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

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Lake Johanna

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Johanna

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-60	Staging in pre-spawn areas, gradually moving from winter depths to shallower spawning grounds as water temperatures rise Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warmer afternoon periods	Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats Emerging weed growth in 5-8 foot depth range Sunken islands and humps near spawning bays	Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation Bladed Jigs slow-rolled along transition areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around available cover	Bluegill beginning to move shallow Crappie schools in transition areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Pre-spawn walleyes are transitioning from winter areas to spawning grounds, actively feeding to build energy reserves Fish are most active during dawn and dusk periods, with increased daytime activity due to turbid conditions (1.9m secchi)	Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats, particularly near submerged vegetation edges Rocky points and sunken islands that provide staging areas near spawning grounds Secondary breaks in 8-15 foot depth range where fish pause during pre-spawn movement	Blade Baits worked slowly along transition areas, allowing for both vertical and horizontal presentations Live Bait Rigs with minnows, particularly effective during slower bite periods Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with hair jigs or soft plastics near structure	Large minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas Small bluegills near vegetation edges Juvenile crappie in transition areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Bass are moving shallow (2-6 feet) to prepare spawning beds near vegetation and protected areas Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure Increased aggression and territorial behavior around spawning areas	Protected shallow bays with vegetation and stable bottom composition Secondary points leading into spawning bays Shallow vegetation edges near deeper water access	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn staging areas Bladed Jigs worked slowly along vegetation edges	Bluegill beginning to move shallow Crappie in transition areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Walleye moving into shallow rocky areas and tributaries for spawning, most active during low-light periods Post-spawn fish transitioning to feeding areas near drop-offs, particularly active during overcast conditions in turbid water	Rocky points and shallow gravel areas in 2-6 feet of water for spawning Transition areas near drop-offs in 8-12 feet for post-spawn recovery Submerged vegetation edges where baitfish concentrate	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along rocky areas Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') near spawning areas Jigs tipped with minnows around transition areas	Small Minnows Young-of-year Bluegill Small Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Largemouth bass are beginning to recover from spawning activity, gradually transitioning to more active feeding patterns Fish are moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper water edges, often relating to the first major depth change	Weedline edges in 10-12 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats Sunken islands and humps with emerging vegetation Secondary points leading to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along vegetation edges Spinnerbaits parallel to weedlines during cloudy conditions Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation	Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas Juvenile crappie in scattered schools near vegetation edges	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	48-62	Post-spawn walleye are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during early morning and evening hours, with increased daytime activity due to turbid conditions Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structure, following baitfish schools along edges and drop-offs	Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water, particularly near submerged vegetation edges Sunken islands and humps in 8-15 foot depth range Points and inside turns where current concentrates baitfish	Live Bait Rigs with leeches or minnows worked slowly along structure edges Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') during low light periods along weed edges Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with soft plastics near deep structure	Small Minnows congregating near vegetation edges Young-of-year Bluegill in shallow bays Small Crappie schools near structure transitions	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-78	Bass are establishing summer patterns with early morning shallow activity (5ft or less) near vegetation, moving deeper (10-12ft) along weedlines as the day progresses Active feeding periods during morning and evening, utilizing vegetation edges and offshore structure as ambush points	Weedline edges in 10-12 foot depth range Shallow vegetation in 5 feet or less, especially during morning hours Humps and sunken islands with vegetation	Bladed Jigs worked along weedlines Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) on humps and vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water	Bluegill around vegetation and structure Shad in open water and along vegetation edges	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Walleye	65-76	During summer, walleye are actively feeding but become more nocturnal due to the turbid water conditions (1.9m secchi). They will feed more aggressively during dawn, dusk, and overnight periods Fish are relating to structure transitions, particularly moving between submerged vegetation edges and deeper water depending on light conditions and temperature	Edges of submerged vegetation where it meets deeper water, especially near sunken islands and humps Deep water adjacent to points and bays where baitfish schools concentrate Transition areas between shallow and deep water, particularly in 12-17 foot range	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along structure edges and through transitional depths Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with crankbaits during lower light periods Bottom Bouncer Rigs with nightcrawlers or minnows along structure edges	Minnows/Shad concentrating near structure edges Young-of-year panfish (crappie and bluegill) near vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Johanna

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-68	Actively feeding on baitfish and crappie in shallow to mid-depth zones, showing increased activity around structure Moving between docks and weed edges, following baitfish schools in fall feeding pattern Most active during low-light periods, using structure as ambush points	Docks with adjacent deep water access Shallow islands with surrounding weed edges Weed edges near deeper water	Bladed Jigs worked around dock posts and through gaps Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and around baitfish schools Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for working tight to cover	Schooling Baitfish Crappie Bluegill	Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Walleye	48-62	Actively feeding to build energy reserves for winter, with increased activity during cloudy days and around sunrise/sunset Moving between deep structure and shallower feeding areas, following baitfish schools Transitioning to deeper water as temperatures cool, especially after turnover	Deep structure adjacent to shallow feeding flats (15-20 feet) Submerged vegetation edges where they meet deeper water Sunken islands and humps, especially those near deep water access	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') Blade Baits	Schooling baitfish (shiners, shad) Small bluegills near vegetation edges Juvenile crappie in deeper water	Vibrant 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	Walleye	45-55	Walleye are actively seeking deeper water during late fall/early winter transition, suspending near structure and following baitfish schools Fish are showing increased feeding activity during low-light periods, particularly near drop-offs and submerged humps	Deep drop-offs adjacent to submerged vegetation edges (15-17 feet) Sunken islands and humps, particularly those near deep water access Main lake points with quick access to deeper water	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Blade Baits Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)	Schooling minnows concentrated near structure Juvenile bluegills near vegetation edges Small crappies in deeper water columns	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Ice	Walleye	32-34	Strong crepuscular activity with increased feeding during sunset hours, confirmed by recent catches of 24-26 inch fish during evening periods Showing increased response to reaction baits during low-light periods, particularly around submerged vegetation areas	Submerged vegetation edges in 15-20 foot depth range where baitfish concentrate Transition areas between vegetation and deeper water, especially near points or bays Moderately deep flats adjacent to structure in 12-17 foot range	Ice Fishing Spoons with aggressive jigging during prime time periods Ice Fishing Jigs tipped with minnows for slower presentation Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set along vegetation edges with live bait	Minnows congregating near vegetation edges Smaller panfish in and around weed beds	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Johanna

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats	Emerging weed growth in 5-8 foot depth range
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats, particularly near submerged vegetation edges	Rocky points and sunken islands that provide staging areas near spawning grounds
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow bays with vegetation and stable bottom composition	Secondary points leading into spawning bays
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Rocky points and shallow gravel areas in 2-6 feet of water for spawning	Transition areas near drop-offs in 8-12 feet for post-spawn recovery
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Weedline edges in 10-12 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats	Sunken islands and humps with emerging vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water, particularly near submerged vegetation edges	Sunken islands and humps in 8-15 foot depth range
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Weedline edges in 10-12 foot depth range	Shallow vegetation in 5 feet or less, especially during morning hours
Summer	Walleye	Edges of submerged vegetation where it meets deeper water, especially near sunken islands and humps	Deep water adjacent to points and bays where baitfish schools concentrate
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Docks with adjacent deep water access	Shallow islands with surrounding weed edges
Fall	Walleye	Deep structure adjacent to shallow feeding flats (15-20 feet)	Submerged vegetation edges where they meet deeper water
Winter	Walleye	Deep drop-offs adjacent to submerged vegetation edges (15-17 feet)	Sunken islands and humps, particularly those near deep water access
Ice	Walleye	Submerged vegetation edges in 15-20 foot depth range where baitfish concentrate	Transition areas between vegetation and deeper water, especially near points or bays

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Crappie schools in transition areas
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Large minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas	Small bluegills near vegetation edges
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Crappie in transition areas
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Small Minnows	Young-of-year Bluegill
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas	Juvenile crappie in scattered schools near vegetation edges
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Small Minnows congregating near vegetation edges	Young-of-year Bluegill in shallow bays
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill around vegetation and structure	Shad in open water and along vegetation edges
Summer	Walleye	Minnows/Shad concentrating near structure edges	Young-of-year panfish (crappie and bluegill) near vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Schooling Baitfish	Crappie
Fall	Walleye	Schooling baitfish (shiners, shad)	Small bluegills near vegetation edges
Winter	Walleye	Schooling minnows concentrated near structure	Juvenile bluegills near vegetation edges
Ice	Walleye	Minnows congregating near vegetation edges	Smaller panfish in and around weed beds

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Johanna

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Walleye	Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Walleye	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Ice	Walleye	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

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