How to Fish Upper Hay Lake

Upper Hay Lake fishing FAQ

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Upper Hay Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 48-62°F. Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter depths to spawning areas, staging on the first major break adjacent to spawning flats Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as they prepare for spawning, with feeding activity increasing during warming trends Key locations: Secondary points and transitions leading to spawning flats, especially near pencil reed areas; Deep weed edges adjacent to potential spawning areas; First break lines in 8-12 foot depth range near shallow flats. Best techniques: Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation, Bladed Jigs along weed edges and transition areas, Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas. Primary forage: Bluegill beginning to move shallow, Young of year baitfish from previous season, Crawfish becoming more active in warming water. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Upper Hay Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 55-65°F. Bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly near emergent vegetation like pencil reeds, searching for suitable nesting sites Males aggressively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes territorial during spawn Key locations: Protected shallow bays near pencil reeds with firm bottom; Secondary points leading into spawning bays; Shallow weed edges in 2-6 feet of water. Best techniques: Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip), Soft Jerkbaits, Wacky Rigs. Primary forage: Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas, Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Upper Hay Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-72°F. Bass are recovering from spawn, transitioning to more active feeding patterns while staying relatively shallow, especially during early morning and evening hours Fish are establishing post-spawn feeding stations near emerging weed edges and pencil reeds, making frequent moves between shallow and moderate depths Key locations: Emerging weed edges in 6-12 feet of water, especially near deeper water access; Patches of pencil reeds in 2-6 feet, particularly during morning hours; Secondary points and subtle depth changes adjacent to spawning flats. Best techniques: Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically with frequent pauses near weed edges, Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation, Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges during low light conditions. Primary forage: Bluegill beginning to establish in shallow weed areas, Young of the year baitfish emerging in warming shallows. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Upper Hay Lake in Summer?

Water temp 72-82°F. Following typical summer patterns with early morning shallow feeding activity transitioning to deeper weed edges as sun rises Actively feeding on bluegill populations around vegetation edges, especially during morning hours Key locations: Deep weed edges adjacent to shallow feeding areas; Pencil reed beds with submerged vegetation nearby; Submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depth range. Best techniques: Hard Topwater (Popping) during early morning hours, Drop Shot along weed edges after sun gets high, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around reed beds. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrated around vegetation, Young of year baitfish utilizing weed cover. Best bait colors: Vibrant Assorted Colors, Dark Neutrals, Pink Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Upper Hay Lake in Fall?

Water temp 52-68°F. Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for winter, following baitfish schools and targeting high-protein forage Moving between deep weed edges and adjacent flats as water temperatures cool, with increased activity during sunny afternoons Key locations: Deep weed edges adjacent to flats (8-12 feet); Points near pencil reed beds with access to deeper water; Shallow flats with remaining vegetation (2-6 feet). Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked parallel to deep weed edges, Texas Rigs (Worming) through remaining vegetation, Lipless Crankbaits over flats with sparse vegetation. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrating near remaining weed edges, Young-of-year baitfish schooling in open water adjacent to structure. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Dark Neutrals.