The lake I fish in the summer the smallies tend to be either dirt shallow eating craws or out on rock points and reefs chasing bait. You can get big fish doing both but for whatever reason the fish don't seem to relate to the mid depth boulders. We have found some great areas with boulders in the 4-8' range that look great and just out from where we catch them on the bank super shallow. Why do you think the fish prefer to be that shallow and not on those outside boulders? I can't seem to figure it out. If I find a few of those boulders I still stop and fish them but don't waste much time because they just don't seem to hold fish. On other parts of the lake those same boulders would be perfect. 

 

What are your thoughts and have you run into this before? 

On 6/11/2024 at 11:54 AM, McBass19 said:

The lake I fish in the summer the smallies tend to be either dirt shallow eating craws or out on rock points and reefs chasing bait. You can get big fish doing both but for whatever reason the fish don't seem to relate to the mid depth boulders. We have found some great areas with boulders in the 4-8' range that look great and just out from where we catch them on the bank super shallow. Why do you think the fish prefer to be that shallow and not on those outside boulders? I can't seem to figure it out. If I find a few of those boulders I still stop and fish them but don't waste much time because they just don't seem to hold fish. On other parts of the lake those same boulders would be perfect. 

 

What are your thoughts and have you run into this before? 

If the brown bass are eating craws shallow and eating bait fish deep,

what are they eating at those mid-depth boulders ?

When feeding, Smallies go where the food is.

Perhaps those mid depth stones either hold nothing of interest,

or they get hammered by other anglers,

which could cause the bass to relocate when not eating.

A-Jay

 

 

AJ pretty much nailed it. 

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I the brown bass are eating craws shallow and eating bait fish deep,

what are they eating at those mid-depth boulders ?

When feeding, Smallies go where the food is.

Perhaps those mid depth stones either hold nothing of interest,

or they get hammered by other anglers,

which could cause the bass to relocate when not eating.

A-Jay

 

 

To elaborate a bit more, the ones chasing bait out on deeper points and reefs are out on main lake structure where the shallow ones are in back bays. There is still tons of craws and perch in that mid depth but the smallies tend to prefer the shallow bank. Perhaps you're right and there is less bait and that may be the reason. I feel like it's more related to the cover but that's why I asked for others opinions. If only there was a way to know exactly how much bait there is in the different locations.

On 6/11/2024 at 12:11 PM, McBass19 said:

To elaborate a bit more, the ones chasing bait out on deeper points and reefs are out on main lake structure where the shallow ones are in back bays. There is still tons of craws and perch in that mid depth but the smallies tend to prefer the shallow bank. Perhaps you're right and there is less bait and that may be the reason. I feel like it's more related to the cover but that's why I asked for others opinions. If only there was a way to know exactly how much bait there is in the different locations.

IME, the presence of bait, while better than no bait,

does Not always guarantee that the bass will feed on them, ever.

My style of smallie fishing revolves around being there where & when the fish feed.

I fish these times and places almost exclusively;

especially when targeting big fish.

I also HUNT bass food during off times.

Locating them with electronics I'll often even fishing for them with a small drop shot or a tiny jig & plastics just to see what's around.

I would say that less than 10 % of the time, it that pays off.

I have found and sat on huge schools of perch, especially in the fall,

and NEVER catch a single bass off them.

But when it does workout - it makes all the time & effort worth it.

Additionally, what it tells me is that when I do find any time & place that the bigger bass feed,

it's like Gold man.  Feeding windows can be and are often very specific & brief.

The 'spot' could be a huge flat 300 yds long or a tiny hard bottom area, smaller than my rig.

Either way, I just want to be there at the right time doing the right thing.

And I don't care what I throw, if they are eating it.

I'll cast a fuzzy pink flip flop if a 6 plus is my reward.

A-Jay

 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

IME, the presence of bait, while better than not bait,

does Not always guarantee that the bass will feed on the, ever.

My style of smallie fishing revolves around where & when the fish feed.

I fish these times and places almost exclusively;

especially when targeting big fish.

I also HUNT bass food during off times.

Locating them with electronics I'll often even fishing for them with a small drop shot or a tiny jig & plastics just to see what's around.

I would say that less than 10 % of the time, it that pays off.

I have found and sat on huge schools of perch, especially in the fall,

and NEVER catch a single bass off them.

But when it does workout - it makes all the time & effort worth it.

Additionally, what it tells me is that when I do find any time & place that the bigger bass feed,

it's like Gold man.  Feeding windows can be and are often very specific & brief.

The 'spot' could be a huge flat 300 yds long or a tiny hard bottom area, smaller than my rig.

Either way, I just want to be there at the right time doing the right thing.

And I don't care what I throw, if they are eating it.

I'll cast a fuzzy pink flip flop if a 6 plus is my reward.

A-Jay

 

 

Well said. I've just always wondered how they could be in the area and not on some of the best looking structure. I guess the mstery and effort to locate bigger than average fish is what keeps us chasing those big girls! 

On 6/11/2024 at 2:24 PM, McBass19 said:

Well said. I've just always wondered how they could be in the area and not on some of the best looking structure. I guess the mstery and effort to locate bigger than average fish is what keeps us chasing those big girls! 

My Idea of 'best looking structure'

has changed a few times over the past few tears.

In fact I rarely fish super obvious spot anymore.

Instead, attempting to reproduce, the spot on the spot, where my best catches have been recorded,

is the mission now.  There's a very important and specific reason big bass are where they are at any given time.

Whatever they may be, those particulars are not all posted on You Tube.

Good Luck

A-Jay

@A-Jay the queens of the susky only seem to show themselves certain times of year. The spots don’t seem to be near as important as time.

Summer is the best time to get shallow smallies here but it’s vastly different than a natural nothern lake 

Good smallies will cruise right on the bank where the chop breaks. Not just crayfish, but sunfish are usually right there to. When a big (trophy) smallie goes shallow in the summer, it means business. I have seen them seem to hunt in a pair, or duo. A duo could make one run over a shallow point, and right there is a sunfish or two to hold them over until next time, and back into the dark depths they go.

When I'm up shallow I hover to find out what's in the water. If I see nothing I dont normally cast in that area.

Hover can also mean drink a beer.

What AJ said...

 

The only thing I would add is timing. My area is shallow water smallies until the sun is directly overhead, then they back out to 8-12 feet where the sun cant get them as much and find cover.

 

Shallow is easier for me, boulders and deeper water is dropshot or ned rig work. Which I like, but its far slower and not as exciting as burning small swimbaits or topwater

I found on the lake I fished, that during the summer heat, Smallies would come shallow to feed, but keeping deep water close by. When the water is warm the lake I fished Smallies would keep deep water close to where they would feed shallow. Deep water meaning first available weed line. 12-15 feet of water. I also observed that unlike largies, who go under logs and docks and boats to get outta the sun, Smallies tend to seek a little deeper water for shade/cool. Now I know this isn’t true everywhere. But was very much in play on the last lake I fished.