One of the most difficult aspects of being a tournament angler is that you are required to fish many different bodies of water during the tournament season. Since it is impossible to be familiar with so many lakes and rivers, successful tournament anglers learn the skills necessary to tackle unfamiliar waters.
Many weekend anglers choose to fish the same lakes year in and year out because they are familiar with the lakes and have confidence in their ability to catch fish on that particular lake. While this increases their confidence level, it can also create a pretty boring trip.
With a little knowledge and preparation, any angler can approach a new lake with the same enthusiasm and confidence that they have when they are fishing a lake they have fished for years.
To do this, the angler should first understand the seasonal patterns of the largemouth bass and how they react to the different conditions related to that particular season.
In much of the south, the water temperature is less than 60 degrees during December, January and February. Spring normally occurs when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees and rises to 80 degrees. When the water reaches 80 degrees and above, summer has arrived. Normally, fall begins with the cooling of water from the first series of cold fronts and rain during mid- to late September and runs through most of November. Fall starts for bass anglers when the water temperature drops at or below 80 degrees.
During spring, the move to shallow water starts with bass that do not migrate out into the main water body. These fish are shallow-water-oriented and spend much of their time in, or near, secondary creek channels.
As spring rains begin, the first group of fish will move up to their staging area in water 10 to 15 feet deep. If excessive rain occurs, it is not uncommon for them to move to the shallowest water, especially if the temperature is rising. These fish are easily caught on Rat-L-Traps, lizards, spinnerbaits and jigs.
Bass will normally spawn when the water temperature is between 63 and 65 degrees. This may be the only time that some of the large female bass venture into shallow water for any extended period of time. During the time the female is laying eggs and tending to the nest, she is very vulnerable.
Since not all fish spawn at the same time, there is usually a pretty good chance of finding fish in both deep and shallow water. I choose not to try to catch a female bass on the nest, so I usually will try to fish water 10 to 15 feet deep on the breaklines that are adjacent to some type of cover.
I will also throw a jig along the outside edge of a creek or at the junction of two feeder creeks for a point in the shallow water. If the water is somewhat clear, green pumpkinseed, sour grape, pearl, black and blue and chartreuse are good colors during this season.
Boat docks can also be very productive during this period of time - especially at daybreak on docks that have lights that turn on and off every night by an automatic timer. Bass will frequent them during the night to feed on the shad drawn in by the bugs attracted to the light. I also look for docks that are located adjacent to a creek bed or some other type of cover.
When the water temperature reaches 80 degrees, it can be assumed that summer has arrived. June is one of the best months to fish aquatic vegetation. In water less than 15 feet, large 8- to 10-inch worms or a jig and Hawg Craw are excellent baits to use. Normally black, black- blue, green pumpkin-chartreuse or watermelon colors work well. During the nighttime hours, a 1/2- to 1-ounce black spinnerbait with a large single Colorado blade will be productive.
As water temperatures approach the 90-degree mark, the 10- to 20- foot water zone will become the feeding zone during the day and night for as much as half of the bass population. I try to find a hydrilla bed and fish the outside edges where the hydrilla stops growing. During this time crankbaits, Carolina-rigged fries and wacky worms work well.
I will also look for a break line off main- and secondary-lake points that is located close to cover that will hold the bass. You can find these breaklines with a topo map and a depth finder. Carolina-rigged worms, crankbaits or jigs will usually produce some pretty nice fish in these areas.
During the fall, the water begins to cool with the advent of cold fronts and bass will become very active. I fish the shallow, main-lake humps, points, and shallow coves in the middle of the tributary arms at this time of the year. Schools of bass will also forage all over the lake. Unless you find one of the schools of bass, most of the feeding will occur above 20 feet depths until late in the fall.
In the early morning, shallow-water grass lines will usually be productive when fished with a chrome and blue Rat-L-Trap. As the sun moves higher in the sky, it will be necessary to move to main-lake points and throw a tail spinner, spoon or jig-and-grub combo. This is also a good time to fish vertically with a spoon.
Main-lake points are usually deep enough that you can use a depth finder to tell if there are shad present on the breaklines and around cover. If you find shad, there is an excellent chance you have found productive water.
As fall progresses, and the water approaches 60 degrees, bass will follow the shad population deeper and deeper. During this time, bass will be crowded into the 20 to 30 feet depths with baitfish. Spoons, tail-spinners and Carolina-rigged fries will be the most productive lures.
As water temperatures approach the mid-50's, bass instinctively know that cold water is approaching and want to get in a few more good feeds before their metabolism slows. This is the time for deep-water fishing.
Spoon fishing will be at its peak during the cold days of winter. Fish will be actively feeding from 20 to 30 feet on the tops of humps, roadbeds, ridges and points. A spoon can be fished vertically by raising it a few inches off the bottom, then ripping it upwards and letting it fall back to the bottom. You can also cast the spoon and retrieve it as you would a Texas-rigged worm.
While these are only a few of the tips I have used over the years to help me approach unfamiliar water, they have worked very well for me. As you become more knowledgeable of the water, you can refine your tactics and change lures and try other areas that might be even more productive. Good luck and good fishing.
