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

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Sangchris Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 31, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Sangchris Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-65	Largemouth bass are transitioning to pre-spawn feeding patterns, actively using shallow cover and staging areas near spawning flats Fish are highly aggressive, feeding heavily on crawfish while relating to wood cover and submerged vegetation	Laydowns and fallen trees in pre-spawn staging areas Submerged vegetation near potential spawning flats Protected pockets with wood cover	Bladed Jigs worked along laydowns and wood cover Swim Jigs in bluegill patterns around submerged vegetation Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with creature baits around heavy cover	Crawfish - primary forage during pre-spawn Bluegill - secondary forage around vegetation and cover	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Crappie are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, moving from deeper brush piles and rock structure towards shallower staging areas near spawning coves Fish are becoming more active and aggressive, suspended in the upper water column around structure, particularly during warming trends	Secondary points and creek channel bends leading into spawning coves Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range near spawning areas Rocky areas adjacent to shallow flats where water warms first	Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Shad (primary forage based on lake reports) Small sunfish and juvenile baitfish	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	59-72	Bass are in spawn/pre-spawn phase, actively moving to and defending beds in shallow water, with water temperatures ranging from 59-71°F as noted in reports Fish are relating heavily to cover, particularly laydowns and brush, using these structures as staging areas and spawning locations	Laydowns and brush piles in 5-8 foot depth range, especially those close to spawning flats Wind-swept shorelines with cover, particularly in the backs of fingers and coves Protected shallow areas with visible beds near wood cover	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and wood cover Bladed Jigs worked around laydowns and brush piles Spinnerbaits on wind-blown banks and through cover	Bluegill - primary forage around cover and beds Minnows - secondary forage especially on wind-blown areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and moving into spawning areas in protected coves and pockets Males moving shallow first to prepare nests, with females following as water temperatures stabilize Aggressive feeding periods during pre-spawn, becoming more teritorial during actual spawn	Protected shallow coves with abundant brush and laydowns Secondary points leading into spawning pockets Shallow brush piles in 3-8 feet of water near spawning flats	Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small shad Young of year baitfish Small insects and zooplankton	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-65	Bass are actively feeding on wind-blown points where baitfish are being concentrated Fish are transitioning from spawning areas but remaining relatively shallow, relating to structure and responding strongly to wind-driven feeding opportunities	Wind-blown main lake points with good depth transitions Secondary points with wood cover near spawning pockets Grass edges adjacent to deeper water	Bladed Jigs worked along depth transitions on windy points Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline structure Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for mimicking shad	Shad schooling on wind-blown points Bluegill in shallow cover near spawning areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	65-75	Post-spawn crappie are transitioning to early summer patterns, actively feeding in the upper water column around cover Fish are recovering from spawn, establishing loose schools and beginning to relate to deeper brush and structure edges	Brush piles in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning areas Laydowns and woody cover along creek channels Rock structure transitions near deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Shad (primary forage based on lake reports) Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	71-81	Bass are establishing summer patterns, holding on deeper structure during midday with feeding activity concentrated during early/late hours Fish are relating heavily to brush piles and deeper edges of grass mats, using these areas as ambush points	Main lake points with brush piles, especially those adjacent to deeper water Deep edges of matted grass where it transitions to open water Ledges and drop-offs with structure, particularly in the main lake	Carolina Rigs worked slowly along points and ledges Drop Shot with finesse worms around brush piles Bladed Jigs with steady retrieve near cover	Shad schooling in open water near points Bluegill around brush piles and cover Crawfish in deeper structure areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Crappie	72-85	Crappie are suspended in and around brush piles and laydowns, typically holding at depths of 8-15 feet during summer Fish are actively feeding on shad during early morning and evening, moving shallower during these periods During midday heat, crappie retreat to deeper structure and become less active	Brush piles and laydowns near creek channel bends in 12-15 foot depth Deep dock areas with artificial brush or structure Deeper rocky points adjacent to feeding flats	Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')	Shad schools in 8-15 foot depth range Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish around brush Small minnows relating to dock structures	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Sangchris Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Bass are actively following and feeding on shad schools in shallow water, particularly around laydowns and cover adjacent to deeper water Fish are exhibiting a transition pattern, holding tight to cover but requiring multiple casts to trigger strikes, indicating a moderate feeding activity level	Laydowns near deeper water access, especially in coves and pockets Shallow water areas with visible baitfish schools, particularly in protected coves Wood structure in 3-8 feet of water, especially on points and channel swings	Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked slowly around wood structure Bladed Jigs worked methodically around laydowns Lipless Crankbaits around visible baitfish schools	Shad schools moving into shallow water areas Bluegill relating to shallow cover	Bold Striped Patterns Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Crappie	58-72	Crappie are transitioning from summer patterns to fall feeding, becoming more active as water temperatures cool and actively chasing shad in the water column Fish are beginning to school more tightly and moving towards creek channels and deeper structure near primary feeding areas	Brush piles along creek channel edges in 12-18 feet of water Standing timber and laydowns near deep water access Rocky points and structure adjacent to deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) with multiple jigs to cover water and find active schools Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles and timber Crappie Spider Rigging along channel edges and near structure	Shad schools moving into creek arms and channels Small sunfish around brush and timber	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Assorted Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	45-55	Bass are seeking warmer, more stable water temperatures, concentrating in areas that maintain heat longer such as the south end of the lake Fish are less active but will still feed opportunistically, particularly during warmer periods of the day Bass are relating closely to vertical structure like ledges that allow quick depth changes as conditions fluctuate	South arm of the lake where water temperatures remain more stable Ledges with access to both shallow and deep water Brush piles near deep water access	Football Jigs worked slowly along ledges and deep structure Blade Baits for actively feeding fish Spinnerbaits worked slowly in warmer pockets	Minnows, as confirmed by recent fishing reports Crawfish, which become more vulnerable in winter as vegetation dies back	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Winter	Crappie	38-45	Crappie are schooling tightly around defined structure, particularly brush piles and rock formations in winter Fish are suspended and feeding on shad, staying relatively stationary near vertical cover	Brush piles in deeper water that provide vertical cover Rock structures that retain heat and attract baitfish Deep wooden cover near channel edges	Finesse Jigs worked slowly and vertically through brush piles Tubes presented with subtle movements around structure Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with light jigs for suspended fish	Shad schools concentrated near structure Small sunfish relating to brush piles	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Sangchris Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and fallen trees in pre-spawn staging areas	Submerged vegetation near potential spawning flats
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Secondary points and creek channel bends leading into spawning coves	Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range near spawning areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and brush piles in 5-8 foot depth range, especially those close to spawning flats	Wind-swept shorelines with cover, particularly in the backs of fingers and coves
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Protected shallow coves with abundant brush and laydowns	Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Wind-blown main lake points with good depth transitions	Secondary points with wood cover near spawning pockets
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Brush piles in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning areas	Laydowns and woody cover along creek channels
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Main lake points with brush piles, especially those adjacent to deeper water	Deep edges of matted grass where it transitions to open water
Summer	Crappie	Brush piles and laydowns near creek channel bends in 12-15 foot depth	Deep dock areas with artificial brush or structure
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns near deeper water access, especially in coves and pockets	Shallow water areas with visible baitfish schools, particularly in protected coves
Fall	Crappie	Brush piles along creek channel edges in 12-18 feet of water	Standing timber and laydowns near deep water access
Winter	Largemouth Bass	South arm of the lake where water temperatures remain more stable	Ledges with access to both shallow and deep water
Winter	Crappie	Brush piles in deeper water that provide vertical cover	Rock structures that retain heat and attract baitfish

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Crawfish - primary forage during pre-spawn	Bluegill - secondary forage around vegetation and cover
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Shad (primary forage based on lake reports)	Small sunfish and juvenile baitfish
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill - primary forage around cover and beds	Minnows - secondary forage especially on wind-blown areas
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small shad	Young of year baitfish
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling on wind-blown points	Bluegill in shallow cover near spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Shad (primary forage based on lake reports)	Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in open water near points	Bluegill around brush piles and cover
Summer	Crappie	Shad schools in 8-15 foot depth range	Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish around brush
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving into shallow water areas	Bluegill relating to shallow cover
Fall	Crappie	Shad schools moving into creek arms and channels	Small sunfish around brush and timber
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Minnows, as confirmed by recent fishing reports	Crawfish, which become more vulnerable in winter as vegetation dies back
Winter	Crappie	Shad schools concentrated near structure	Small sunfish relating to brush piles

Bait Colors by Season for Sangchris Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bold Striped Patterns Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Assorted Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors
Winter	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors

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