| One of the greatest challenges of bass | | | | conditions. They like to move to warmer, |
| fishing is determining the best spot to fish. | | | | usually shallower waters to spawn in the |
| It takes a little understanding of the bass | | | | spring. But, they may not feed much during |
| to figure it out. Once you have it, you can | | | | this time and they can be difficult to catch. |
| more consistently identify bass areas and | | | | They will mainly be concentrating on egg |
| reel in more fish. Determining the best | | | | protection. For this reason, bass fishing is |
| area to fish for bass depends on what type of | | | | usually best in deeper water, starting in the |
| bass you are hunting. Large mouth bass, small | | | | summer. As the water warms up in the |
| mouth bass, spotted bass and black bass all | | | | summer, the bass will want to escape the heat |
| behave differently. Furthermore, they all are | | | | and get into cooler deeper water. They will |
| very sensitive to conditions. They may | | | | hang around in large schools around cliffs |
| exhibit different characteristics at | | | | and deep structures. Large rocks, submerged |
| different times, depending on the weather, | | | | trees and docks over deep water are good |
| temperature, lighting and food supply. One | | | | places to find bass during this time. If the |
| thing that all bass keep in common is their | | | | water gets too warm, they will want to escape |
| love of cover. Whether it is a downed tree, | | | | to even cooler deeper water, but the lack of |
| underwater grasses, a sunken canoe, or a | | | | oxygen in really deep water will force them |
| pier, they will most likely be near it or | | | | to stay in the shallower warm water. These |
| under it. This holds especially true for | | | | types of conditions can make the bass act |
| large mouth bass. They are avid hunters and | | | | ill, they do not eat a lot, and they can be |
| want to stay concealed. A lot of bass, | | | | very hard to catch. Submerged rocks offer a |
| especially spotted and small mouth bass, like | | | | cool cover in warm water and a lot of bass |
| to hang out alongside cliffs. This is where | | | | will stick close to ledges and large rocks to |
| your equipment can come in handy. Many lakes | | | | stay cool. During winter, they will return to |
| also have topographic maps that can clue you | | | | the shallows and can be a lot easier to |
| in to where cliffs may be. If you frequent | | | | catch. The best time to determine good bass |
| a specific lake or waterway, keep track of | | | | fishing areas is in the early morning or late |
| where you find bass. You will need to record | | | | afternoon. During these times you will likely |
| everything about the conditions, the time of | | | | see the bass surfacing for food, and you will |
| year, time of day, and temperature of the | | | | know where to go. Choose your lures, keep a |
| water, whatever you can. You may not find | | | | bass fishing diary, and get out there for a |
| bass in the same spot again for a while. They | | | | good year of fishing on your mini pontoon |
| tend to migrate around depending on | | | | boat. |