Bass in Deep Water Have Consistent Behavior

By Marc Rogers

With the surface water temperatures reaching their peak of the summer season bass will seek comfort in deep water.  Once positioned in the cooler, oxygen rich water near the thermocline bass will generally not move far.  Not moving makes their behavior more predictable and getting them to bite is the key to a successful day on the water.

There are still times when bass will exploit opportunities to feed on prey in shallow water.  Sunrise and sunset remain opportune times for bass to feed shallow.  However, the feeding period is short lived, making the window of opportunity for anglers also small.  On lakes in the Midwest, catch rates remain the highest in deep water near cover.  Lake of the Ozarks is a great example of bass positioning close to cover while remaining near the thermocline. 

The most consistent bass anglers on Lake of the Ozarks, and similar waters, catch bass near 25 feet depths and close to cover.  The thermocline is close to this depth throughout the summer.  Lake of the Ozarks has very little natural cover in the lake and brush piles are the most popular cover.  The most successful anglers have planted brush piles and know their exact locations.  The most productive brush piles are submerged at the thermocline depth and near areas close to bottom changes - bluffs changing to broken rock, broken rock to pea gravel or main and secondary points.

On Table Rock Lake summer time bass fishing is productive presenting jigs and spoons to suspended Spotted (Kentucky) Bass.  These bass will suspend at depths of 50 feet or more and again near cover.  Table Rock Lake has an abundance of submerged trees left behind while the dam was being constructed and many of the trees tops sit near these depths.  Main lake points are quite productive and once the depth the bass are holding is determined, the pattern can be duplicated all over the lake.  Suspended bass in Table Rock Lake will move more that resident bass on Lake of the Ozarks but generally remain near the same depth when they change locations.  The bass will follow a food source when they must and locating shad will alert anglers to the bass’ location.

Bass located on or near the bottom during the summer are susceptible to being caught when anglers slowly drag jigs and worms through the cover that is close to the same depth as the thermocline.  Another productive technique is slow rolling a dark colored, single bladed spinnerbait in the same areas.  The key to the spinnerbait presentation is moving is just fast enough to keep the blade spinning.  In addition, many times bouncing a spinnerbait just a few inches off the bottom during the retrieve can produce big summer time bass. 

For anglers who prefer throwing a crankbait, bass can be caught as well.  Deep diving baits in dark colors have caught a fair share of summer time bass.  Deep divers matched with 10 pound test line are ideal because the lighter line allows the crankbait to reach its maximum depth.  Fluorocarbon lines will allow baits to dive deeper because they sink where monofilament lines will float.  The major drawback to this technique is when the baits get snagged deep in the cover and the light lines breaks off.

Dark colored crankbaits are sometimes difficult to find.  To solve this problem many anglers will simply paint a crankbait black.  A simple way of doing this is to remove the hooks and split rings, hold the lure by the rear hook attachment with pliers and spray paint the entire bait.  Lightly scuffing it with sandpaper will help the new paint better adhere to the bait.

When searching for bottom cover the Carolina rig is ideal because the heavy sinker allows you to feel the bottom composition.  When the sinker comes through brush and wood cover it is easy to distinguish it from rock or mud.  In addition, the Carolina rig is the perfect technique to cover a lot of water, using soft plastic lures, close to the bottom. 

Using these techniques will help anglers locate bass positioned in deep water.  It goes without saying that locating bass is the key to a productive day on the water.  Once you locate areas likely to hold deep water bass, use a variety of lures to entice them to bite and fish the area with determination.  The resident bass do not move often and a high percentage area will replenish when some are removed.

When Choosing Fishing Line - Things to Consider

by Marc Rogers

When choosing line anglers are bombarded with enormous amounts of information from manufacturers.  Line packaging lists many features and specifications of each product.  The information can be overwhelming to anglers and it seems there are so many different lines available, finding an all-purpose line is nearly impossible.  Fishing lines made for specific purposes are here to stay.


The four major categories of line available are monofilament, co-polymer, braid and fluorocarbon.  All four have advantages and disadvantages for use by anglers.  With these different qualities comes a variety of prices from inexpensive to very expensive.


Monofilament lines have been available for several decades. It was one of the first lines made of nylon.  As the name implies, it is a single strand of nylon material extruded into a thin line for fishing applications.  Monofilament line is buoyant making it a good choice for topwater applications.  The line will float on the water and reduce the downward pull on the lure.  This reduction allows topwater lures to ride higher on the surface.


Monofilament line has more stretch than most fishing lines available today.  Once monofilament line gets wet, it begins absorbing water, further adding to its stretch.  There are times when line stretch can benefit an angler but modern rods, now built for specific applications, have reduced the need for lines with stretch.  Crankbait anglers benefit from line stretch allowing the fish to get a better hold on the lure before anglers set the hook.  However, modern crankbait specific rods have flexible tips and compensate for the lack of line stretch.  In addition, the floating characteristics of monofilament reduced the depths anglers could reach with crankbaits.

Line memory is another reason anglers shy away from monofilament lines.  Once spooled onto a reel it will retain the tight coils of the reel spool, thus reducing the casting distance.  Casting distance is not the only drawback to using monofilament.  When setting the hook, the line has to be fully stretched, removing the coils, before pressure is applied at the business end of the line.  In addition, when monofilament is used on spinning reels, anglers risk loops being added to their reel spool, which can cause terrible tangles and knots on the next cast. 


Co-polymer lines are made of two or more strands of nylon monomers combined during the manufacturing process.  By adding more than one material, line manufacturers enhance the benefits a line offers to anglers. 

Co-polymer lines are more abrasion resistant and stretch less than monofilament.  They are also less buoyant and generally are smaller in diameter.  Co-polymer line is still effective for use with topwater lures but being less buoyant allows crankbaits anglers to reach depths not available to anglers using monofilament line.


One of the greatest benefits of co-polymer line over monofilament is the added abrasion resistance.  For bottom bouncing lures, rocks and submerged cover will weaken line as it rubs and nicks the line.  This blend of nylon materials have made affordable lines that hold up better than monofilament.  Co-polymer lines, which are very resistant to abrasion, do have more line memory than those less resistant.  They are stiffer and this characteristic is more evident when used in cold temperatures.


Braided lines offer great line strength in a small diameter.  Many manufactures have braided lines that are the diameter of 10-pound test monofilament but offer strength equal to 50-pound test or greater.  Braided lines are ideal for fishing lures in heavy cover because of their added strength and abrasion resistance.

Braided lines can cut through vegetation instead of it wrapping around the line as it often does on monofilament and co-polymer.   Anglers in Florida where vegetation is heavy above and below the water surface, many time prefer braided line.  Braided line if very abrasion resistant, almost zero stretch and has little memory.  All great characteristics for a line used for flipping and pitching into heavy cover.


Due to the abrasion resistance of braided line, many anglers use braid for main line when Carolina Rigging soft plastic lures.  With a leader of monofilament or co-polymer, if the lure hangs in cover, the leader will break prior to the main line breaking, saving sinker, beads and swivel.


Braided line is harder on equipment.  Many line guides will wear more rapidly when using braided line.  However, modern line guides are manufactured with braided line in mind and hold up well to its added wear.  In addition, braided line will spool more loosely on a reel.  This can create a learning curve for anglers using it for the first time on level wind reels and it does not perform as well on spinning reels.


Fluorocarbon line began it rises in popularity in the early 21st century.  One of the best selling points of fluorocarbon line was its “near invisible” characteristic.  In addition, fluorocarbon line exhibits abrasion resistance, and low memory.


Fluorocarbon line offers benefits for crankbait anglers.  The line sinks allowing crankbaits to reach maximum depths and the line diameter of fluorocarbon is smaller than both monofilament and co-polymer lines.  For shaky head and drop-shot presentations, fluorocarbon line offers greater sensitivity than both monofilament and co-polymer line.  When presenting lures in deep water the lack of stretch and added sensitivity fluorocarbon line offers is unmatched.


When choosing a line it is best to do so with lure offering in mind.  Lighter – smaller diameter – lines will allow better lure action while heavier – larger diameter – lines reduce lure action.  Limp line will also allow for better lure action.  Cover will damage less abrasion resistant line, especially close to where the line ties to the lure or hook.  Monofilament floats and is good for topwater application while fluorocarbon line sinks making it ideal for crankbaits and deep-water presentations.


Regardless of the line anglers choose, each is a compromise if used for every situation.  If I were going to use just one type of line for every situation, my choice would be a co-polymer line.  However, I have different rod/reels equipped with all of the four major categories to be prepared for each lure presentation encountered.

 
Note: When line is stored on a reel or on the manufacturers spool, ultraviolet light (sunlight) and heat breakdown most types of fishing line. It is best to store fishing line in a dark, room temperature area.

Prespawn Bass Fishing in Ozark Lakes

 Prespawn Bass Fishing in Ozark Lakes
 by Marc Rogers

The word prespawn creates many different thoughts in the minds of bass anglers. These thoughts depend on where anglers chase their prey, as this seasonal stage is different in each region of North America. Water temperature and hours of sunlight are the most dominating factors causing bass to reach the prespawn stage.


As spring approaches, the air temperatures begin reaching into the 70-degree range and this triggers many anglers to hit their favorite waters. However, air temperatures change rapidly, water temperatures require many days of warm air and sunlight to increase several degrees.  Water temperatures also cool rapidly when the sun goes down at night. Warm air and south winds are the ideal situation to warm a body of water. These two factors alone will jump-start the prespawn activity.


When the water reaches the 50-degree range, a lot of activity begins below the water’s surface. The bass begin leaving their deep-water haunts that sustained them throughout the winter and migrate to shallower water. During the bass’ first movements, they generally will not move to the surface or even shallow flats, but begin staging in deep water closely located near shallow water. Beautiful days of sunshine and warm temperatures cause the water to creep into the 50-degree range and trigger anglers to flock to the water. Many times anglers fail to remember the changes under the water do not react to the beautiful spring weather as quickly as the world above the water.


Derek Vahey, Midwest Fishing Tackle Staff Member and a regular on Ozark lakes, says, “I always try to locate water slightly stained and a few degrees warmer than the majority of the lake when locating prespawn bass. I really like the ends of docks sitting close to or over deep channel swings with shallow banks at the back of the docks. These areas are ideal for presenting suspended jerkbaits and finesse jigs.”


When putting together a pattern for prespawn bass it is best to pattern the migration routes instead of particular lures. Anglers should locate creek channels, fencerows, roadbeds and extended points as these are often what bass use as highways to the spawning areas. Prespawn bass activity is likely to be similar for all bass as they move from deep water to the staging areas near shallow water. When the bass’ location is discovered along these migration routes, most of the bass will be in these areas. 


Bass are more aggressive that many anglers believe during the prespawn. They will not chase lures like in the summer months but will strike moving baits. Aaron Hunter, Midwest Fishing Tackle Staff Member, reports, “I have found it easier to catch bass that are moving from deep water to shallow water than the other way around. When bass move from deep to shallow they are starting to get aggressive enough to strike slow moving crankbaits and swimming jigs.”  Hunter says, “When a cold front passes through and causes the bass to move deeper during the prespawn, fishing can get tough. I really have to slow down when this happens.”

During the prespawn, Hunter says, “I have found that slow moving, deep diving crankbaits are ideal for locating bass. I can cover a lot of water with a crankbaits in a short time, even when exhibiting a slow retrieve. Matching the color of the lure to local baitfish colors is often productive.”  In addition, crawdad colors are ideal as bass seek out the slow moving crustaceans for their high protein food source.


Lipless crankbaits are good lures for locating deep bass because anglers can make long casts and count down the lure to a desired depth before starting a retrieve. A lipless crankbaits slowly retrieved along the bottom are big bass lures. Many times these lures are best with a slow lift-and-fall retrieve and allowed to lightly make contact the bottom on the fall.


Once active bass have been caught using crankbaits, jigs are another productive lure for prespawn bass. Jigs can be slowly crawled along the bottom to mimic a crawdad and allows bass more time to strike the lure than crankbaits. A Natural color is best for stained to clear water, but when dingy water is encountered, dark colors like black/blue are quite productive.


Suspending and deep diving jerkbaits are another option for locating prespawn bass. The deep diving models should be presented with a slow retrieve like a crankbait. In addition, these deep divers can suspend at the greater depths to keep the lure in front of the bass longer.  When the bass are not deep, a suspending jerkbait is a key to many big, prespawn bass taken. Both jerkbaits models are very productive when left sitting still in the water column for a long period. Vahey reports, “Most of the time I have better luck with shallow running, suspending jerkbaits in the afternoon when fishing prespawn conditions. I believe this is due to the water warming as the day progresses.”

Bass in the prespawn stage have a much smaller strike zone than in the warmer months. Slow moving lures, presented in the strike zone, create some very big stringers of bass in the early spring.