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

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Lake Traverse

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Traverse

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	42-48	Pre-spawn walleyes staging near spawning areas, making short feeding movements during low light periods Fish utilizing shallow rocky areas and transitional zones between spawning locations and deeper staging areas	Rock and boulder piles in 4-6 foot range Shallow sand flats adjacent to deeper staging areas Protected bays with firm bottom composition	Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions Live Bait Rigs with minimal weight in shallow zones Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow lifts and holds	Perch Emerging Crayfish Small Baitfish	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	42-52	Moving into shallow spawning areas (4-9 feet) near hard bottom and rocky areas, particularly active during low light periods due to stained water Males staging on spawning grounds while females move in and out during the spawning process Post-spawn fish remaining shallow due to abundant forage and limited light penetration in stained water	Rocky points and boulder piles in 4-9 foot range Sand flats adjacent to spawning areas Shallow bays with hard bottom composition	Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle presentations Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') for covering water and targeting active fish	Perch Small minnows gathering in spawning areas	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	48-58	Post-spawn walleyes actively feeding in shallow water (4-9 feet) due to stained water conditions and abundant forage Fish relating to subtle depth changes between sand flats and rock structures, using these transition areas as feeding zones	Shallow sand flats in 4-5 foot range Rock piles in 7-9 foot depth Transition areas between sand and rock structures	Trolling Shallow (0-9') with planer boards and crankbaits Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along structure edges Live Bait Rigs near bottom transitions	Perch Small Baitfish	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Vibrant Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Walleye	65-78	Walleye remaining shallow (4-9 feet) due to stained water conditions, actively feeding on perch around boulder/rock piles with emerging grass Feeding activity extending through daylight hours due to low light penetration in stained water	Boulder and rock piles with emerging grass in 4-9 foot range Subtle depth transitions near rocky structure Points and irregular shoreline features with hard bottom	Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around rock and boulder piles Trolling Shallow (0-9') with planer boards in stained water Bladed Jigs near grass edges for active fish	Perch Young-of-year baitfish around grass edges	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Traverse

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Walleye	48-62	Walleye are transitioning to deeper feeding patterns while remaining active in low-light conditions due to stained water (1.1m secchi) Fish are actively feeding on perch to build energy reserves for winter, taking advantage of shallow flats and rock pile edges as ambush points	Rock and boulder piles in 4-9 foot range, especially those adjacent to deeper water Sand flat edges where they transition to deeper water or meet rocky structure Points and irregular shoreline features that create current breaks and ambush positions	Trolling Shallow (0-9') Lipless Crankbaits Blade Baits	Yellow Perch Small Baitfish	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Walleye	33-42	Walleye suspending near the bottom in 4-9 foot zones, particularly active during low light conditions due to the stained water Fish relating closely to subtle depth changes and structural elements, using rocky areas and sand transitions as primary feeding zones	Rocky points and boulder piles in 4-7 foot depth range Sand flat transitions adjacent to slightly deeper water Shallow bays with remaining vegetation near structural elements	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Blade Baits Lipless Crankbaits	Perch Small baitfish schools	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Walleye	33-38	Concentrating in basin areas near structural elements in 4-9 foot range, with active feeding during low light periods Relating heavily to rock and boulder piles that provide both structure and nearby access to deeper water Multiple distinct populations may develop across this large system, requiring mobility to locate active fish	Rock and boulder piles adjacent to subtle depth changes in the 4-9 foot range Transitions between sand flats and deeper water Areas where emerging weed growth meets hard bottom composition	Ice Fishing Jigs Ice Fishing Spoons Ice Fishing Tip-Ups	Perch Small Baitfish	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Traverse

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Rock and boulder piles in 4-6 foot range	Shallow sand flats adjacent to deeper staging areas
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Rocky points and boulder piles in 4-9 foot range	Sand flats adjacent to spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Shallow sand flats in 4-5 foot range	Rock piles in 7-9 foot depth
Summer	Walleye	Boulder and rock piles with emerging grass in 4-9 foot range	Subtle depth transitions near rocky structure
Fall	Walleye	Rock and boulder piles in 4-9 foot range, especially those adjacent to deeper water	Sand flat edges where they transition to deeper water or meet rocky structure
Winter	Walleye	Rocky points and boulder piles in 4-7 foot depth range	Sand flat transitions adjacent to slightly deeper water
Ice	Walleye	Rock and boulder piles adjacent to subtle depth changes in the 4-9 foot range	Transitions between sand flats and deeper water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Perch	Emerging Crayfish
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Perch	Small minnows gathering in spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Perch	Small Baitfish
Summer	Walleye	Perch	Young-of-year baitfish around grass edges
Fall	Walleye	Yellow Perch	Small Baitfish
Winter	Walleye	Perch	Small baitfish schools
Ice	Walleye	Perch	Small Baitfish

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Traverse

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns Vibrant Craw Colors
Summer	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Fall	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Winter	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Walleye	Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

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