As I understand it a “cut” is formed when an active creek or stream enters a lake at the back of a cove carving a channel adjacent to the bank forming a drop off that bass will set up on. I can visualize this easily.

But what about coves where there is evidence of run off, but not of an active stream/creek being there in the past. The occasional  flow of run off would not be strong enough to carve a channel. I’ve had boaters refer to these as cuts also and we would fish multiple areas like this during the day. There were drop offs in these, but they may have been formed by something other than water flow. So can the term cut be used for any drop offs in coves adjacent to the bank?

 

Joe

The terms used in bass are regional. Drain, cut, drop, break, cove, pocket, wash can be the same so take your choice. 

Tom

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

The terms used in bass are regional. Drain, cut, drop, break, cove, pocket, wash can be the same so take your choice. 

Tom

I can certainly see that! Thinking about your term a wash is close to what I was seeing.

Just because there is no water flowing, or doesn't flow often, doesn't mean that features weren't  caused by water, what you are describing sounds like it was created by water flow. What folks call things like mentioned above is all over the place.

I don’t usually fish cuts or coves. Maybe flats. One point that is important to not overlook are the swirl points. Where for whatever reason, there is circular water movement. Fish are drawn to the swirls. 

4 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I don’t usually fish cuts or coves. Maybe flats. One point that is important to not overlook are the swirl points. Where for whatever reason, there is circular water movement. Fish are drawn to the swirls. 

You’re talking eddies. Bridge pilings come to mind there.

17 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

You’re talking eddies. Bridge pilings come to mind there.

They can be anywhere from that size up to several miles around. Before google maps, I knew they were there just from fishing the current and watching the water. Here’s an example from an extremely well known spot that everyone knows of from google maps. If you can find a good 20’ subtle swirl, chances are it draws some of the big LMB.

 

When I say "cut", I'm talking about a small cove. I imagine there's lots of folks that use the term differently. 

I thought he was referring to the action taken when your fishing buddy eats your last sandwich at 12 on a dawn to dusk fishing day ??

I usually think of cuts as small “washes” or “hollows,” active or non-active creeks, and often small enough that they don’t contain secondary points. Just indents in the bank, maybe 1-5 boat lengths long, like a “micro-cove” - lol

Dont forget the East Tn favorite - Holler which is usually followed by someone pointing somewhere and telling you a story from a time back of this and they will throw in a hellfire for good measure

On the Gulf Coast a cut is the opening of a canal or bayou leading into a marsh from a main body of water.

17 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

Dont forget the East Tn favorite - Holler which is usually followed by someone pointing somewhere and telling you a story from a time back of this and they will throw in a hellfire for good measure

 

Hellfire is one of my absolute favorite country epithets because it has so many contextual uses, from frustration to wonderment. My girlfriend erupts into peals of laughter every time she hears it.

 

44 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I usually think of cuts as small “washes” or “hollows,” active or non-active creeks, and often small enough that they don’t contain secondary points. Just indents in the bank, maybe 1-5 boat lengths long, like a “micro-cove” - lol

 

That's pretty much how I understand it. Though with manmade lakes like are all around me, a cut can be a bit longer. However, they are, to my mind, always very narrow for their length.

 

15 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Before google maps, I knew they were there just from fishing the current and watching the water.

 

Honestly, if one were to go out and only look for eddies, they've got a pretty good chance of having a good day fishing.