Seneca Lake Fishing Report
If the wind turns unsafe, cross to the **eastern shore deep drop near the pinch** and burn a heavy spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) along the visible black‑blue drop line — the deep refuge pattern will produce when the shallow bite stalls.
THE CALL Target bedding bass along the western shoreline thermal break. Fish a green pumpkin finesse jig or wacky rig tight to shallow points and pockets from 3:30 PM until dark, with the best window locked on the afternoon major solunar.
WHY IT WINS
- Surface temp is 60°F — prime spawning — and thermal imagery shows a warm 61°F band hugging the western shore; bass are pulled shallow onto beds.
- High biological stain limits visibility, so a compact, vibration‑rich jig fished close to cover wins where sight alone fails.
- The major solunar window from 4:20 PM to 6:50 PM lines up with building afternoon wind, piling bait and feeding bass against the bank.
- Cooling trend keeps fish from wandering; they’ll hold tight to shallow structure near deep‑water escape routes, making every bed or laydown on the edge count.
START HERE Launch mid‑lake and run to the first large point on the west side of the central pinch‑point — where the lake narrows sharply. You’ll see a visible color change from lighter turbid water to darker deeper water. That’s the 61°F thermal wedge meeting the main lake. Work the point itself, then every pocket and small cove south along that western bank.
THROW THIS
- Primary: 3/8 oz finesse jig, green pumpkin/blue flake, with a twin‑tail trailer. Pitch to visible beds, isolated laydowns, and rock‑wood combos in 2–6 feet. Drag it, hop it once, let it soak.
- Backup: Wacky‑rigged 5‑inch Senko (watermelon/red flake), weightless. Skip it to the back of pockets and let it fall on slack line.
- Wind adjustment: If gusts make finesse tough, switch to a Texas‑rigged creature bait (green pumpkin) on a 3/16 oz weight to keep bottom contact through the chop.
BEST WINDOW Be on the spot by 3:30 PM and stay through sunset. The major feed runs 4:20 PM–6:50 PM, and the wind will be building — perfect for pushing fish tighter to cover and triggering reaction strikes.
NEXT MOVE Give the point and first pocket 45 minutes. If no bites, slide south to the next prominent point still inside the warm band, where the shoreline makes a noticeable bend. Slow down further with the wacky rig and pick apart every piece of cover. If the wind turns unsafe, cross to the eastern shore deep drop near the pinch and burn a heavy spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) along the visible black‑blue drop line — the deep refuge pattern will produce when the shallow bite stalls.