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

20% Off Bubba, Through 06/16. Save Now

Built to Serve Tee + PRO = $20 Donated Per Order → Shop Now

20% Off Dirty Jigs and Nichols Lures, Through 06/10. Save Now

Buy One, Get One FREE P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon. Learn More

Save Up To $500 on Select Minn Kota, Through 06/18. Save Now

PRO members get free shipping, rewards & local lake data! Join Today

Markdowns on popular products - See all bargain offers

San Vicente Reservoir

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 23, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on San Vicente Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-65	Pre-spawn bass actively feeding and moving shallow, staging near spawning areas with quick access to deeper water Fish are responding well to reaction baits in windy conditions, particularly around brush structure Clear water conditions causing fish to be line-shy and more selective in their strikes	Brush piles in pre-spawn staging areas near spawning flats Rocky points and transitions leading to spawning pockets Creek channel bends with adjacent shallow flats	Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near brush Shakey Heads on light line around deeper brush piles Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly on windward banks	Shad schools suspending near brush Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Natural Shad Colors Metallic Colors Green Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-62	Fish transitioning between pre-spawn staging and spawning, utilizing both deep and shallow water patterns based on water temperature (55-56°F) Actively feeding on both shad and crawfish near structure transitions, particularly during early periods	Flooded brush with rock/boulder transitions in pre-spawn staging areas Boulder fields from 5 to 30 feet deep Protected shallow coves with stable spawning substrate	Drop Shot Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)	Shad Crawfish	Natural Shad Colors Natural Craw Colors Purple Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-75	Post-spawn bass are recovering and beginning to establish summer patterns, actively feeding to regain energy in clear water conditions Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer haunts, using points and channel swings as migration routes With super clear water conditions, fish are most active during low light periods and tend to hold tight to cover during bright conditions	Main lake points with transitions from rock to brush, especially those adjacent to spawning pockets Deeper brush piles in 15-25 foot range near channel swings Submerged grass lines where they intersect with deeper water	Drop Shot with small finesse baits, worked slowly around brush piles and rock transitions Shakey Heads worked along points and rock transitions Soft Jerkbaits worked parallel to grass lines during low light conditions	Shad beginning to school in post-spawn patterns Bluegill spawning in shallow pockets Small crawfish active on rocky points	Natural Shad Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	75-82	Actively feeding in both deep (15-30ft) and shallow zones, with increased shallow activity during early/late hours Suspending near deep structure during midday heat, moving shallow to feed during lower light periods Relating strongly to vegetation edges and brush in clear water conditions	Main lake rock and boulder areas 15-30 feet deep Submerged vegetation edges, especially near deep water access Flooded brush areas with proximity to deep water Secondary points with mixed rock and brush in 5-25 foot range	Drop Shot with 12-16 inch leader in 15-30 foot range Hard Topwater (Popping) during low light periods around vegetation Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) along rocky structure Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in flooded brush and vegetation	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports Minnows - secondary forage mentioned in reports	Natural Shad Colors Green Colors Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for San Vicente Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	71-78	Bass are actively chasing shad in schooling activity, with surface feeding occurring especially during morning hours Fish are scattered across multiple depth zones during fall transition, from shallow to deep, requiring versatile approach Clear water conditions are making fish more selective, responding better to finesse presentations	Flooded brush areas adjacent to deeper water Small pockets with concentrated baitfish Boulder fields and rock transitions Grass edges where they intersect with deeper water	Drop Shot with 16-inch leader and light line Hard Jerkbaits worked around grass and brush with 10lb test Carolina Rigs for covering mid-depth zones	Small shad schooling near surface Larger baitfish holding in brush	Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors Metallic Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	63-68	Fish are holding in deep water near brush piles and rock structure, primarily in 15-40 foot depth range Feeding patterns indicate selective pressure feeding during warmer parts of day, with shad and minnows as primary forage	Deep brush piles near channel edges in 15-40 foot range Rock piles and boulder transitions in similar depth zones Intersections where brush meets rocky structure creating premium ambush points	Drop Shot with 18-inch leader and finesse presentations, focusing on vertical fishing in brush Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through the upper portions of brush and rock piles Shakey Heads worked methodically through deeper structure when fish are less active	Shad suspended near brush and structure Minnows relating to brush piles and rocky transitions	Natural Shad Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in San Vicente Reservoir

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Brush piles in pre-spawn staging areas near spawning flats	Rocky points and transitions leading to spawning pockets
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Flooded brush with rock/boulder transitions in pre-spawn staging areas	Boulder fields from 5 to 30 feet deep
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points with transitions from rock to brush, especially those adjacent to spawning pockets	Deeper brush piles in 15-25 foot range near channel swings
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Main lake rock and boulder areas 15-30 feet deep	Submerged vegetation edges, especially near deep water access
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Flooded brush areas adjacent to deeper water	Small pockets with concentrated baitfish
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep brush piles near channel edges in 15-40 foot range	Rock piles and boulder transitions in similar depth zones

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools suspending near brush	Bluegill beginning to move shallow
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad	Crawfish
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad beginning to school in post-spawn patterns	Bluegill spawning in shallow pockets
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports	Minnows - secondary forage mentioned in reports
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Small shad schooling near surface	Larger baitfish holding in brush
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad suspended near brush and structure	Minnows relating to brush piles and rocky transitions

Bait Colors by Season for San Vicente Reservoir

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

Enter your email address to get 10% off your first order

Join over 100k anglers who receive our newsletter.
Techniques, tips and tackle breakdowns personalized to your local area.

© 2025 Omnia Fishing Inc. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy