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Lake Mackintosh

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 23, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Mackintosh

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-65	Bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. They're relating to structure in shallow to mid-depth zones (3-10 feet) and showing aggressive feeding behavior. Fish are making transitional movements from winter areas to spawning grounds, using points and shallow structure as stopping points	Laydowns and brush piles around points in 3-10 feet of water Docks providing overhead cover in pre-spawn staging areas Boulder fields and rocky areas that warm up quickly	Bladed Jigs worked around laydowns and brush Lipless Crankbaits for covering water and targeting active fish Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') working points and rocky areas	Crawfish emerging as primary forage in spring Shad present in secondary patterns	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-72	Bass actively staging on spawning flats and moving into shallow areas with protective cover at 70°F water temperature Showing preference for structure-heavy areas like flooded brush and rock piles, indicating pre-spawn to spawning behavior Actively feeding on crawfish and bluegill in shallow zones, particularly around hard bottom areas	Rock piles in shallow water, especially those adjacent to potential spawning flats Flooded brush in protected areas, particularly in coves Secondary points with mixed rock and brush near spawning flats	Drop Shot with light weights for precise presentations around rock piles Structure Jigs worked slowly through brush and around hard cover Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting thick cover in shallow water	Crawfish actively moving on hard bottom areas Bluegill in and around flooded brush Small baitfish relating to spawning areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Bass are actively feeding in post-spawn period, focusing on crawfish in shallow to mid-depth areas around flooded brush and other cover Fish are transitioning from spawning areas but staying relatively shallow due to the stained water conditions (3.6ft visibility)	Flooded brush in 3-10 foot zones, especially near points or coves Complex shoreline areas with irregular features and cover Secondary points with access to slightly deeper water	Structure Jigs with craw trailers worked through brush Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover Bladed Jigs for covering water between likely holding spots	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports Small bluegill beginning to become active in the shallows	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	76-84	Bass are establishing summer patterns, relating to deeper structure while making feeding moves to shallower areas during lower light conditions Fish are showing both aggressive reaction strikes and more methodical feeding patterns, suggesting multiple viable presentations throughout the day	Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with submerged vegetation Laydowns and wood cover in 4-6 foot depth range Deeper humps with surrounding baitfish schools	Drop Shot worked slowly above submerged vegetation Shakey Heads dragged near shoreline structure Buzzbaits during overcast conditions around laydowns	Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports) Bluegill (secondary forage, especially around shallow cover)	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Mackintosh

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	68-75	Bass are transitioning to fall feeding patterns, following shad schools and relating to points and timber. Recent reports show them becoming more lethargic with cooling temps, requiring slower presentations Fish are holding on structure but becoming more selective, requiring precise presentations as indicated by success with shakey heads on points	Points and steeper banks with access to deeper water, as confirmed by recent fishing reports Standing timber areas, particularly those near depth changes Deeper brush piles and submerged vegetation where shad schools are holding	Shakey Heads worked slowly along points and structure, matching recent successful reports Spinnerbaits around standing timber, particularly effective in 3/8 oz as noted in reports Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match prevalent shad forage	Shad - primary forage as confirmed by recent fishing reports Crawfish - secondary forage option during transitional periods	Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-52	Largemouth bass become more lethargic and concentrate in deeper areas near structure, making slower presentations necessary Fish tend to group up more tightly in winter, often relating to the warmest available water and following bait schools Feeding windows are shorter and typically most active during warmer afternoon periods	Deep points with access to main lake basins, especially those with brush or rock structure Deeper submerged vegetation edges where still green and viable Channel swings with steep banks near deeper water access	Drop Shot with slow, subtle movements to target suspended fish Shakey Heads worked methodically along bottom structure Blade Baits worked slowly through suspended fish	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water Smaller baitfish relating to deeper structure Crawfish (less active but still present in rocky areas)	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Mackintosh

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and brush piles around points in 3-10 feet of water	Docks providing overhead cover in pre-spawn staging areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Rock piles in shallow water, especially those adjacent to potential spawning flats	Flooded brush in protected areas, particularly in coves
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Flooded brush in 3-10 foot zones, especially near points or coves	Complex shoreline areas with irregular features and cover
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with submerged vegetation	Laydowns and wood cover in 4-6 foot depth range
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Points and steeper banks with access to deeper water, as confirmed by recent fishing reports	Standing timber areas, particularly those near depth changes
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep points with access to main lake basins, especially those with brush or rock structure	Deeper submerged vegetation edges where still green and viable

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish emerging as primary forage in spring	Shad present in secondary patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish actively moving on hard bottom areas	Bluegill in and around flooded brush
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage based on recent reports	Small bluegill beginning to become active in the shallows
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports)	Bluegill (secondary forage, especially around shallow cover)
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage as confirmed by recent fishing reports	Crawfish - secondary forage option during transitional periods
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water	Smaller baitfish relating to deeper structure

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Mackintosh

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

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