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

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Whaletail Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 12, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Whaletail Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Pre-spawn bass actively seeking warmer waters in shallow areas, particularly around emerging vegetation and reeds Fish transitioning from winter areas to spawning locations, becoming more active with warming temperatures Feeding activity increasing but still relatively methodical, with fish relating strongly to cover	Reed beds in 2-4 feet of water, especially where they meet deeper water Emerging submerged vegetation in protected pockets Isolated grass clumps in shallow water areas	Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation Bladed Jigs burned through sparse vegetation Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked through reed stands	Bluegill beginning to move shallow Shad schools in warming pockets	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	64-74	Pre-spawn bass are actively moving into shallow water (4-6 feet) and relating heavily to vegetation, particularly healthy cabbage beds and isolated cover Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures (60s-70s F), but still showing selective feeding patterns requiring slower presentations	Healthy cabbage beds in 4-6 feet of water Isolated docks with nearby vegetation Main lake points with vegetation in 5-6 feet	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation Bladed Jigs around clean weed edges Wacky Rigs near isolated cover Hard Topwater (Popping) during low light periods along shade lines	Bluegill concentrating in shallow vegetation Minnows around weed edges	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	74-79	Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding in shallow vegetation, particularly during morning and evening periods, with decreased activity during bright midday hours Fish are showing aggressive behavior around thick vegetation and lily pads, willing to chase moving baits and strike surface presentations	Isolated grass patches on outside weed edges in 3-5 feet of water Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to slightly deeper water Thick vegetation mats offering overhead cover	Texas Rigs (Worming) with weightless presentation around vegetation Swim Jigs with heavy gear (30lb braid) through vegetation Buzzbaits during lower light periods Wacky Rigs worked slowly in sparse vegetation	Bluegill - primary forage evidenced in multiple reports Shad - secondary forage mentioned in lake profile	Dark Neutrals Chartreuse Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	78-82	Bass are holding tight to thick vegetation, particularly matted grass and lily pads, using these areas as primary feeding zones Fish are most active during lower light periods and in wind-blown areas, with larger specimens preferring the densest cover available	Thick lily pad fields and matted grass, especially near deeper water access Isolated grass clumps in 2-6 foot depth range Wind-blown shorelines with vegetation	Frogs/Toads worked with twitch-twitch-pause cadence over thick vegetation Grass Jigs with heavy braid in dense cover Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around vegetation edges	Bluegill concentrated in and around vegetation Insects active around surface vegetation	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Whaletail Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Bass are actively feeding in shallow water vegetation, especially during morning hours and around shade, as they follow baitfish and prepare for winter Fish are relating strongly to weed edges and isolated grass clumps, moving between shallow and slightly deeper water (2-6 feet) as temperatures and light conditions change throughout the day	Sparse pad fields and isolated grass clumps in 2-3 feet of water Deep weed edges in 6 foot depth range Scattered milfoil patches with nearby deeper water access	Frogs/Toads worked slowly over sparse vegetation Buzzbaits along shaded shorelines in early morning Swim Jigs with medium retrieve in scattered vegetation Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along deep weed edges	Bluegill concentrated in and around vegetation Shad moving along weed edges and shallow flats	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Whaletail Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Reed beds in 2-4 feet of water, especially where they meet deeper water	Emerging submerged vegetation in protected pockets
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Healthy cabbage beds in 4-6 feet of water	Isolated docks with nearby vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Isolated grass patches on outside weed edges in 3-5 feet of water	Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to slightly deeper water
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Thick lily pad fields and matted grass, especially near deeper water access	Isolated grass clumps in 2-6 foot depth range
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Sparse pad fields and isolated grass clumps in 2-3 feet of water	Deep weed edges in 6 foot depth range

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Shad schools in warming pockets
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating in shallow vegetation	Minnows around weed edges
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill - primary forage evidenced in multiple reports	Shad - secondary forage mentioned in lake profile
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrated in and around vegetation	Insects active around surface vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrated in and around vegetation	Shad moving along weed edges and shallow flats

Bait Colors by Season for Whaletail Lake

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

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