Fishing For Largemouth Bass ...continued

Finding Largemouth Bass In Spring

In the Spring as the water temperature starts to rise the bass will start heading into shallower water to begin spawning. So during this pre-spawn period look for the bass to be just outside of their spawning grounds. As the temperature rises the bass will move into the spawning area...

After a cold front the fish will move back out into deeper water. Bass will start their feeding  binge as the water reaches the temperature of about 55 degrees F. Baitfish are scarce so the bass will spend most of their time cruising through shallow water in search of food. When the water  temp reachs 70 degrees F. it signals the post-spawn period and the resumption of good fishing. The bass will feed heavily in the shallow waters but spend most of the day in the deeper water.

Finding Largemouth Bass In Summer

Strong sunlight and warm temperatures may force the bass out of the shallower water and into the deeps. The bass will form loose schools around deep water structure. And then come into the shallows very early and very late in the day to feed. But due to the abundance of small bait fish in the shallows the feeding time is usually very short. Water temperature above 80 degrees F. will push the bass in very deep water. But in fertile lakes low oxygen levels in the depths prevent  bass from going deeper. They must remain in the shallower water but become listless and very difficult to catch.

Finding Largemouth Bass In Fall and Winter

As the water temp cools, the bass will return to the shallower water and begin their fall feeding binge. So remember to leave that squirrel rifle in the closet a day or two and take the rod and reel to you favorite fishing hole instead...

During the fall turnover, since the water temp and density is about the same throughout, the fish can be found just about anywhere. As the surface water temp cools the fish will once again return to the deeper (warmer) water, where they will remain throughout the winter. Many ice fishermen enjoy a short feeding flurry of action just after freeze up, but the cold water tends to make the bass very sluggish and hard to catch the longer the ice is on. However if you find deep a water structure bass can be caught through the ice quite frequently.

Finding Largemouth Bass In Spring

Look for the bass to be heading into the shallower water in the back ends of coves, the  edges of creek channels, around shoreline cover such as brush, sunken logs, and weeds. Look for areas with flooded timbers extending far out from the shore. This indicates a wide shoal that warms quickly and attracts many spawners. Search for sheltered bays that warm faster that the open areas  of the lake. An ideal bay to fish would be one that is fairly shallow, secluded with high banks to  protect it from the cool spring winds but allows the sunlight to warm the water quickly and has some cover such as flooded brush or timbers. Look around areas that have floating vegetation, or the presence of lily pads that are starting to break the surface of the water. Try out the areas with  emergent vegetation such as bullrushes, and Maidencane these make excellent cover for spawning bass.

Finding Largemouth Bass In Summer

Fish the edges of deeper water dropoffs, the edges and humps of underwater (sunken)  islands, the edges of deep water weed beds. Try just off the edge of points of land that jut out into the water. These areas usually indicate a quick drop off, and warm water bass will lay in the deeper water and in the early morning and late afternoon make a quick tour through the shallower water in  these areas. The outside bends of creek channels will usually hold more bass than inside turns or straight sections of the channel. Brushy flats serve as feeding areas. Flats with deep holes and  abundant cover are better than large flats with uniform depth and little cover. Fish around docks or piers close to deep water that have an abundance of weeds nearby. Be sure to check out the slop bays (small bays or coves with alot of floating vegetation).

A highly overlooked bass fishery is North America's river systems. Try fishing the backwaters of some of your neighboring rivers. Look for chutes between islands off of the main river channel that  empty into large pools. Try fishing around bridges, they offer shade and cover. Bass will often hold  along the edges of abutments near shore and around pilings in mid-stream. Look for rocky points of  land that jut out into a small pool out of the current of the river or backwater. Shady overhangs of  trees hanging over the water is an excellent place to find a waiting bass. Make sure to try fishing  close to riprap, these large rocks hold many baitfish and crayfish that the bass feeds upon. Stump fields, weedy shallows, and fallen trees all provide excellent cover, and should never be overlooked. Look for bass in the slack water  on both sides of a spillway or damn where it empties into the main  stream. Any type of structure in close to riffles in a small creek can provide ample cover for a bass waiting for an easy meal.

Small farm ponds, old gravel pits and Quarries are excellent bass fishing areas. Farm ponds are usually quite abundant in vegetation and baitfish, providing excellent cover and food source for the  bass. They are usually more productive in the spring and fall with the cooler water temps...

Strip pits with a maximum depth of about 40 feet offer the best fishing. Deeper pits produce fewer bass because the water is cold and infertile. and in some older pits the water is too acidic.

Weather conditions will also greatly affect where you will find the largemouth bass.