Finding Bass Under Changing Fishing Conditions

When you first get to the lake you are going to fish, and it is new to you or you haven't fished it in a while, you need to take stock of the conditions that are present at the moment. First of all, what time of year is it? Summer, fall, spring or winter? Is the water clear, stained or muddy?

What is the water temperature? Water temperature is the one most critical factor in judging the mood of bass. Temps below 50 is usually considered winter, bass are usually deep in the water. In the southern states deep may be 20 to 30 feet. In the west coast states, deep can be 50 to 80 feet. In my part of the country water below 50 degrees means deep and slow. When water passes 50 degrees bass start to move out of their deep water haunts, and start to actively feed in order to puton fat to prepare for the spawn in six to eight weeks.

As the water passes 60 degrees male bass start heading to the backs of coves looking for spawning sites. When the water has been stable above 65 degrees for a time bass start to spawn, usually near the full moon. Not all bass spawn at the same time, as water temps vary in different areas of the lake. Early in the year fish the sunny side of the lake, as it warms up quicker. As the bite fades on the sunny side switch to the shady side of the lake, you must remain versatile to constantly catch fish, work the conditions, don't let them work you!

The spring is the time most anglers catch bass, this is because most of the lakes bass are in shallow water where most people fish most of the time. People that are in the 90% that catch 10% of the fish group, catch fish in the spring because they are fishing shallow, and that's where most of the fish are. After spawning most of the fish vacate the spawning areas, but those 90% guys go back to the spawning areas time after time, fishing the same way that they had success with in the spring.

Sometimes I even see them back in the spawning areas in the winter, casting a spinner bait in the brush. Fish use different parts of the lake at different times of the year. Learn all you can about your quarry, fish where they are, not where they are not!