| Location…location…location! How | | | | energy as possible. Large boulders and turns |
| many times have you heard that in real | | | | in the river are prime places to look for |
| estate? It is said that 80% of the fish are | | | | active smallmouth bass. Current can also be |
| caught in 20% of the water. Where to fish is | | | | found in lakes. Many large lakes can have |
| as important as where to build a house. | | | | current on windy days in the neck areas in |
| | | | channels or in between islands. The current |
| One common theme to the diet of largemouth | | | | often times will push in baitfish for an easy |
| bass is that they take advantage of edges to | | | | meal. There are times that the bass can be |
| capture their prey. | | | | stacked in these areas on windy days. |
| | | | |
| There is also a rule that bass and all living | | | | Structural edges: Bass will often establish |
| predators use. The energy used to catch food | | | | a" pecking order" on the prime structures. |
| cannot be greater than the energy the food | | | | The prime structure edges include fallen |
| caught provides. If the energy used to catch | | | | trees and logs, docks, bridges, marinas etc. |
| food is greater than that the food provides, | | | | |
| the predator will eventually die. | | | | Shade edges: Shade is one of the most |
| | | | overlooked edges of all. Docks, although a |
| Edges come in many forms and nearly all will | | | | structure also provides a shady area away |
| attract and hold bass at one time or another. | | | | from the sun. Trees also provide a shade |
| | | | edge. Early morning and evening can provide |
| Weed edges: Many forms of aquatic vegetation | | | | some of the best bass fishing in the day. One |
| offer prime bass habitat. Whether you are | | | | reason is the shade edge that is created by |
| fishing the edges of lily pads, pondweed or | | | | low sun angles behind trees and the horizon. |
| milfoil, always look for the "spot on the | | | | Just think how at night when you have the |
| spot". The outer edges always seem to hold | | | | lights on in your house, it is harder to see |
| fish, but look for inside turns, breaks or | | | | out in the dark, but it is very easy to see |
| weed points. Many times the inside weed edge | | | | from a dark outside to a lighted home. These |
| is often overlooked and can be very | | | | edges give the bass a very distinct advantage |
| productive especially in the morning and | | | | over their prey. |
| evening. The weed edges act as a place of | | | | |
| ambush and a place of refuge for bass. Eat | | | | If you can ever combine different types of |
| and watch out so you're not eaten. | | | | edges into one area than you have your "A" |
| | | | spot for fishing. Seeking these edges will |
| Current edges: Smallmouth bass will seek | | | | provide you with an advantage on finding |
| areas in rivers that serve as a ambush point | | | | greater success on your next bass fishing |
| but also a resting point to expend as little | | | | trip. |