Woods Lake

In Madison County, Woods Lake is listed as a reservoir; my opening stop would be one easy-to-read shoreline stretch, and I would stay with it until I learn something from the first area. The first trip does not have to solve everything, so I would keep fishing one nearby section of water until I learn something from the first adjustment before I add more distance or tackle.

Woods Lake Size, Maximum Depth and Volume

Exact size and depth measurements are sparse for Woods Lake, so I would leave the figures unstated until a trustworthy source publishes a defensible number and use one short section of water until I learn something from the first hour.

Fishing This Water

Species information for Woods Lake is limited, so I would use a basic first-trip selection of small artificials and a bottom rig around one sheltered part of the lake and wait to specialize until I find a repeatable bite in the first setup. I would choose one bait style that fits the target on Woods Lake, work it around one straightforward part of the lake, and keep it there until I find a repeatable bite in the opening stretch.

A Practical Woods Lake Game Plan

For a first trip to Woods Lake, I would fish one promising part of the lake long enough to judge the plan, then make only the changes the first few bites justify after I see a pattern develop in the first area. After I see a pattern develop in the first adjustment, I would give one easy-to-read starting zone more time on Woods Lake instead of immediately looking elsewhere. Once I get a useful answer from the first few casts, I would remember what worked around one manageable starting zone and begin the next trip to Woods Lake with that same clue.