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Lake Raleigh

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Raleigh

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-62	Bass are actively staging on deep points and near spawning areas, transitioning between winter and spawning locations Fish are becoming more aggressive, feeding heavily to prepare for spawning while relating to both deep structure and shallow cover	Deep points adjacent to spawning flats Laydowns in pre-spawn staging areas Submerged vegetation edges near potential spawning areas	Umbrella Rigs worked along deep points Structure Jigs worked around laydowns Bladed Jigs near submerged vegetation	Shad schooling near points Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Crappie are transitioning to spawning areas, staging near shallow laydowns and vegetated areas in preparation for spawn Active feeding periods during warming trends, particularly around structure that provides both cover and access to deeper water	Shallow laydowns in 3-9 feet of water, especially those near spawning flats Submerged vegetation edges in protected coves Secondary points with mixed vegetation and woody cover	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers	Minnows Small Bluegill Shad	Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are actively engaging in spawning behavior, with males preparing and guarding nests near laydowns and other woody cover Fish are most active during daylight hours, particularly during stable weather patterns Pre/post spawners staging near drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats	Shallow spawning flats near laydowns and woody cover Protected coves with stable bottom composition Drop-offs adjacent to spawning areas for staging fish	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds Shakey Heads for working staging areas near drop-offs Wacky Rigs for sight fishing spawning bass	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas Shad moving into shallower water Crappie in transitional areas	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Crappie are moving into shallow spawning areas, staging near laydowns and vegetation edges in 2-6 feet of water Males are establishing and guarding nests while females move in periodically for spawning activity Feeding activity is heightened during pre-spawn, becoming more sporadic during actual spawning	Laydowns and fallen timber in 2-4 feet of water, especially near shoreline Edges of hydrilla beds in protected coves Protected shallow coves with stable spawning substrate	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around visible cover Bobbers with live bait or small jigs suspended at 2-4 feet Crappie Dock Shooting when targeting fish under available cover	Small minnows gathering in spawning areas Young-of-year bluegill beginning to emerge Small shad moving into warming shallows	Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-75	Post-spawn bass are actively guarding fry and becoming more aggressive in feeding behavior, especially around shallow cover Fish are transitioning from spawning areas but still relating heavily to shallow structure, particularly laydowns as evidenced in recent reports	Laydowns in shallow water, particularly those near recent spawning areas Shallow vegetation edges developing in 3-6 foot range Secondary points with woody cover adjacent to spawning flats	Finesse Jigs worked methodically around laydowns with short hops Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover Shakey Heads worked slowly near woody cover edges	Crawfish - primary forage as indicated by recent fishing reports Bluegill - becoming more active in shallows Recently hatched shad fry gathering in protected areas	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	65-75	Post-spawn crappie transitioning from shallow spawning areas to slightly deeper water, actively feeding to recover energy Fish relating heavily to submerged vegetation edges and laydowns, suspending near cover in the upper water column	Outer edges of hydrilla beds in 4-6 feet of water Laydowns and woody structure adjacent to spawning flats Points with submerged vegetation where shallow water transitions to deeper water	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation edges Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near laydowns and wood structure Hover/Mid-Strolling along vegetation edges with small soft plastics	Small bluegill fry and juvenile sunfish Young-of-year shad Small minnows	Green Colors Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-85	Active feeding during lower light periods, especially at sunset, with fish relating heavily to vegetation edges and cover Establishing patterns around submerged vegetation, particularly in areas where hydrilla tops out near the surface	Submerged vegetation edges, particularly hydrilla beds where vegetation tops out near surface Shallow laydowns and woody cover, especially those adjacent to deeper water Matted grass areas providing overhead cover	Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked just over vegetation tops Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and dense cover Wacky Rigs worked around vegetation edges	Bluegill in and around vegetation Crawfish around woody cover and vegetation	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors
Summer	Crappie	72-85	Crappie will be actively feeding in and around submerged vegetation, particularly hydrilla, during early morning and evening hours During midday heat, fish will suspend deeper in the vegetation or move to shaded areas under matted grass Schools will be more concentrated around structure due to the small lake size, making them easier to pattern	Edges of hydrilla beds and other submerged vegetation in 4-6 foot depth range Shaded areas under matted grass during peak daytime temperatures Points with vegetation where deeper water access is available	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation edges with light jigs Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along vegetation edges during morning and evening Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') in holes within vegetation mats	Small bluegill fry abundant in vegetation Shad concentrating around vegetation edges Minnows schooling in open pockets within vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Raleigh

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Bass are actively chasing shad and other baitfish on points and near matted grass, showing aggressive feeding behavior before winter Fish are utilizing both shallow cover (matted grass) and deeper structure (points) depending on time of day and weather conditions	Main lake points where shad are congregating Matted grass areas, particularly near deeper water access Laydowns and rip rap areas with access to deeper water	Hard Jerkbaits worked with varying cadence around points and rip rap Frogs/Toads worked over matted grass, especially during warmer parts of the day Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish chasing shad	Shad schools congregating on points and near structure Crappie in and around deeper vegetation edges Bluegill relating to matted grass areas	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Fall	Crappie	58-72	Crappie are actively feeding to build reserves for winter, following baitfish schools in deeper vegetation edges and around submerged structure Fish are transitioning from summer patterns, becoming more concentrated in schools and showing increased feeding activity during dawn and dusk	Deep edges of matted grass and hydrilla patches in 4-6 feet of water Laydowns and submerged timber near vegetation edges Points and coves with remaining vegetation structure	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along vegetation edges to locate active schools Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around laydowns and thick vegetation Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs near structure	Small shad schools congregating near vegetation edges Juvenile bluegill in and around vegetation Minnows schooling in slightly deeper water	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-55	Bass are staging on drop-offs near spawning flats due to unseasonably warm conditions, showing early pre-spawn behavior Actively feeding on bluegill in and around submerged vegetation, particularly during warmer winter periods	Drop-offs adjacent to potential spawning flats, particularly where there are defined ledges Areas of submerged vegetation that remain green and provide cover Secondary points leading into spawning coves	Bladed Jigs worked slowly along drop-offs and through remaining vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked near cover to imitate winter-sluggish bluegill Lipless Crankbaits retrieved slowly through sparse vegetation	Bluegill holding in remaining vegetation Crawfish becoming more active with warming trends	Natural Craw Colors Light Neutral Colors
Winter	Crappie	45-52	Crappie school tightly in winter, typically suspending near deep structure or the deepest available cover in this shallow lake Feeding activity is reduced but remains consistent due to the southern latitude and extended growing season Fish become more concentrated around remaining green vegetation and laydowns, using these as primary winter holding areas	Deeper pockets near matted grass edges where vegetation remains green Laydowns and woody structure in the deepest available areas (likely 6-6.5 feet) Transition areas between vegetation and open water	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') worked slowly through suspended schools Crappie Spider Rigging for precise depth control in the shallow water column Hover/Mid-Strolling along vegetation edges for suspended fish	Small Minnows Juvenile Bluegill Small Shad	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Raleigh

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Deep points adjacent to spawning flats	Laydowns in pre-spawn staging areas
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Shallow laydowns in 3-9 feet of water, especially those near spawning flats	Submerged vegetation edges in protected coves
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow spawning flats near laydowns and woody cover	Protected coves with stable bottom composition
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Laydowns and fallen timber in 2-4 feet of water, especially near shoreline	Edges of hydrilla beds in protected coves
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns in shallow water, particularly those near recent spawning areas	Shallow vegetation edges developing in 3-6 foot range
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Outer edges of hydrilla beds in 4-6 feet of water	Laydowns and woody structure adjacent to spawning flats
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation edges, particularly hydrilla beds where vegetation tops out near surface	Shallow laydowns and woody cover, especially those adjacent to deeper water
Summer	Crappie	Edges of hydrilla beds and other submerged vegetation in 4-6 foot depth range	Shaded areas under matted grass during peak daytime temperatures
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points where shad are congregating	Matted grass areas, particularly near deeper water access
Fall	Crappie	Deep edges of matted grass and hydrilla patches in 4-6 feet of water	Laydowns and submerged timber near vegetation edges
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Drop-offs adjacent to potential spawning flats, particularly where there are defined ledges	Areas of submerged vegetation that remain green and provide cover
Winter	Crappie	Deeper pockets near matted grass edges where vegetation remains green	Laydowns and woody structure in the deepest available areas (likely 6-6.5 feet)

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling near points	Bluegill beginning to move shallow
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Minnows	Small Bluegill
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas	Shad moving into shallower water
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows gathering in spawning areas	Young-of-year bluegill beginning to emerge
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage as indicated by recent fishing reports	Bluegill - becoming more active in shallows
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small bluegill fry and juvenile sunfish	Young-of-year shad
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in and around vegetation	Crawfish around woody cover and vegetation
Summer	Crappie	Small bluegill fry abundant in vegetation	Shad concentrating around vegetation edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools congregating on points and near structure	Crappie in and around deeper vegetation edges
Fall	Crappie	Small shad schools congregating near vegetation edges	Juvenile bluegill in and around vegetation
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill holding in remaining vegetation	Crawfish becoming more active with warming trends
Winter	Crappie	Small Minnows	Juvenile Bluegill

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Raleigh

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

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