10 foot range	Shad schools moving along weed edges Bluegills relating to vegetation and dock areas	Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Crappie	52-65	Crappies are suspending above weed edges in 15ft zones, showing typical fall schooling behavior Fish are likely to be more concentrated than summer patterns, gathering in predictable areas as water cools	Deep weed edges in 15-20ft zones with suspended fish above Points with access to deeper water Protected bays with remaining vegetation	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)	Small Bluegills Young-of-year baitfish	Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Crappie	38-45	Crappies are suspending near the deep weed edges, typically holding tight to structure in predictable locations during open water winter periods Feeding activity is reduced but more concentrated during prime warming periods, particularly during early afternoon hours when water temperatures peak slightly	Deep weed edges in 15-20 foot range, especially where milfoil or coontail creates defined edges Deeper holes adjacent to weed flats, particularly in areas with complex shoreline features Protected bays with remaining vegetation, especially those offering shelter from prevailing winds	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19'), working slowly through suspended fish schools Drop Shot with small profile baits, maintaining contact with suspended fish Hover/Mid-Strolling along weed edges when fish are more active	Small bluegills holding in the same deep weed areas Juvenile perch schooling near deep vegetation edges	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Light Neutral Colors
Ice	Crappie	34-39	Crappies suspend in deeper areas over submerged vegetation and around deep basin areas, typically in loose schools Feeding activity peaks during dawn and dusk periods, with shorter bursts throughout the day	Deep weed edges in 15-20 foot range where vegetation meets basin Basin areas adjacent to structural elements like points or drop-offs Deeper bays with remaining patches of vegetation	Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements just above fish Ice Fishing Spoons with erratic action to trigger reaction strikes Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set at varying depths to pattern suspended fish	Small bluegills and juvenile panfish Micro invertebrates near remaining vegetation Smaller minnows suspended in the water column	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Dark Neutrals

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Ann

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 feet of water	Deep weedline edges near shallow spawning bays in 8-12 feet
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Protected bays with emerging vegetation in 8-11 foot depths	Secondary points leading into spawning areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow flats with sparse vegetation where spawning beds are located	Protected areas near developing lily pads
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Protected shallow bays with stable bottom and vegetation	Areas adjacent to milfoil and coontail beds in 4-8 feet
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Inside weed lines in 2-3ft of water, especially along east shoreline	Deeper weed edges in 9-11ft of water
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Emerging weed edges in 8-11 foot depth range with proximity to spawning areas	Secondary points and inside turns with vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Deep weedlines at 8-11 feet, especially where milfoil meets clean bottom	Lily pad fields during lower light conditions
Summer	Crappie	Deep weed edges at 15-20 feet where vegetation meets open water	Submerged vegetation in 8-11 feet of water, especially areas near irregular shoreline features
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Deep weed edges in 15-18 feet, particularly where they meet points	Shallow vegetation in 1-6 feet, especially during overcast conditions
Fall	Crappie	Deep weed edges in 15-20ft zones with suspended fish above	Points with access to deeper water
Winter	Crappie	Deep weed edges in 15-20 foot range, especially where milfoil or coontail creates defined edges	Deeper holes adjacent to weed flats, particularly in areas with complex shoreline features
Ice	Crappie	Deep weed edges in 15-20 foot range where vegetation meets basin	Basin areas adjacent to structural elements like points or drop-offs

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegills in and around emerging vegetation	Shad schools in slightly deeper water near points
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Small bluegills	Emerging aquatic insects
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Spawning Bluegills	Shad
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small bluegills and juvenile panfish	Aquatic insects emerging in spring
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Spawning Bluegills	Small Baitfish along weed edges
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Young-of-year bluegills in and around vegetation	Small minnows relating to newly established weed growth
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in and around vegetation	Baitfish schools in open water and along structure edges
Summer	Crappie	Small bluegills	Young-of-year baitfish
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving along weed edges	Bluegills relating to vegetation and dock areas
Fall	Crappie	Small Bluegills	Young-of-year baitfish
Winter	Crappie	Small bluegills holding in the same deep weed areas	Juvenile perch schooling near deep vegetation edges
Ice	Crappie	Small bluegills and juvenile panfish	Micro invertebrates near remaining vegetation

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Ann

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Light Neutral Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Purple Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Summer	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Purple Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors
Winter	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Light Neutral Colors
Ice	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors Dark Neutrals

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