Help identifying good Pre-Spawn spots?

[NateW]

Hey everyone! My Dad and I have been doing bass fishing weekends a couple times a year for as long as I can remember (I’m 35 now, so quite awhile!) but it’s always just been random shoreline/visible structure casting with limited success. So now I’m really trying to put some effort into learning so we can make the most of our fishing time together and was wondering if anyone would be willing to take a look at some maps and help me identify some good spots for us next weekend. 

 

Lately I t’s been in the upper 30s at night and 50s during the day (with a few 70 plus days) but it looks like there will be highs in the upper 70s for three or four days before we’re fishing.

 

From what I've read, I should be looking for secondary points and structure between deep water and coves, right? I focused on on the deeper end of the lake with the steepest banks near coves. What do you guys think? Looking at the maps, does anyone have any tips?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Welcome to BR.

Like to help you out and will take a look at your map posted.

Don't see a dam, is this a natural lake? What other predator fish are in this lake? and are you willing to disclose what reginal area, mid west, north east? Largemouth or smallmouth bass or both?

Tom

[NateW]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Welcome to BR.

Like to help you out and will take a look at your map posted.

Don't see a dam, is this a natural lake? What other predator fish are in this lake? and are you willing to disclose what reginal area, mid west, north east? Largemouth or smallmouth bass or both?

Tom

Thanks! There is a dam.  It’s on the left/west edge of the last map above, near “duck point”.

 

 

Sorry, should have mentioned, the lake is in Western Pennsylvania, between Pittsburgh and Erie. It’s is known for Largemouth, Hybrid Stripers, Muskie, and Walleye.  

 

Thanks!

[Scott F]

If it were me, I’d look for the warmest water I could find and start there. I could be wrong, but most impoundments have the deepest water near the dam which would warm more slowly than the water at the other end of the reservoir. I’d start on the points and work my way to the back ends of the coves, again looking for the warmest waters.

[Catt]

Not necessarily pre-spawn but I like that!  ?

 

 

[scaleface]

Thats a great looking little .structure lake .  

[WRB]

The Duck point area is along major point with a saddle area that comes up to form a island, the main river channel does a 180 swing around this point wherecthecdam is located. Catt points out a big flat with 2 draws dropping into the channel and across from this is a underwater point. Very interesting area that needs to be fished throughly.

Pre Spawn, depending on wind direction the shallow areas near the dam could be a spawning area making the saddle area on near the base of Duck point and the draws holding areas.

More traditionally the secondary points inside the creek arms like the porcupine structure area circle would hold pre spawn bass. If musky wasn't in this lake the end of Duck point being a major point at the end of the island would where the big bass would live year around.

The base of the hwy bridge will also hold bass and every point at the entry of the creek arms are potential pre spawn areas,

Tom

[NateW]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

The Duck point area is along major point with a saddle area that comes up to form a island, the main river channel does a 180 swing around this point wherecthecdam is located. Catt points out a big flat with 2 draws dropping into the channel and across from this is a underwater point. Very interesting area that needs to be fished throughly.

Pre Spawn, depending on wind direction the shallow areas near the dam could be a spawning area making the saddle area on near the base of Duck point and the draws holding areas.

More traditionally the secondary points inside the creek arms like the porcupine structure area circle would hold pre spawn bass. If musky wasn't in this lake the end of Duck point being a major point at the end of the island would where the big bass would live year around.

The base of the hwy bridge will also hold bass and every point at the entry of the creek arms are potential pre spawn areas,

Tom

That's really helpful! Thank you so much. 

 

Scott mentioned the water being colder near the deep water at the dam, and seeking warmer water, so, overall, would you say that the areas you pointed out on the maps I posted above would be better than the broader shorelines/secondary points in the bigger, shallower branches and at the at the other end of the lake? 

 

The wind at the lake lake is usually blowing from west/southwest to east/northeast. I don’t know much about the baitfish etc, except that there are a lot of Alewife that the hybrid stripers feed on at night. 

 

Thanks again for your time everyone! I really appreciate it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Deep water warms slower because of it's mass, more water to warm surface down and wind mixes the warm surface water with cooler deeper water.

Basically divide the lake into 1/3rds. Upper, middle and lower main basin, same with the creek arms. 

Bass don't migrate miles to spawn in most lakes, a mile is a long distance, so look at staging areas closer the summer areas with deeper water access. Start by locating potential wind protected spawning areas and work out towards the deeper water, pre spawner stage where prey is plantiful.

Tom

[NateW]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Deep water warms slower because of it's mass, more water to warm surface down and wind mixes the warm surface water with cooler deeper water.

Basically divide the lake into 1/3rds. Upper, middle and lower main basin, same with the creek arms. 

Bass don't migrate miles to spawn in most lakes, a mile is a long distance, so look at staging areas closer the summer areas with deeper water access. Start by locating potential wind protected spawning areas and work out towards the deeper water, pre spawner stage where prey is plantiful.

Tom

Thank you again!