D T & D D How, When And Where?

[roadwarrior]

If the bait is below them, black bass will almost never feed down.  

 

I'm not clear on this point. Do you mean they never attack baitfish from above?

[Hooligan]

I'm not clear on this point. Do you mean they never attack baitfish from above?

I will not say never, but it's been proven multiple times that all three species of black bass very rarely feed down in the water column when they are suspended.  Will they?  I'm sure that there are instances in which they will chase something downward, but the vast majority of their time is spent looking up to the baitfish.  Feeding down in the case of bottom contact is a different situation than we're speaking of in terms of suspended fish.  In those situations that baitfish are located on the bottom, or very close to it, the bass are going to be located in the same area and the same depths in the water column.  If I recall correctly, it has more to do with their swim bladder and eye positioning than any other factor.

[Gangley]

They definately will feed down when suspended.  Is it common, I dont know, but it does happen. 

 

For instance, when the thermocline is around 12 feet I sometimes can still catch them in 15 feet of water when dragging a crank along the bottom.  I am pretty certain they dont stay down there long though, and are simply going down to feed then coming back up.  However, I can see the bass suspended 3-4 feet off the bottom where I'm fishing and will still get multiple strikes with the crank banging around 3 foot below them and the thermocline.  Does it happen often, no, but it happens often enough to where I dont mind spending 15 minutes in an area banging cranks off the bottom when the fish are suspended 3-4 feet up.

[Hooligan]

You're talking about a different situation entirely, as I stated above.  Those fish are bottom oriented, they are not suspended in open water.  you're talking about a thermocline situation, as well as a situation that those fish are still directly oriented to the bottom contact of your bait.  Try doing that in open water when they are suspended in 15-20 over 45; I would bet you will catch less than .001% of the fish that you would in the reference you make.  I mean, really, you have to have fished Conroe and seen those fish that will sit three to four feet off the bottom.  Try to catch them by any other method and you won't get them, burn a 6XD or a Little John in front of them and they will eat it.  Different situation entirely, and entirely not applicable to the reference above.

[Gangley]

Hooligan,

Though I value your opinion and input on many topics broached on this site, to say my post is ENTIRELY not applicable is obsurd. They were suspended above a thermocline, be it in 10 feet of water or 100, it doesn't matter. They swam downward to feed, and through a thermocline to do it. Of course it isn't everyday common, but it does occur at a rate greater than .001%. Again, I am not arguing about when, where, why and how. I'm simply stating that bass will feed downward in reply to RW's question.

[detroit1]

Thanks everyone. I was not saying that i fish a 12' crank in 30 fow, but that i don't dig bottom all the time.  I'm usually within 2' of the bottom, sometimes digging, sometimes not. And we'll never know if i'm missing fish unless you are out there with me. You may be de-weeding hooks while i de-bass mine. Anyways, about the only rule i go by in cranking is to not be too mechanical.

[SudburyBasser]

And finally I love glass rods and thin braid for cranking.

 

You notice any real issues when using braid? I'm putting together a dedicated crankbait set up and I've been going back and forth on whether I want to go with braid for FC on the reel.  The standard advice is go FC because it tends to sink a little better but I'm wondering if there really is an problem if I go braid. Truthfully, I've never trusted FC -- outside of plastics -- as much as I do braid.

[A-Jay]

You notice any real issues when using braid? I'm putting together a dedicated crankbait set up and I've been going back and forth on whether I want to go with braid for FC on the reel.  The standard advice is go FC because it tends to sink a little better but I'm wondering if there really is an problem if I go braid. Truthfully, I've never trusted FC -- outside of plastics -- as much as I do braid.

 

No issues with braid for me - 

 

 I wanted to find out for myself what I liked.  So I set up three different cranking out fits. A  graphite rod, a Fiberglass Rod and a composite rod; all with the same reel.  I ran them each for a while with Mono , Copolymer and finally Braid.  It took a whole season, but when it was all said and done I had my answer.

 

I prefer the Glass rod and the Braid -

I've since purchased a second glass rod and have re-homed the others.

 

And for the record I fish a 10 - 12ft mono leader.

 

Good luck

 

A-Jay

[SudburyBasser]

Cool, thanks for the info. I guess I'm good with braid after all. My thanks!

[Hooligan]

Hooligan,

Though I value your opinion and input on many topics broached on this site, to say my post is ENTIRELY not applicable is obsurd. They were suspended above a thermocline, be it in 10 feet of water or 100, it doesn't matter. They swam downward to feed, and through a thermocline to do it. Of course it isn't everyday common, but it does occur at a rate greater than .001%. Again, I am not arguing about when, where, why and how. I'm simply stating that bass will feed downward in reply to RW's question.

Your point of reference to the point I was making is entirely different.  That's why I said it was entirely inapplicable to the referenced post above . Of course fish feed down, but in those situations that are being referenced they are not feeding down in open water.  Your post illustrates a behaviour th st is different in situation than what was being referenced, hence was entirely different than the point being made.  That's why I stated it the way I did.  I was actually agreeing with you in it, albeit it is a different situation than I was referring to.  

Look at it like this, run a crank at 20 feet when fish are suspended and feeding at 10.  You catch no fish.  You crank at 10 under the same situation and you catch fish.  Cranking open water will work, so long as you're on the same level, that's what I am getting at.  if you are deep cranking open water, well, in most cases unless fish are suspended at 25', it won't be worth your time.