Deep Water Strategies

[ryan7261]

Deep Water Strategies

There are times when bass abandon their shallow water hide-outs and seek the comfort and shelter found in deep water. Anglers who are determined to remain successful throughout the season must abandon those shallow water tactics used in the spring and fall and switch to techniques that will take bass holding in deep water.

During early spring, anglers can expect to find largemouth and smallmouth bass cruising shallow water flats in search of suitable habitat for spawning. Not only are these fish easy to pattern, but because of the shallow depths of water in which they're holding, locating them and presenting a lure to their nest is a rather simple task. Nature instills an instinct to protect their eggs and thus makes the bass vulnerable to anglers presenting any one of several baits within the vicinity of the nest.

Fall finds the bass once again targeting shallow water areas, this time in search of baitfish. As a lake's surface temperature drops in the fall, layers of water above the thermocline are mixed are mixed and cool until they match the temperature of the thermocline. During this period, phytoplankton begin to congregate in bays and other areas of shallow water, as do the small fish that feed on them. And as the baitfish go, so go the larger game fish. Standard stick baits such as Rapalas, Thundersticks and Rattlin' Rogues become the bread and butter lures for fall bass anglers. Again, locating and catching these fish can be fairly simple. They've abandoned their holding areas in deep water to prepare for winter by gorging themselves on the baitfish that are in the shallows.

Although the seasons of spring and fall bring plenty of action to bass anglers, avid anglers must rely on techniques that allow them to put fish in the boat during the summer months as well. This is the time when the vast majority of largemouths and smallmouths aren't in the shallows. In fact, during much of the summer, most large, mature bass can be located along deep points or submerged river channels or holding within deep water structure.

Deep structure can be the most consistent place to fish during the hottest times of the year. These fish will be the least molested bass of all and are out in deep water where the temperature is probably the most comfortable. Success, however, is not automatic. Unfortunately, when bass are deep, those anglers who have become accustomed to catching them in shallow water may now have a tough time locating them. That doesn't have to be the case, however. By pinpointing key structures that attract and hold deep bass, then presenting lures and baits correctly, anglers can successfully fool fish in their deep water sanctuaries into striking as easily as they can in shallow water.

Deep weed edges are prime locations for bass waiting in ambush for the schools of baitfish found skirting these edges throughout the summer. Points and areas where weeds form pockets are especially good bass holding areas. Although presentations of weedless spoons, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged plastic worms are often preferred by anglers in these locations, such lures can't provide and angler with the important deep water information that a jig-n-pig can. Naturally, jigs with exposed hooks will foul up in weeds, but that is precisely why it is of great value to anglers seeking deep rooted weed bass. Using these jigs, astute anglers learn to map deep edge contours of vegetation and discover productive bass hangouts. Learning to pinpoint distinct breaks between thick weeds and open water can give anglers a definite advantage over those who simply cast blindly over a location.

With large schools of mature bass often found along these deep edges, anglers will want to present their jig in a manner that allows it to spend the greatest amount of time in the strike zone. Thus, casts made parallel to the edges are the most productive. When a typical stand up style jig hangs in the weeds, a sharp snap of the rod tip frequently jerks it free. It's best when a 6 1/2 to 7 foot heavy fast action rod is used in these circumstances. The stiff action in the rod's tip is quick to snap the jig clear of any weeds that may cling to it and hang up. Short, quick jerks should be attempted at first and gradually increased until the jig falls free. Often, this quick darting of the lure from the weeds will trigger bass into striking. An exposed hook also increases the number of hooked fish per hit when compared to using baits, such as a weedless Texas rigged plastic worm.

[ryan7261]

When choosing the proper size and style of jighead, one needs to consider such factors as depth, water clarity, bottom composition and current. For most deep water presentations, particularly in off colored water, football head jigs in the 1/2 to 3/4 ounce range are preferred by many top anglers. Moreover, the football head jig bouncing and thumping on the bottom can actually help call bass to the bait in a manner similar to that of a Carolina rig weight.

During recent years, anglers have been intrigued by the success that tube baits have brought to bass fishing. Although effective for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, tubes are particularly effective on smallmouths. Tubes can be jigged, popped, dropped or crawled through weeds, rocks, wood or open water. Few lures are more versatile than tube baits, and few can be easier to fish. When changing from shallow water techniques to deep water tactics, simply going to a heavier lead jighead can be all that's required. Many of the same patterns that are successful while working shallow water in the early spring are just as productive when using tubes in deep water.

Combining one of bass fishing's oldest techniques with these new tube sensations can be one of the hottest methods in an angler's arsenal. Carolina rig fishing is normally associated with using 6 inch plastic worms or lizards ahead of the standard weight, bead and swivel. Adding a 3 inch tube bait in place of the longer plastic worm and shortening the standard Carolina rigged leader from 36 inches to only 12 can be incredibly effective for deep holding smallmouth bass. The smallmouths are instinctively drawn to the clicking noise caused by the weight tapping small rocks along the bottom, thus sounding like a crawfish, the smallmouths' preferred snack. Upon investigation, the first thing they see is the trailing tube and what they perceive to be an easy meal.

To locate the weed edge, cast and retrieve to find where the weeds are thickest, then cast deeper to hit areas where the weeds are sparse. Continue until you locate the defined edge between weeds and open water. It's along this edge that anglers should concentrate their efforts, because this is where the most bass can be found. This isn't a very sophisticated deep fishing technique, but definitely one of the more productive for mature bass.

Standard Carolina rigs begin with a stout 7 to 7 1/2 foot flipping rod and reel combo loaded with 25 pound test main line. Attached to that are a 3/4 or 1 ounce bullet weight, two beads, a barrel swivel, a 3/0 or 4/0 high performance hook, and a leader of 17 pound test line. With weights and line that are as heavy as this, it's easy to understand the need for such a long, stout rod. The rod's length and power permit the angler to pop the weight free of most obstructions that may be encountered when working deep water structures.

Crankbaits are among the most versatile deep water bass lures. They can be worked slow or fast, deep or even deeper. They come in an incredible variety of sizes, weights, colors and actions. Generally, the larger a crankbait and the bigger and wider its lip, the deeper the lure will dive during the retrieve. Also, the crankbait's big lip enables the lure to dig, bump and bounce off deep cover like brush, logs and rocks, which are all typical bass holding structures. To maximize depth from deep divers, long casts are essential. Testing crankbaits in tanks has shown that deep divers often require one third of the length of a cast to reach maximum depth when retrieved at medium speed.

Walleye anglers have used metal spoons and blade baits for years as effective tools in their sport. Bass fishermen, however, have often overlooked these baits. Spoons and blade baits can be especially effective on bass that are suspended along deep river channels or manmade structures such as channel markers or breakwalls. Since they usually have treble hooks, these lures are poor choices as bottom probing tools. They will easily hang up in deep cover and are difficult to retrieve.

Fish spoons and blades on a 6 to 7 foot medium to heavy action baitcasting rod with reels that are spooled with 10 to 14 pound test line. Use a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce lure under most conditions and attach the lure to your line with a split ring or snap.

To work these fast sinking lures for suspended bass, position the boat directly over your target area while noting on your electronics the depth at which the bass are suspending. These lures are best when worked at or just above the fish zone. Holding the rod tip at 8 o'clock, sharply snap the tip up to 11o'clock. This will pop the spoon or blade upward. As the lure falls, lower the rod tip back to 8 o'clock. The most critical part comes as the spoon is falling. Try to keep the line as taut as possible while still allowing the spoon to fall freely. Most strikes will come on the drop. It's important to maintain contact with the blade as it falls to detect a strike. Proper spoon or blade jigging is a matter of timing. Lowering the tip too quickly causes you to lose contact with the spoon and miss strikes. Lowering it too slowly diminishes its desired fluttering action. Try to visualize the lure falling as you lower your rod. This often improves your ability to detect strikes.

Deep water fishing may seem difficult, especially when you can't see the structure you're casting to, but the fish are there and in abundance.

Robby.

[BaSsFiShEr20]

Preach it Rev. Zilla. Love deep water.

Great piece.

Charles

[Bassin_Dude]

good article. u hav been dishin it out lately. im becomin smarter every day

[BassNva]

bassboss
are you and zilla in cahoots trying to teach us something here?
jk
you guys have been posting some really good stuff.thanks

[fredhatch]

Too much freetime, but time well spent. You have been ptting out some informative posts. 8)

[Rob Mak]

hose holder
they do have way to much free time to ponder. but as zilla still can't walk much he kinda has an excuse but bass boss i have no idea.


zooker

[kentuckybasser]

this is one area i tell myself every year i need prcatice on, fishing deep. i have zero confidence fishing deep. last year at the bassmaster university in chicago, the speaker who was taking, i forgot his name, said " to all you bank beaters...... take a look at the bank your running up and down fishing........... then look behind you......... cause that's where 75% of the bass are."

[Rob Mak]

ok i will say yeah that sounds right but i hate to be wrong. it all depends on water depth and bait really if you find bait fish on the bank why fish deep?. if the bait is off shore chances are bass will suspend under them.in this area so will the striper's.


zooker