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Lake Tarpon

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 30, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Tarpon

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	60-65	Bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, with fish moving between deeper staging zones and shallow pre-spawn areas based on temperature fluctuations (60-63°F) Fish are showing increased feeding activity around grass edges and transition zones, but movement is somewhat slowed by recent cold weather	Grass edges and weed lines adjacent to spawning flats Transition zones leading to spawning areas Protected areas near docks with nearby cover	Bladed Jigs worked along grass edges Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') on transition zones Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in thick cover and matted grass	Bluegill in and around vegetation Shad along transition zones	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Bass actively moving into spawning areas including canals and protected flats, with some fish already locked on beds Fish showing preference for shaded areas and exhibiting territorial behavior around bedding sites	Protected canal areas and spawning flats near docks Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats Areas with matted grass providing overhead cover	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for sight fishing and working bedding areas Bladed Jigs along weed edges and transition areas Finesse Jigs around docks and visible beds	Bluegill are primary forage around spawning areas and cover Shad present in more open water areas	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	68-78	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in wolf packs, transitioning between shallow and mid-depth ranges (5-15ft), with surface feeding activity when pursuing shad Fish are utilizing vegetation near drop-offs as rest/recovery areas after spawn while beginning to establish summer patterns	Healthy vegetation adjacent to deeper water and drop-offs Staging areas in front of spawning pockets Matted grass near docks with access to deeper water	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in thick vegetation Hard Topwater (Walking) for schooling fish Bladed Jigs worked over vegetation	Shad schooling in open water and around vegetation edges Bluegill establishing in vegetation	Dark Neutrals Natural Shad Colors Metallic Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	85-92	Bass are in full summer pattern, holding deep and relating to offshore structure, showing lethargy in hot water temperatures (85-92°F) Fish are suspending near schools of baitfish and moving up to points occasionally to ambush prey	Deep brush piles and offshore structure in 8-12 foot range Underwater points with baitfish present Edges of vegetation (lily pads and grass) during lower light periods	Carolina Rigs dragged slowly through deep areas and under baitfish schools Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) burned around baitfish schools Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through brush piles	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports of fish relating to baitfish schools Bluegill - secondary forage especially around structure and vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Green Pumpkin Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Tarpon

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	78-85	Bass are transitioning from deep summer patterns, breaking up into smaller groups and showing early signs of shallow movement Fish are keyed in on baitfish, actively feeding but in a transitional pattern due to temperature fluctuations between 78-85°F Early morning schooling activity reported with surface feeding, becoming more scattered during midday	Shallow points with 5-9 foot depths adjacent to deeper water Scattered grass edges in 2-4 feet near deeper water drops Areas with suspended baitfish schools near hard structure	Carolina Rigs with 3/4oz weight worked with steady sweeping retrieves Hard Topwater (Walking) for early morning schooling activity Lipless Crankbaits ripped through scattered grass Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along points	Shad - primary forage with active schooling behavior Bluegill - secondary forage especially around vegetation	Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Bass are holding in shallow to mid-depth areas near dense cover, particularly around pencil reeds in 2-4 feet of water as indicated by recent reports Fish are actively feeding on shad, with a preference for ambush points near vegetation edges and irregular shoreline features	Pencil reed beds in 2-4 feet of water, particularly where they create edges or points Protected coves with vegetation, especially on the north side where water warms faster Transition areas between vegetation and deeper water	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting reed beds as validated by recent success Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation Bladed Jigs around vegetation edges where shad are present	Shad schooling in and around vegetation Bluegill holding tight to cover	Dark Neutrals Natural Shad Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Tarpon

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Grass edges and weed lines adjacent to spawning flats	Transition zones leading to spawning areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected canal areas and spawning flats near docks	Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Healthy vegetation adjacent to deeper water and drop-offs	Staging areas in front of spawning pockets
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Deep brush piles and offshore structure in 8-12 foot range	Underwater points with baitfish present
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shallow points with 5-9 foot depths adjacent to deeper water	Scattered grass edges in 2-4 feet near deeper water drops
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Pencil reed beds in 2-4 feet of water, particularly where they create edges or points	Protected coves with vegetation, especially on the north side where water warms faster

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in and around vegetation	Shad along transition zones
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill are primary forage around spawning areas and cover	Shad present in more open water areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in open water and around vegetation edges	Bluegill establishing in vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports of fish relating to baitfish schools	Bluegill - secondary forage especially around structure and vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage with active schooling behavior	Bluegill - secondary forage especially around vegetation
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in and around vegetation	Bluegill holding tight to cover

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Tarpon

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

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