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

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Lake Rousseau

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 14, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Rousseau

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures Fish are feeding opportunistically on crappie as noted in reports, likely relating to shallow cover and dam areas	Dam areas with adjacent staging points, as indicated in recent reports Grass edges near deeper water access, providing pre-spawn transition zones Channel edges with hydrilla, offering cover and feeding zones	Frogs/Toads worked around shallow cover, proven effective in recent reports Spinnerbaits along grass edges for actively feeding fish Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish near staging areas	Crappie, as specifically noted in recent fishing reports Shad, which are noted as dominant prey species in lake profile	Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors Natural Craw Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-75	Bass actively engaging in spawning behavior, moving to and from shallow protected areas with firm bottom composition Males guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning waves	Protected areas with submerged vegetation, particularly hydrilla beds in 1-4 feet of water Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats Creek channels and coves protected from wind	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn females Wacky Rigs worked slowly around bedding areas	Shad concentrating in spawning areas Smaller panfish in shallow vegetation	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Shad Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	72-78	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding along grass edges and stump fields, showing aggressive reaction strikes when baits deflect off cover Fish are establishing predictable feeding patterns in the 72-78°F range, primarily targeting shad in transitional areas	Grass mat edges with adjacent deeper water Channel edges with submerged stumps near flats Transition zones between matted grass and open water	Bladed Jigs worked with intermittent jerks near stumps Spinnerbaits ripped free from grass edges Soft Jerkbaits (like Zoom Super Fluke) worked over holes in matted grass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports Bluegill - secondary forage around grass mats	Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors Chartreuse Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	78-88	Bass are establishing summer patterns, actively feeding early and late in the day near grass edges and river channels, while seeking deeper, cooler water during midday heat Fish are showing distinct schooling behavior in 9-13 foot depths, especially around bait concentrations Bass are relating heavily to current breaks and grass edges, with most active feeding occurring during morning hours (6:30-10:30am)	River channel bends with adjacent grass edges in 6-15 foot depths Hydrilla edges in 6-foot water, especially near deeper water access Matted grass flats in 2-3 feet adjacent to deeper water Current breaks and channel edges with submerged vegetation	Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses, especially effective during schooling activity Carolina Rigs dragged slowly along channel edges and through deeper grass Hard Jerkbaits with jerk-jerk-pause cadence around current breaks Texas Rigs (Worming) through submerged grass and around stumps	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports and successful bait patterns Minnows - particularly around current areas and channel edges Bluegill - especially around shallow grass and brush areas	Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Rousseau

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	72-79	Actively chasing shad in and around submerged vegetation and timber, with increased feeding activity during wind conditions Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones (1-8 feet), particularly active around grass edges and channel transitions	Submerged vegetation (hydrilla) edges in 5-8 feet of water Matted grass areas in 1-2 feet of water Standing timber fields with suspended fish	Hard Jerkbaits worked with varied cadence above hydrilla lines Soft Jerkbaits near submerged grass or stumps with stop-and-go retrieve Bladed Jigs around submerged stumps and timber	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports Baitfish relating to grass edges and timber	Natural Shad Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	66-67	Bass are actively feeding but with more deliberate, slower movements due to cooler water temperatures around 66-67°F Fish are relating strongly to vegetation edges, particularly hydrilla and lily pads, using them as ambush points Bass are showing preference for slower-moving presentations, especially along structure edges	Edges of submerged vegetation, particularly hydrilla beds River channel edges with vegetation Lily pad fields with access to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation Tubes worked along channel edges Shakey Heads along vegetation transitions	Shad concentrating near vegetation edges Bluegill holding in submerged vegetation	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Natural Craw Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Rousseau

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dam areas with adjacent staging points, as indicated in recent reports	Grass edges near deeper water access, providing pre-spawn transition zones
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected areas with submerged vegetation, particularly hydrilla beds in 1-4 feet of water	Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Grass mat edges with adjacent deeper water	Channel edges with submerged stumps near flats
Summer	Largemouth Bass	River channel bends with adjacent grass edges in 6-15 foot depths	Hydrilla edges in 6-foot water, especially near deeper water access
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation (hydrilla) edges in 5-8 feet of water	Matted grass areas in 1-2 feet of water
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Edges of submerged vegetation, particularly hydrilla beds	River channel edges with vegetation

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crappie, as specifically noted in recent fishing reports	Shad, which are noted as dominant prey species in lake profile
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad concentrating in spawning areas	Smaller panfish in shallow vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports	Bluegill - secondary forage around grass mats
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports and successful bait patterns	Minnows - particularly around current areas and channel edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports	Baitfish relating to grass edges and timber
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad concentrating near vegetation edges	Bluegill holding in submerged vegetation

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Rousseau

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

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