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Welsh Reservoir

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Welsh Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	56-61	Pre-spawn bass actively feeding while transitioning between winter and spawning areas, using grass edges as primary travel corridors Fish showing mixed behavior patterns - some staging on grass edges for feeding, others beginning to scout spawning areas Strikes reported as subtle on moving baits, indicating deliberate feeding rather than aggressive reaction strikes	Outside edges of grass lines in 4-10 foot depth range Shallow protected areas near vegetation for early bed scouts Laydowns and timber adjacent to grasslines providing ambush points	Bladed Jigs worked slowly along grass edges Spinnerbaits parallel to vegetation lines Soft Jerkbaits worked in gaps between cover	Bluegill staging near vegetation edges Shad schools in slightly deeper water near grass lines	Natural Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass actively moving between spawning areas and pre-spawn staging points, with fish both on beds in shallow water and transitioning along grass edges Fish showing aggressive feeding patterns during movement periods, particularly along grass edges in 3-8 foot range	Sparse grass edges in 3-8 foot range with nearby deeper water access Protected shallow areas with matted grass for spawning Points and grass lines leading into spawning pockets	Bladed Jigs worked along grass edges Neko Rigs for spawning areas and transitional zones Hard Jerkbaits for actively feeding fish	Bluegill around vegetation edges Shad in open water near grass lines	Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	68-70	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on shad and bluegill around creek channels and drains Fish are showing aggressive chase behavior in clear water, willing to pursue moving baits from considerable distances	Creek channels and drains in 6-25 foot depth range where bass are actively pursuing baitfish Grass edges in 3-8 foot range, particularly near deeper water access Points and channel bends where post-spawn bass can intercept moving baitfish	Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses to trigger reaction strikes in clear water Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along depth transitions to mimic shad Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through grass edges for bass holding tight to cover	Shad schools concentrating in creek channels and around drains Bluegill active in shallow grass edges and around cover	Natural Shad Colors Metallic Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	78-85	Actively feeding during early morning and evening, utilizing grass edges and laydowns as ambush points Moving deeper during midday heat, relating to deeper grass edges and shaded cover	Laydowns adjacent to grass edges in 3-8 foot range Deep grass edges with nearby timber in 8-15 foot range Shaded docks and overhanging cover near deeper water access	Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to cover Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and thick cover Frogs/Toads over matted vegetation during low light periods	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges Shad schools relating to deeper grass edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Welsh Reservoir

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	65-72	Actively feeding on shad schools, following baitfish migrations into coves and along major creek channels Moving between deeper main lake areas and shallow vegetation edges based on daily temperature changes	Grass edges in 3-8 foot range adjacent to deeper water Main lake points with matted vegetation Laydowns and timber near creek channel bends	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to grass lines and over submerged vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish chasing shad Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and matted vegetation	Shad schools moving into creeks and coves Bluegill relating to vegetation edges	Natural Shad Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	61-72	Bass maintaining active feeding patterns due to power plant-influenced warm water (61-72°F), with fish relating to both shallow and deep water depending on proximity to warm water zones Actively schooling and chasing shad in power plant outflow areas, suspending in the upper water column near bait schools Secondary pattern of fish relating to vegetation edges and isolated timber, particularly in areas away from warm water influence	Power plant outflow canal areas in 15-20 feet of water where bait schools are present Submerged grasslines and isolated timber in small pockets North side vegetation edges and slop areas	Hard Jerkbaits worked in the upper water column around bait schools Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) in deeper water around points Buzzbaits along vegetation edges in warmer areas	Shad schooling in warm water areas, particularly near power plant discharge Bluegill relating to vegetation edges and timber	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Light Neutral Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Welsh Reservoir

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Outside edges of grass lines in 4-10 foot depth range	Shallow protected areas near vegetation for early bed scouts
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Sparse grass edges in 3-8 foot range with nearby deeper water access	Protected shallow areas with matted grass for spawning
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Creek channels and drains in 6-25 foot depth range where bass are actively pursuing baitfish	Grass edges in 3-8 foot range, particularly near deeper water access
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns adjacent to grass edges in 3-8 foot range	Deep grass edges with nearby timber in 8-15 foot range
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Grass edges in 3-8 foot range adjacent to deeper water	Main lake points with matted vegetation
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Power plant outflow canal areas in 15-20 feet of water where bait schools are present	Submerged grasslines and isolated timber in small pockets

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill staging near vegetation edges	Shad schools in slightly deeper water near grass lines
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill around vegetation edges	Shad in open water near grass lines
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrating in creek channels and around drains	Bluegill active in shallow grass edges and around cover
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating around vegetation edges	Shad schools relating to deeper grass edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving into creeks and coves	Bluegill relating to vegetation edges
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in warm water areas, particularly near power plant discharge	Bluegill relating to vegetation edges and timber

Bait Colors by Season for Welsh Reservoir

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

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