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Lake Shelbyville

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 17, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Shelbyville

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-65	Bass are moving from winter deep water patterns to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, primarily feeding during warmer afternoon periods	Rocky points and rip rap areas adjacent to spawning flats Secondary points in major creek arms 8-15 feet deep Brush piles and standing timber in 12-17 foot range near spawning pockets	Lipless Crankbaits worked with stop-and-go retrieve over transition areas Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near cover and structure Football Jigs dragged along rocky bottom structures	Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy Shad schools congregating in creek arms Bluegill starting to move shallower	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Fish are staging in pre-spawn locations, holding near deeper brush and stumps at 16-18 feet due to cold streaks and rain Moving in small schools and feeding selectively on shad, with increased activity during morning periods	Brush piles and stumps in 16-18 foot depth range Secondary points leading into spawning coves Deep creek channel bends with wood cover	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Spider Rigging Tubes	Shad Small minnows	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Pink Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Walleye are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active with warming water temperatures Fish are moving into shallower water, particularly focusing on hard-bottom areas and current locations near the dam/spillway Feeding activity is increasing, with fish actively pursuing shad in preparation for spawning	Dam/spillway area where current concentrates baitfish Shallow rip-rap areas with hard bottom composition Standing timber in transition areas between deep winter holes and spawning flats	Blade Baits worked vertically along timber edges and riprap Live Bait Rigs with minnows near bottom structure Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along depth transitions	Shad schools concentrated near current areas Small baitfish utilizing brush pile edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass moving to shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) around brush piles and laydowns, with males establishing and guarding nests Pre-spawn staging and post-spawn recovery fish relating to nearby deeper structure (8-15 feet) near spawning flats	Protected coves and pockets with hard bottom and wood cover in 2-6 foot range Secondary points with rip rap leading into spawning bays Brush piles and laydowns adjacent to spawning flats for staging fish	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure Soft Jerkbaits for suspended pre-spawn fish	Crawfish emerging in shallow areas Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	57-77	Crappie are in their spawning phase, moving between staging areas and shallow spawning zones near brush piles and other structure Fish showing variable depth patterns throughout the day, suggesting movement between spawning activities and feeding	Shallow brush piles in protected coves and fingers (2-8 feet) Staging areas near deeper brush piles (12-16 feet) Protected shoreline areas with woody cover	Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers Swim Jigs Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Shad Other small crappie	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Walleye are transitioning into spawning mode, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow spawning locations, particularly around hard bottom areas and rip rap Fish are highly active during low-light periods, with feeding becoming more opportunistic as water temperatures rise In the turbid conditions (1.5m Secchi), walleye remain active longer into daylight hours	Rip rap areas near the dam/spillway where current concentrates baitfish Shallow hard-bottom areas along complex shoreline points Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along hard bottom areas Blade Baits with short hops near bottom structure Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations	Shad concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas Small baitfish gathering in warming shallow waters	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish are relating to cover near spawning flats, with some moving to deeper structure like dams	Laydowns and wood cover adjacent to spawning flats Dam areas and riprap with deeper water access Secondary points with brush or timber in 8-15 foot range	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover Finesse Jigs worked slowly around harder structure Shakey Heads for transitioning fish	Crawfish active in rocky areas and around wood cover Shad beginning to school in post-spawn areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	65-75	Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, moving toward deeper structure while remaining active Feeding activity increases as fish recover from spawn, with aggressive strikes during prime feeding periods Schools begin suspending near brush piles and other cover, following shad movements	Brush piles and stumps in 12-16 foot depth range Secondary points near spawning bays Suspended over deeper creek channels adjacent to spawning flats	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Spider Rigging	Shad schools moving to post-spawn locations Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge Small bluegill in shallow areas	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	52-65	Walleye are actively feeding in post-spawn phase, with a strong tendency to ambush prey around current areas and dam structures Fish are transitioning to daytime feeding patterns due to turbid water conditions (1.5m Secchi), making them more catchable throughout the day	Dam and spillway areas where current concentrates baitfish Shallow brush piles and timber in 8-15 foot range Rocky points and rip-rap areas with access to deeper water	Finesse Jigs worked slowly along bottom structure Live Bait Rigs near current areas Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water	Shad - primary forage base confirmed by reports Small Baitfish - targeted with finesse presentations	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Pink Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	73-82	Fish are establishing both shallow and deep summer patterns, with active feeding during early morning near cover and transitioning to deeper structures as temperatures rise Relating heavily to woody cover and rock structures, particularly in the 17-23 foot range during midday hours	Deep brush piles adjacent to channel swings in 17-23 foot range Main lake points with rip rap Flooded willows with deeper water nearby, especially areas holding bait	Swim Jigs around shallow cover during early morning Carolina Rigs worked through deeper brush piles Shakey Heads worked slowly around rock piles and timber	Shad schooling around flooded cover and main lake points Crawfish active around rock and rip rap areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Summer	Crappie	72-85	Crappie are suspending near deep structure during summer heat, primarily feeding during dawn and dusk periods Schools are relating to brush piles and stumps in 12-16 foot depth range, moving shallower during low light periods	Deep brush piles and stump fields in 12-16 foot range Main lake points with access to deeper water Shaded areas under docks during midday	Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Dock Shooting	Shad schools in open water Small bluegill around structure Young-of-year baitfish near cover	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Summer	Walleye	75-82	Walleye are suspending near brush piles in the 17-23 foot range during daytime, actively feeding during low light periods Fish are seeking cooler, deeper water due to summer temperatures, following suspended shad schools	Deep brush piles in 17-23 foot range near main lake points Complex shoreline areas with deep water access Deeper sections of rip rap areas with shade	Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along contour breaks with shad-imitating crankbaits Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) around brush piles Drop Shot with finesse presentations near structure	Shad schools suspended in the water column Small baitfish relating to brush piles	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Shelbyville

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	65-76	Actively feeding on shad in the 0-15 ft range, particularly around wood cover Following baitfish schools and utilizing standing timber and laydowns as ambush points Movement patterns suggesting transition from summer deep water to shallower feeding zones	Standing timber and laydowns in 0-15 foot range Areas with active shad schools near wood cover Rock piles and rip rap areas during transitional periods	Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') with fast retrieve Spinnerbaits around timber Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) matching shad size	Shad - primary forage based on recent reports Crawfish - secondary forage option in rocky areas	Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals
Fall	Crappie	52-68	Crappie are actively schooling and following shad movements to deeper structure, typically suspending near brush piles and creek channel edges Fish become more aggressive in feeding during falling water temperatures, with peak activity during morning and evening hours	Brush piles and stumps in 12-18 feet of water near creek channels Main lake points with access to deeper water Deep water dock structures with vertical posts	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Dock Shooting	Shad schools congregating in deeper water Small sunfish near brush piles	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Fall	Walleye	52-68	Walleye actively feeding on shad schools, following baitfish movements to shallower water during low-light periods Fish transitioning between deep brush piles and shallower structure, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures cool	Brush piles in 17-23 foot range near points or channel swings Rip rap areas, especially near the dam/spillway Standing timber adjacent to deeper water	Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended baitfish schools Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges and points Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles	Shad schools congregating in large pods Small baitfish relating to brush piles and timber	Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-52	Suspending near deep brush piles and standing timber in 17-23 foot range, making occasional moves to feed Grouped up in predictable areas, typically relating to the deepest available cover near primary creek channels Feeding windows are shorter but more predictable, typically during warmer parts of the day	Deep brush piles and standing timber in 17-23 foot range Rock piles and rip rap near deep water access Creek channel bends with adjacent wood cover	Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended fish Football Jigs dragged slowly along bottom near structure Shakey Heads worked methodically around deep cover	Suspended shad schools in deeper water Crawfish in rocky areas during warmer periods	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Winter	Crappie	38-45	Winter crappie are schooling tightly in deeper water, typically suspending near structure and making limited movements to conserve energy Feeding windows are shorter and more specific, with most active periods during early morning and late afternoon	Deep brush piles and stumps in 16-20 foot range, especially near channel bends Suspended schools near steep drop-offs adjacent to creek channels Deep dock structures in protected coves where they can find stable temperatures	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Ice Fishing Jigs Damiki Rig	Suspended shad schools in deeper water Small minnows around brush piles	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Walleye	45-52	Walleye are actively feeding on schools of shad in deeper water, particularly around brush piles and standing timber in the 17-23 foot range Fish are more active during low-light periods but will feed throughout the day in the turbid conditions	Deep brush piles in 17-23 foot range, especially near channel bends Standing timber adjacent to deeper water Deep rip rap areas near the dam/spillway	Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) Blade Baits Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water Small baitfish relating to brush piles	Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Shelbyville

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Rocky points and rip rap areas adjacent to spawning flats	Secondary points in major creek arms 8-15 feet deep
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Brush piles and stumps in 16-18 foot depth range	Secondary points leading into spawning coves
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Dam/spillway area where current concentrates baitfish	Shallow rip-rap areas with hard bottom composition
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected coves and pockets with hard bottom and wood cover in 2-6 foot range	Secondary points with rip rap leading into spawning bays
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Shallow brush piles in protected coves and fingers (2-8 feet)	Staging areas near deeper brush piles (12-16 feet)
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Rip rap areas near the dam/spillway where current concentrates baitfish	Shallow hard-bottom areas along complex shoreline points
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and wood cover adjacent to spawning flats	Dam areas and riprap with deeper water access
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Brush piles and stumps in 12-16 foot depth range	Secondary points near spawning bays
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Dam and spillway areas where current concentrates baitfish	Shallow brush piles and timber in 8-15 foot range
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Deep brush piles adjacent to channel swings in 17-23 foot range	Main lake points with rip rap
Summer	Crappie	Deep brush piles and stump fields in 12-16 foot range	Main lake points with access to deeper water
Summer	Walleye	Deep brush piles in 17-23 foot range near main lake points	Complex shoreline areas with deep water access
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Standing timber and laydowns in 0-15 foot range	Areas with active shad schools near wood cover
Fall	Crappie	Brush piles and stumps in 12-18 feet of water near creek channels	Main lake points with access to deeper water
Fall	Walleye	Brush piles in 17-23 foot range near points or channel swings	Rip rap areas, especially near the dam/spillway
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep brush piles and standing timber in 17-23 foot range	Rock piles and rip rap near deep water access
Winter	Crappie	Deep brush piles and stumps in 16-20 foot range, especially near channel bends	Suspended schools near steep drop-offs adjacent to creek channels
Winter	Walleye	Deep brush piles in 17-23 foot range, especially near channel bends	Standing timber adjacent to deeper water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy	Shad schools congregating in creek arms
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Shad	Small minnows
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Shad schools concentrated near current areas	Small baitfish utilizing brush pile edges
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish emerging in shallow areas	Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Shad	Other small crappie
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Shad concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas	Small baitfish gathering in warming shallow waters
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish active in rocky areas and around wood cover	Shad beginning to school in post-spawn areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Shad schools moving to post-spawn locations	Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Shad - primary forage base confirmed by reports	Small Baitfish - targeted with finesse presentations
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling around flooded cover and main lake points	Crawfish active around rock and rip rap areas
Summer	Crappie	Shad schools in open water	Small bluegill around structure
Summer	Walleye	Shad schools suspended in the water column	Small baitfish relating to brush piles
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on recent reports	Crawfish - secondary forage option in rocky areas
Fall	Crappie	Shad schools congregating in deeper water	Small sunfish near brush piles
Fall	Walleye	Shad schools congregating in large pods	Small baitfish relating to brush piles and timber
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Suspended shad schools in deeper water	Crawfish in rocky areas during warmer periods
Winter	Crappie	Suspended shad schools in deeper water	Small minnows around brush piles
Winter	Walleye	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water	Small baitfish relating to brush piles

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Shelbyville

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

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