Where to find bass

Even though I have fished for largemouth bass for over 45 years finding them can be the hardest part of catching bass. Locating the proper bass structures will help you to catch more and bigger bass. Part of the problem is that bass move around in the lakes and ponds that they live in depending on the water temperature, time of year (spawning or not), time of day, sunny or overcast and how much food is available in a given location. Understanding the habits of bass goes a long way in catching bass with any frequency.

If I am fishing a new lake the first thing I do when the boat goes in the water is to check for clarity. How far down can I see that will make a difference on what lure I will be using and how I fish that particular bait. I then scan the shoreline and see if I see any points jutting out into the lake, perhaps a narrow or where a stream enters the lake. Bass love to hang out at these locations. Then as I begin fishing I always keep an eye out for bass structures like submerged trees or stumps sticking up out of the water I like to throw a spinner bait right along the length of any logs I see and perhaps a plastic worm in amidst the stumps.

Of course, you will always see bass fishermen casting up around man made docks and boat houses since bass love to hang out under the shadows of the structures. I have pulled many a bass out from under a dock or other wooden structures dotting the lakeshore. And don’t forget about the fancy houses with their irrigation lines submerged four or five feet into the waters edge. Just be careful you don’t hook a screen covering the opening because it is no fun getting them unhooked. These are some of the man made bass structures that hold a lot of bass waiting to be caught.

Small mouth bass seem to like the rocks a little more than largemouth do and you would do well to drop in a plastic worm hook up in a Texas rig. I tend to like the black/purple ones but a sandy pumpkin color works pretty good for the smallie. Small mouth bass like to set up their beds for spawning in the smaller gravel loaded bottoms. Large rocks or boulders are not usually good bass structures

Perhaps the ultimate cover for bass is the oxygen producing weeds that are found in lakes and ponds. I especially like the lily pads and top water lures thrown into the holes and along side of a stand of pads. Rest assured that you will pick up a weed or two but then that goes with bass fishing. Any green weed bed has usually got a bass or two imbedded within. Remember that bass are schooling fish and where one is there are usually two or more hanging nearby. When you get to close to a weed bed you might easily spook the bass and you will see them skitter off but don’t be too alarmed because they will sneak right back in.
Good luck and happy fishing and remember “ Remember even a bad day fishing is better than any day working unless your work is fishing then every day is a good day!”