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

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Whalon Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 16, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Whalon Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-60	Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding during warming trends Fish are responding well to reaction baits in submerged vegetation and along wind-blown shorelines Bass showing aggressive feeding behavior targeting bluegill in clear water conditions	Submerged vegetation in 7-10 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats Wind-blown shorelines with rock piles Weedlines near the island	Bladed Jigs worked through and around submerged vegetation Swim Jigs targeting bluegill-holding areas Hard Topwater (Prop) around heavy structure during active periods	Bluegill concentrated in weed areas Shad along wind-blown shores	Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors Natural Shad Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass actively moving to shallow spawning areas, particularly around submerged vegetation and protected areas near islands Males aggressively defending nests while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water Increased activity during warmer parts of day, especially in areas receiving direct sunlight	Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation Hard bottom areas near islands with nearby deeper water access Creek channel swings near shallow flats	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around vegetation and spawning areas Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow spawning flats Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn females staging in slightly deeper water	Bluegill beginning to move shallow and become more active Shad schools transitioning to spawning areas	Natural Craw Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Post-spawn bass are actively feeding but still recovering, preferring areas near spawning flats with easy access to deeper water Fish are showing increased activity in submerged vegetation, particularly during morning and evening periods	Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats Creek channel edges with adjacent vegetation Island shorelines with mixed vegetation and deeper water access	Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation Texas Rigs (Worming) along weed edges Shakey Heads near deeper vegetation transitions	Bluegill in shallow vegetation Shad in creek channel areas	Natural Craw Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	75-85	Bass are actively feeding in submerged vegetation and around structure, showing strong response to both finesse and active presentations in clear water conditions Fish are following typical summer patterns with early morning/late evening shallow feeding periods and movement to deeper structure during bright midday periods	Submerged vegetation edges, particularly where it meets deeper water Island drop-offs and adjacent rock piles Creek channel areas with nearby vegetation	Drop Shot with finesse worms worked slowly around structure Swim Jigs worked through and over vegetation Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in thick vegetation during peak sun	Shad schooling in open water near structure Bluegill relating to vegetation edges	Natural Shad Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Whalon Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Actively feeding on baitfish (shad) in shallow zones, especially during low-light periods and windy conditions Transitioning between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper staging areas as water temperatures decline	Shallow areas 20 feet from shoreline where shad schools are present Weedline edges near boulders and reeds Protected western shoreline areas, especially during windy conditions	Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to shoreline Hard Topwater (Popping) during low light conditions when shad are active	Shad schools moving in shallow water Bluegill relating to shoreline structure	Natural Shad Colors Natural Craw Colors Purple Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	30-38	Bass are actively schooling and chasing shad in open water areas, particularly visible on sonar Fish maintaining activity even in cold conditions, suggesting location near spring-fed areas or deeper zones	Deep water areas where shad schools are congregating Creek channel edges and deeper structure near laydowns Spring-fed areas that maintain slightly warmer temperatures	Blade Baits vertically jigged through suspended schools Spoons worked vertically through bait schools Underspins retrieved slowly through suspended bait	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water Smaller baitfish in winter schooling patterns	Natural Shad Colors Metallic Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Whalon Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation in 7-10 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats	Wind-blown shorelines with rock piles
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation	Hard bottom areas near islands with nearby deeper water access
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats	Creek channel edges with adjacent vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Submerged vegetation edges, particularly where it meets deeper water	Island drop-offs and adjacent rock piles
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shallow areas 20 feet from shoreline where shad schools are present	Weedline edges near boulders and reeds
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep water areas where shad schools are congregating	Creek channel edges and deeper structure near laydowns

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrated in weed areas	Shad along wind-blown shores
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow and become more active	Shad schools transitioning to spawning areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in shallow vegetation	Shad in creek channel areas
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling in open water near structure	Bluegill relating to vegetation edges
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving in shallow water	Bluegill relating to shoreline structure
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrated in deeper water	Smaller baitfish in winter schooling patterns

Bait Colors by Season for Whalon Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Green Colors Natural Shad Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Craw Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Natural Shad Colors Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Natural Shad Colors Natural Craw Colors Purple Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Natural Shad Colors Metallic Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

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