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

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Sheldon Reservoir

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Sheldon Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	57-65	Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging on points and edges near spawning areas Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly during warming trends Most active during mid-morning to early afternoon when water temperatures peak	Secondary points with access to spawning flats, especially those with cypress trees Edges of lily pad fields and reed lines in 3-8 feet of water Protected coves with emerging vegetation	Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation Spinnerbaits around cypress trees and points Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near staging areas	Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas Emerging crawfish becoming active in warming shallows	Natural Shad Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	57-69	Bass are transitioning into spawning areas, with pre-spawn feeding activity around vegetation edges and shallow cover Fish showing aggressive response to moving baits in 0-4 foot depth range, particularly during warmer parts of day	Shallow areas with lily pad stems and cypress knees Wind-blown weed edges Protected reeds and vegetation in 0-4 foot depth range	Swim Jigs with paddle tail trailers worked at slow to medium retrieve Spinnerbaits along vegetation edges Shallow diving crankbaits in 0-4 foot range Wacky Rigs around cypress knees and vegetation	Bluegill Shad	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	68-82	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in shallow waters, particularly during morning and evening periods, with aggressive strikes on moving baits Fish are utilizing various vegetation types (lily pads, reeds, cypress trees) as ambush points, showing increased surface activity during low light conditions	Lily pad fields adjacent to deeper water, especially pad edges Protected areas around cypress trees and reed grass Scattered vegetation in protected coves	Swim Jigs worked through and around vegetation Frogs/Toads during low light periods over vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) along edges Bladed Jigs and Spinnerbaits in more open areas	Shad schools in open water and around structure Bluegill in and around vegetation Dragon flies and surface insects during evening hours	Dark Neutrals Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	76-90	Bass are following distinct daily patterns - actively feeding during early morning and evening hours in shallow vegetation, then moving to deeper adjacent structure during bright midday periods Fish are particularly aggressive around vegetation edges when wind creates current and oxygenation During hot midday periods (85°F+), bass become less active and seek shade under heavy cover like matted vegetation and cypress trees	Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to deeper water or near cypress trees Cypress tree bases and surrounding reeds Matted grass areas with clear edges Rock piles near submerged vegetation	Frogs/Toads worked over lily pads and matted vegetation during morning hours Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with large worms worked slowly around cypress trees and heavy cover Spinnerbaits through sparse vegetation when wind is present Swim Jigs parallel to grass edges and through scattered pads	Shad schooling around vegetation edges Crawfish in rocky areas and around cypress tree bases	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Natural Craw Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Sheldon Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	57-72	Bass are actively chasing shad and feeding aggressively during morning hours, particularly around matted grass and woody cover Fish become less aggressive as the day progresses, transitioning from reaction strikes to more methodical feeding patterns	Matted grass edges and openings, especially during morning hours Stumps and cypress trees where shad are congregating Shallow vegetation mats with nearby deeper water access	Spinnerbaits and underspins worked along grass edges during morning hours Wacky rigs worked slowly when fish become less aggressive during midday Lipless crankbaits around wood structure when shad are present	Shad schooling near structure and vegetation edges Baitfish relating to matted grass areas	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors Dark Neutrals

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	55-62	Bass are actively feeding on shad schools in winter, as evidenced by recent fishing reports showing fish chasing bait on flats Fish are holding near matted grass and using it as ambush points, while remaining relatively active with water temperatures around 58-60°F	Grass flats where shad are present Matted grass areas, especially those adjacent to deeper water Cypress trees mentioned in lake profile, particularly those near vegetation edges	Spinnerbaits worked around bait schools and grass edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with tungsten offset jigheads Bladed Jigs near matted grass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent reports Minnows - mentioned in recent winter fishing reports	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Dark Neutrals

Key Seasonal Structures in Sheldon Reservoir

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points with access to spawning flats, especially those with cypress trees	Edges of lily pad fields and reed lines in 3-8 feet of water
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow areas with lily pad stems and cypress knees	Wind-blown weed edges
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Lily pad fields adjacent to deeper water, especially pad edges	Protected areas around cypress trees and reed grass
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to deeper water or near cypress trees	Cypress tree bases and surrounding reeds
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Matted grass edges and openings, especially during morning hours	Stumps and cypress trees where shad are congregating
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Grass flats where shad are present	Matted grass areas, especially those adjacent to deeper water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas	Emerging crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill	Shad
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools in open water and around structure	Bluegill in and around vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling around vegetation edges	Crawfish in rocky areas and around cypress tree bases
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling near structure and vegetation edges	Baitfish relating to matted grass areas
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent reports	Minnows - mentioned in recent winter fishing reports

Bait Colors by Season for Sheldon Reservoir

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

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