Articles

Beating the Shallows

-by Jackie Turbeville

To me there's nothing more fun and exciting than fishing shallow water when it comes to bass fishing. You've probably read often, or heard, that there are bass that live in shallow water and those that stay deep. This is a very true statement.

I am totally convinced that not all largemouth bass head for deeper water after the spawn. If cover and forage are available, bass will linger in the shallows year round. These bass, roaming in shallow water, are the easiest to find and catch if your lure selection and approach are made correctly.

The strikes that occur while fishing shallow are often times more aggressive than those encountered in deeper water. This may vary slightly according to the time of year and weather conditions.

In this article I'd like to share with you lure selections and approaches to the syle of fishing I call beating the shallows.

Your approach to the structure, whether it's standing timber, stumps, lay downs, rocks, grass, or just good old mud flats, will be the important thing in how successful your day will be. It is important that you have a strong trolling motor, one that will pull you free from any object you might get hung on. The reason for this is so that you do not have to start the big motor to free yourself and make noise that will spook fish.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make fishing in shallow water is running the big engine close to shore, or the trolling motor too high. Shallow water fishing requires quiet. Try not to let your boat hit against anything in the area you are fishing, either. Remember, bass in shallow water are more likely to spook and become harder to catch when your presence is known. Lure presentation is just as important as your approach being noiseless. Proper presentation can make a good day while improper presentation can ruin it. Your lure needs to enter the water as quietly as possible. I can't emphasize strongly enough how important it is to hold all noise to a minimum in and around shallow cover.

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Your lure needs to enter the
water as quietly as possible.

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My approach to shallow water that has cover such as standing timber, lay downs, grass, etc. came from fishing at Lake Fork where I guide. Many anglers arriving at Fork are intimidated by finding so much good looking shallow water cover. It's easy to get caught up casting to all things that "look" good instead of going directly to the cover that's definitely holding fish.

Learning what holds fish and what does not, even though it may look good to you, pays off when visiting a lake you've never fished before and can even help when fishing your regular home lake.

First, look at weather conditions. The weather will determine what type of cover I choose to fish first. For example, if it's an overcast day with light winds, my first approach will be to the much smaller types of cover such as stick-ups and small stumps. Bass have a tendency to roam and venture away from heavier cover to feed under these conditions. Lure choice would be a white spinnerbait, but this may vary depending on time of year and the area you're fishing.

In late spring after the spawn, spinnerbaits choices should be no heavier than a 1/4-ounce with a blade size no larger than a #4 willow leaf. Your second choice might be a small, shallow-running crankbait, also white in color or a shad pattern. This time of the year bass will be chasing small baitfish, gorging themselves on recent hatches.

Try to establish what area of the cover is more accessible to deep water. Bass that live or roam shallow prefer deep water nearby simply for protection if they feel danger. Lure presentation should be short and accurate. I try to cast my spinnerbait or crankbait only two or three feet beyond my target, and again I stress how important it is to have as quiet an entry as possible into the water.

Get the lure up to the assumed strike zone as quickly as possible. This keeps the fish from having time to do anything but react instantly. If he wants it, he'll take it quickly.

On hot, dog days of summer, don't think that you have to leave the shallows and head for deep water to find and catch fish. Many anglers think that this is the time of year to move deep, but some of my biggest bass have been caught shallow this time of the year.

During hotter months bass relate more to heavier cover. Again, your approach must be as quiet as possible and lure presentation must be right on the money. Remember not to bang around in the boat or run into any of the timber or other cover you are fishing.

During hot, summer months bass are really no different from us. They seek out the most comfortable and coolest place to spend the day. With this in mind, where do you want to concentrate your fishing efforts? Remember now, you are fishing the same areas you fished in the spring under perfect shallow water conditions with overcast skies.

Before you go out and cast to all the heavy cover in the area, pick out the high-percentage targets. These will be the ones with the most shade and most protection, and the closest to deeper water. Bass won't be as aggressive during the hot months, so you'll have to change lure presentation.

With the fish tight to cover, pitching or flipping will be your best bet. Small 1/4- or 3/8-ounce jigs are my first choice. I prefer a Strike King Rattling Bootlegger and pork com- bination. A slow and subtle presentation is important because the fish are slower to react at this time.

If fishing in heavy timber, place your jig on the shady side and allow the bait to rest on the bottom for four or five seconds. Then use the rod tip to make one quick hop, repeat this three to four times. Make this presentation to each piece of cover you fish at least two or three times.

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The most productive cover you can fish
in hotter months is the heaviest cover you find.

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The most productive cover you can fish in hotter months is the heaviest cover you'll find. It's called grass and comes in many forms. Grass produces oxygen which bass have to have to survive. It attracts baitfish such as golden shiners, silversides, bluegills, and crawfish, all the things bass love to eat.

Bass will hold and hunt on and along the edges of shallow grass lines. Your efforts will be best directed to these edges. Look for places where the grass thins out or where thin areas become more dense. Pockets in the grass are excellent hiding places for hunting bass. Look for areas in the grass that form points, these are excellent holding places for bass.

Whether you're fishing wood cover or grass in the shallows, just remember that to catch bass con- sistently year-round fish the edges and junctions of open water. All predators prowl these areas where they can take advantage of prey from two different environments. This increases their feeding opportunities. Understanding all of this increases your opportunities.

Good fishing.

Editor's Note: Jackie Turbeville guides on Lake Fork. His knowledge of shallow-water fishing is extensive. He can be reached at 903-473-2526.

Reprinted at Potomacbass with Permission of Honey Hole Magazine, Inc.