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

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Lake Wanahoo

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

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Lake Wanahoo

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-58	Bass transitioning to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but sensitive to cold fronts with water temps in low 50s Seeking warmer water in protected pockets and corners of rip rap, particularly where water is dirtier and warms faster	Corner pockets of rip rap, especially areas with dirty/stained water that warms quickly Lay downs and grass along rip rap banks Protected coves with warming water potential	Bladed Jigs worked steadily along rip rap Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') targeting transition areas Neko Rigs for tough conditions or pressured fish	Bluegill holding tight to rip rap and cover Crappie in transitional areas Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-68	Largemouth bass transitioning into spawning phase, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to nesting locations in protected shallow areas Fish actively defending nesting areas and responding aggressively to intrusions, particularly around boulder-laden shorelines	Boulder-strewn shallow areas, particularly in protected coves and pockets where water warms fastest Secondary points with mixed rock and timber, serving as staging areas Shallow protected areas near deep water access, especially with laydowns or grass	Bladed Jigs worked around boulders and shallow cover Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to spawning areas Swim Jigs for covering water between likely spawning locations	Bluegill beginning to move shallow Crawfish becoming more active around rocky areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-75	Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on bluegill and other available forage near rip rap and shoreline structure Fish are establishing typical summer patterns, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structure while maintaining feeding activity	Rip rap banks, especially those adjacent to deeper water Secondary points with mixed rock and grass Shallow coves with emerging vegetation	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to rip rap Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shoreline cover Swim Jigs mimicking bluegill	Bluegill Crawfish in rip rap	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	79-90	Active feeding during early morning and evening, seeking shade and cover during hot midday periods Establishing patterns around hard cover (rip rap, laydowns) and grass for ambush feeding on bluegill Moving between shallow feeding zones and deeper refuge areas as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day	Rip rap banks, especially wind-blown areas Matted grass and surface vegetation Hard-to-reach laydowns in shaded areas Deep ledges near creek channels (15-20ft)	Buzzbaits and Frogs early morning around grass Spinnerbaits on wind-blown rip rap Neko Rigs around laydowns and rip rap Deep Diving Crankbaits on ledges during midday	Bluegill Crawfish	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Lake Wanahoo

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-72	Bass actively chasing baitfish along hard structure, particularly rip rap banks, as they feed heavily before winter Fish typically moving from deeper summer areas to shallower feeding zones, especially during low-light periods	Rip rap banks, especially those near channel swings or depth changes Secondary points with mixed rock and grass cover Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water	Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) worked parallel to rip rap Spinnerbaits worked along bank transitions Lipless Crankbaits burned through remaining grass	Shad schools moving along riprap and points Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation Crawfish in rocky areas	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	38-45	Bass become lethargic but still feed during warmer periods, typically congregating in deeper areas near structure with access to varying depths Fish tend to school more tightly in winter, moving less and preferring areas where they can make minimal movements to feed	Deep water adjacent to rip rap, especially where it intersects with the creek channel Deeper timber areas near channel swings or depth changes Protected coves with deep water access, particularly those with laydowns extending into deeper water	Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom contours near deep structure Drop Shot with small profile baits, fished vertically in timber or along rip rap Shakey Heads worked methodically around deeper structure	Schooling shad in deeper water Bluegill holding tight to deeper structure Crawfish becoming less active but still present near rip rap	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Craw Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Lake Wanahoo

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Corner pockets of rip rap, especially areas with dirty/stained water that warms quickly	Lay downs and grass along rip rap banks
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Boulder-strewn shallow areas, particularly in protected coves and pockets where water warms fastest	Secondary points with mixed rock and timber, serving as staging areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Rip rap banks, especially those adjacent to deeper water	Secondary points with mixed rock and grass
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Rip rap banks, especially wind-blown areas	Matted grass and surface vegetation
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Rip rap banks, especially those near channel swings or depth changes	Secondary points with mixed rock and grass cover
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Deep water adjacent to rip rap, especially where it intersects with the creek channel	Deeper timber areas near channel swings or depth changes

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill holding tight to rip rap and cover	Crappie in transitional areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Crawfish becoming more active around rocky areas
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill	Crawfish in rip rap
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill	Crawfish
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools moving along riprap and points	Bluegill relating to remaining vegetation
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Schooling shad in deeper water	Bluegill holding tight to deeper structure

Bait Colors by Season for Lake Wanahoo

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

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