How to Fish Reservoir Six: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Reservoir Six

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 20, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Reservoir Six

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are actively transitioning to pre-spawn staging areas, moving from deeper winter spots to shallower pre-spawn locations near potential spawning flats Feeding activity is increasing with warming temperatures, with fish particularly active around structure that provides both cover and access to deeper water	Submerged vegetation adjacent to shallow flats, especially in 3-6 foot depth range Rip rap banks that provide both warming areas and transition routes to spawning flats Secondary points with access to both shallow and deeper water	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly through vegetation and along rip rap Spinnerbaits parallel to transition areas between deeper water and spawning flats Lipless Crankbaits around scattered vegetation	Bluegill concentrating in and around vegetation Shad moving into shallower areas as water warms	Natural Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Green Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	61-76	Pre-spawn crappie actively feeding on minnows while staging near submerged vegetation, preparing for the spawn Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with concentrated groups moving into shallower staging areas	Submerged vegetation in 3-6 feet of water, particularly in protected areas Shallow coves with emerging vegetation Points and transition areas near spawning flats	Bobbers with hair jigs, worked slowly around vegetation Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations Finesse Hair Jigs worked with subtle movements	Minnows Shad	Light Neutral Colors Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	61-76	Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas and feeding heavily around matted grass and vegetation Fish transitioning between pre-spawn feeding and spawning behavior, with some bass already on beds in protected areas	Matted grass beds in shallow water (0-4 feet) Protected coves with vegetation Shallow flats with mixed vegetation	Frogs/Toads worked over matted grass Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in vegetation gaps Swim Jigs along vegetation edges	Bluegill in shallow vegetation Shad moving into spawning areas Minnows around vegetation edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	61-76	Crappie are in spawning mode, with males guarding nests in shallow water (2-4 feet) near vegetation and structure while females stage slightly deeper Fish are actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with males becoming more aggressive when protecting nests	Shallow vegetated areas in 2-4 feet of water, particularly where submerged vegetation provides spawning habitat Protected coves and pockets created by the moderate shoreline complexity Staging areas just outside spawning zones in 5-8 feet of water	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around visible cover Bobbers with live bait or small jigs suspended at spawning depth Crappie Spider Rigging for staging fish in slightly deeper water	Minnows Shad Small invertebrates near spawning areas	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are transitioning to post-spawn feeding patterns, actively hunting shad in shallow water areas near spawning flats Fish are showing aggressive behavior, willing to chase reaction baits in 3-6 foot depth range	Shallow laydowns and wood cover in 2-4 feet of water Transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water Vegetation edges near shallow flats	Bladed Jigs worked parallel to cover Spinnerbaits around laydowns Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for following shad schools	Shad Bluegill	Metallic Colors Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	68-76	Crappie transitioning to deeper water post-spawn, but still relating to vegetation edges in 5-10 foot depths Fish are becoming more structure-oriented and settling into summer patterns, actively feeding to recover from spawn	Outer edges of submerged vegetation in 5-10 foot depths Deeper brush piles near spawning areas Transitions between shallow flats and deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Crappie Spider Rigging Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges Young-of-year shad beginning to school Small bluegill fry in shallow areas	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-85	Bass are establishing summer patterns with heavy focus on vegetation edges and matted grass for shade and ambush points Early morning and late evening feeding activity near surface, moving deeper during bright midday hours Actively feeding on bluegill and shad around vegetation edges and structure transitions	Thick vegetation mats and edges, especially near deeper water access Riprap areas providing shade and ambush points Laydowns and woody cover adjacent to vegetation	Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation during morning and evening hours Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting gaps in vegetation and around laydowns Swim Jigs along vegetation edges during cloudy conditions or early/late	Bluegill spawning and actively feeding in vegetation Shad schools relating to vegetation edges Various minnow species around structure	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors
Summer	Crappie	72-85	Crappie transitioning to deeper, cooler water during hot summer days, but remaining near cover and structure Most active feeding during early morning and evening hours, suspending near submerged vegetation edges	Deeper edges of submerged vegetation in 8-12 feet of water Shaded areas under any available cover during midday heat Transition zones between shallow and deeper water near vegetation	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weed edges during prime feeding periods Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') in shaded areas during midday Crappie Spider Rigging near vegetation edges early and late in the day	Small shad concentrated near vegetation edges Young-of-year minnows in and around vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Reservoir Six

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Actively feeding on shad and bluegill, following baitfish schools to shallow flats and points Moving between deeper structure and shallow areas as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day	Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with grass or riprap Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with remaining vegetation Laydowns and woody structure in 3-8 feet of water	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline and over grass edges Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around points and riprap Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for matching fall baitfish	Shad schools moving into creeks and flats Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Crappie	58-68	Transitioning from shallow to deeper structure, following baitfish schools and forming loose aggregations Feeding actively during dawn and dusk periods, with increased activity during overcast conditions	Deeper submerged vegetation edges near shallow flats Brush piles and woody structure in 8-15 foot depths Secondary points with access to deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Crappie Spider Rigging	Shad schools congregating in deeper water Small minnows around vegetation edges Young-of-year baitfish	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Purple Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-52	Largemouth bass are concentrated in deeper, more stable water temperatures, typically suspending near vertical structure or holding tight to bottom structure Feeding activity is reduced but more predictable, with fish most active during warmer parts of the day, especially on sunny days that warm shallow pockets	Deep water adjacent to rip rap banks that retain heat Deeper laydowns and woody structure, especially those near channel swings Deeper edges of grass lines where vegetation meets depth changes	Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom structure Jerkbaits with long pauses near suspended fish Football Jigs dragged slowly across deeper structure	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water Bluegill holding tight to available cover	Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals Purple Colors
Winter	Crappie	45-55	During open water winter, crappie are typically schooled tightly in deeper water near structure, conserving energy while making selective feeding movements Fish become more active during stable weather patterns and tend to feed more aggressively during warming trends	Deep water areas adjacent to submerged vegetation, particularly in the 8-15 foot range Deeper basin areas where schools concentrate during winter Deeper edges of shallow flats where vegetation meets deeper water	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Hover/Mid-Strolling Finesse Hair Jigs	Small shad concentrated in winter schools Suspended minnows near structure Small aquatic invertebrates in and around vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Purple Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Reservoir Six

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation adjacent to shallow flats, especially in 3-6 foot depth range	Rip rap banks that provide both warming areas and transition routes to spawning flats
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Submerged vegetation in 3-6 feet of water, particularly in protected areas	Shallow coves with emerging vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Matted grass beds in shallow water (0-4 feet)	Protected coves with vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Shallow vegetated areas in 2-4 feet of water, particularly where submerged vegetation provides spawning habitat	Protected coves and pockets created by the moderate shoreline complexity
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow laydowns and wood cover in 2-4 feet of water	Transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Outer edges of submerged vegetation in 5-10 foot depths	Deeper brush piles near spawning areas
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Thick vegetation mats and edges, especially near deeper water access	Riprap areas providing shade and ambush points
Summer	Crappie	Deeper edges of submerged vegetation in 8-12 feet of water	Shaded areas under any available cover during midday heat
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with grass or riprap	Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with remaining vegetation
Fall	Crappie	Deeper submerged vegetation edges near shallow flats	Brush piles and woody structure in 8-15 foot depths
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep water adjacent to rip rap banks that retain heat	Deeper laydowns and woody structure, especially those near channel swings
Winter	Crappie	Deep water areas adjacent to submerged vegetation, particularly in the 8-15 foot range	Deeper basin areas where schools concentrate during winter

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating in and around vegetation	Shad moving into shallower areas as water warms
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Minnows	Shad
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in shallow vegetation	Shad moving into spawning areas
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Minnows	Shad
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad	Bluegill
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges	Young-of-year shad beginning to school
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill spawning and actively feeding in vegetation	Shad schools relating to vegetation edges
Summer	Crappie	Small shad concentrated near vegetation edges	Young-of-year minnows in and around vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving into creeks and flats	Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation
Fall	Crappie	Shad schools congregating in deeper water	Small minnows around vegetation edges
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water	Bluegill holding tight to available cover
Winter	Crappie	Small shad concentrated in winter schools	Suspended minnows near structure

Bait Colors by Season for Reservoir Six

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

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