During the colder months, trout are found in the top 25 feet of water. Trollers find decent success pulling bright-colored Needlefish or nightcrawlers behind flashers, out about 3 colors of leadcore line. Trolling the main lake from Deer Creek to the Powerlines and around Lombardo's and Trimmer Springs are the top producing areas. Bank anglers often have as much or more success than the trollers using a variety of minnows, Powerbait, and nightcrawlers with marshmallows in the Deer Creek and Trimmer Springs areas.

In the spring, the trout fishing can be a little more difficult due to the tremendous amount of bait fish available but limits are still taken in the main lake by trolling Needlefish in red or green behind flashers from the Powerlines to Sycamore. Fishing the mouth of the river can be quite productive for bank fishermen using Powerbait and salmon eggs.

Late spring through summer, anglers have to go deep to find the trout. Nightcrawlers trolled behind blades in 40 to 50 feet of water is one of the more popular techniques.

Late summer and fall, trout fishing normally slows down at Pine Flat due to lower lake levels.

Pine Flat consistently produces quality bass from November right through the spawn. Anglers have good success during the colder months using jigs, worms, grubs, and spoons in 20 to 50 feet of water in the Sycamore, Big Creek, and Windy Gap areas. Throwing spinnerbaits and crankbaits early in the mornings in these areas is also productive.

Summer and fall months, fishing continues to be good. Bass fishermen concentrate their efforts early in the mornings and late evenings with top-water baits and live crawdads. Some of the better areas to try are Lombardo's Marina, Deer Creek, and Windy Gap.

Early in the year look for running water, this is where the catfish will usually be hanging out. Anchovies, mackerel, chicken liver, or nightcrawlers fished in the backs of coves near Lombardo's and Sycamore will usually produce cats. As the water temperature warms up, cats can be found in the backs of most any coves of the lake with evenings being the best time to fish.

The crappie fishing starts picking up late February, and the bluegill fishing heats up soon after. Small minnows or jigs fished around any of the dock areas or fishing along flooded willow trees in the Sycamore Creek, Deer Creek, and Lombardo's Marina areas produce the slabsides.