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

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Pleasant Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 11, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Pleasant Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	48-58	Smallmouth bass transitioning to shallow pre-spawn locations, actively feeding on minnows near wind-blown shorelines and points Fish staging near spawning areas, utilizing boulder fields as primary structure while feeding opportunistically	Shallow boulder fields on wind-blown shorelines (2-8 feet) Rocky points adjacent to deeper water Protected boulder-strewn coves that will warm quickly	Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly over boulders Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved with steady presentation Ned Rigs dragged through boulder fields	Minnows concentrating along wind-blown shorelines Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	55-65	Moving to shallow rocky areas (2-8 feet) to stage for spawning, with males preparing and guarding nests Actively feeding during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial and less feeding-focused during actual spawn	Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines in 2-8 feet of water Protected bays with gravel or rock bottom near deeper water access Wind-blown shorelines where baitfish are concentrated	Tubes worked slowly along rocky bottom Ned Rigs with subtle presentations around spawning areas Finesse Hair Jigs for pressured fish in clearer water	Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy Small baitfish schools in warming shallows Young of year perch in developing weed edges	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	58-68	Actively feeding on baitfish and crawfish in transition areas between spawning flats and summer holding areas Moving between depths throughout the day, with more aggressive feeding during morning and evening periods	Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats Wind-blown shorelines with boulder structure Submerged vegetation edges in 8-15 foot depth range	Drop Shot with finesse presentations around rocky structure Ned Rigs worked slowly along transition areas Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing baitfish	Baitfish schools concentrated by wind patterns Crawfish emerging in rocky areas Small perch in vegetation edges	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	68-78	Actively feeding on crawfish around rocky structure, with increased activity during lower light periods Seeking thermal refuge in vegetation and deeper structure during midday heat	Rocky points and humps with adjacent deep water Submerged vegetation edges near deep water access Boulder-strewn areas with crawfish populations	Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky structure Wacky Rigs worked through and around vegetation Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points	Crawfish Small baitfish in and around vegetation	Green Colors Natural Craw Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Pleasant Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	52-65	Actively feeding on baitfish schools and crayfish to build energy reserves for winter, often following bait to deeper structures Transitioning from summer patterns to deeper water, with feeding activity concentrated during warmer parts of the day Showing aggressive response to fast-moving baits during feeding windows, especially when targeting schooling baitfish	Deep rocky points adjacent to deeper wintering areas (15-25 feet) Steep breaks near submerged vegetation edges (12-20 feet) Wind-blown shorelines where baitfish are concentrated (8-15 feet)	Drop Shot with small baitfish imitations worked slowly along deep structure Blade Baits worked with aggressive hop-and-drop retrieve near baitfish schools Tubes dragged slowly across rocky transition areas	Schooling baitfish (shiners, young-of-year perch) Crayfish seeking deeper water refuge Small panfish along weed edges	Natural Shad Colors Natural Craw Colors Metallic Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Pleasant Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Shallow boulder fields on wind-blown shorelines (2-8 feet)	Rocky points adjacent to deeper water
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines in 2-8 feet of water	Protected bays with gravel or rock bottom near deeper water access
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Rocky points adjacent to spawning flats	Wind-blown shorelines with boulder structure
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Rocky points and humps with adjacent deep water	Submerged vegetation edges near deep water access
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Deep rocky points adjacent to deeper wintering areas (15-25 feet)	Steep breaks near submerged vegetation edges (12-20 feet)

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Minnows concentrating along wind-blown shorelines	Small crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy	Small baitfish schools in warming shallows
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Baitfish schools concentrated by wind patterns	Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Crawfish	Small baitfish in and around vegetation
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Schooling baitfish (shiners, young-of-year perch)	Crayfish seeking deeper water refuge

Bait Colors by Season for Pleasant Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors
Summer	Smallmouth Bass	Green Colors Natural Craw Colors
Fall	Smallmouth Bass	Natural Shad Colors Natural Craw Colors Metallic Colors

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