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

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Sunrise Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Sunrise Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-62	Bass are actively seeking early vegetation growth as water temperatures rise, transitioning to pre-spawn staging areas Fish are becoming more active and aggressive in feeding patterns, particularly during early morning periods	Early growing vegetation patches in shallow water areas Secondary points near spawning flats with any available cover Protected coves with emerging vegetation	Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow rolled in slightly deeper water Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through emerging grass	Bluegill gathering in early vegetation Small baitfish moving shallow	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas near emerging vegetation, focusing on protected areas with firm bottom composition Fish staging between pre-spawn and spawning areas, making frequent movements between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats	Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation and firm bottom Secondary points leading into spawning bays Shallow flats adjacent to deeper staging areas	Wacky Rigs worked slowly around emerging vegetation and spawning areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated cover and vegetation clumps Spinnerbaits worked along edges of vegetation and through staging areas	Bluegill beginning to move shallow and prepare for their own spawn Crappie transitioning through similar spawning areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns Fish are relating strongly to newly emerging vegetation edges and remaining in relatively shallow water	Outer edges of emerging weed growth in 4-8 feet of water Secondary points near spawning bays with vegetation Shallow humps with early vegetation growth	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation edges Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation	Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas Young of year shad starting to appear Juvenile crappie in scattered schools	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-82	Largemouth bass are actively feeding around vegetation and structural elements, with a mix of surface activity near lily pads and suspended fish near deeper humps Fish showing two distinct patterns: surface feeding in shallow vegetation during morning/evening, and suspended near deeper structure during midday heat	Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to slightly deeper water Humps with suspended fish, particularly on the southern part of the lake Vegetation edges where bass can ambush prey	Frogs/Toads worked across lily pads, especially during morning and evening hours Spinnerbaits with slow, steady retrieve targeting suspended fish near humps Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through gaps in vegetation	Crappie as primary forage, especially around deeper structure Bluegill in and around vegetation	Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors Chartreuse Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Sunrise Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	52-68	Bass are actively feeding in preparation for winter, targeting baitfish and remaining around vegetation edges Fish are transitioning from dense summer vegetation to more open areas, using remaining vegetation patches as ambush points	Open pockets within dying vegetation fields, especially where sparse vegetation creates edges Points and irregularities in remaining weed lines where vegetation meets deeper water Shallow vegetation near deeper water access, particularly in coves	Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation gaps and along edges Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges for reaction strikes Lipless Crankbaits worked through scattered vegetation	Bluegill concentrated around remaining vegetation Crappie schools in slightly deeper water near vegetation edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Sunrise Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Early growing vegetation patches in shallow water areas	Secondary points near spawning flats with any available cover
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation and firm bottom	Secondary points leading into spawning bays
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Outer edges of emerging weed growth in 4-8 feet of water	Secondary points near spawning bays with vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to slightly deeper water	Humps with suspended fish, particularly on the southern part of the lake
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Open pockets within dying vegetation fields, especially where sparse vegetation creates edges	Points and irregularities in remaining weed lines where vegetation meets deeper water

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in early vegetation	Small baitfish moving shallow
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow and prepare for their own spawn	Crappie transitioning through similar spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas	Young of year shad starting to appear
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Crappie as primary forage, especially around deeper structure	Bluegill in and around vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrated around remaining vegetation	Crappie schools in slightly deeper water near vegetation edges

Bait Colors by Season for Sunrise Lake

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

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