I'm a newbie at assessing where they'll be! I've read that bass move along channels seasonally (submerged roads, creek beds, etc) in man- made lakes.......do they use contour lines the same way in natural ones?

 

Bass everywhere migrate seasonally in ponds, small or large natural lakes and in man made impoundments.

How far they move and where depends on the water temperatures and prey type.

The spawn for example is a seasonal migration to shallower protected areas. The bass during the coldest period we call winter are located in the deeper water zones where warmer water is located, usually spring water in a natural lake. Post spawn to summer the bass migrate to where they can find food and shelter or sanctuary areas and stay close until fall where agian they move deeper as aquatic cover dies off or prey move deeper.

Most natural lakes have dermasil prey types that live near shore or structure, no reason for bass to move away from shore unless there is prey there. Man made lakes tendcto have both dermasil and pelagic prey types like shad tend that move out into mid lake zones where the shad are located during bright sunny periods.

Natural lakes have natural structure elements like humps, ledges, reefs and islands.

Tom

Thanks! Your description helped me pull together a lot of what I've read. I don't recall seeing as concise picture of this......many of the articles presuppose more experience or knowledge. I actually used what you told me yesterday on a large lake in Maine (Kezer) I'd never fished

The reason I asked whether the actual movement of bass is along the contour lines on topo maps is because I think the bass in many Maine lakes are in transition and on the move and I wanted to head 'em off at the pass. In the winter I know they move vertically on deep ledges, but I wasn't sure about their movement now. Tom, thanks

The fall migration tends to favor horizontal the 8' +/_2' contour depth in most lakes. When you see the going deeper it's the fall-winter transition period, vertical movements.

Tom