Deep Water Fishing

[KansasAngler]

Since Ive been fishing i mainly stick close to the bank fishing weeds and grass ect but we all know there are some days where the fish juts arent in the shallows.  How do you guys know when and where to look for deep water fish and what lure/techniques do you use.  I bought a kayak last season and only kept it close to shore.  Id like to expand my fishing to deeper waters when the fish arent in the shallows.  The only place i can think to look as of right now is off a rocky point on my lake that goes down to about 15 feet.  Any tips on where/when to look and what to use?  Thanks guys

[WRB]

When you step back and look at your lake, what do you see? Do you look only at the shoreline out to a casting distance or do you see the entire lake, the surrounding terrain? Is your lake a natural lake or a man made impoundment? How long and wide is this lake? Does the lake freeze in the winter? Do you a sonar unit? What other fish are in your lake?

Today most lakes can be looked at from a over head view point and with topographical elevation maps that help to solve what the underwater areas may look like, where weed beds, docks, depth changes are located.

Deep water is a relative statement, bass do not have limitations to water depth as long as the water has enough dissolved oxygen to support them and a food supply is available. There isn't any reason for bass to be in deep water unless the water is comfortable temperature, offers sanctuary, food and has good DO levels.

Bass locate in deeper during the winter to find warmer water and food, move towards shallower water as the water warms , then move into wind protected shallow water to spawn, move around the lake to locate good food sources and comfortable water temps, then follow their food source as the water cools in the fall.

Lures depend on what prey the bass are targeting, what depth, type of cover and structure the lake offers. Bottom contact lures like soft plastics , jig, structure spoons, diving lures swimbaits and spoons all work.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Good electronics are a huge help when you decide to fish offshore structure. Deeper water is generally the first place I look during the heat of the summer and then again in the winter time. Other times I listen to the fish. I'll start shallow and then if nothing is going on there I'll drop back into deeper water in search of fish. Good thing about finding fish in deeper water is when you catch one there's normally more. 

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I used to shy away from deeper water but Edwin Evers made a great point on one of the episodes of The Bass Pros. He said if you have trouble with confidence at fishing deep, just turn around and look at your motor, 20' isn't that far away. I had never thought about it like that but it made real sense. That one statement helped me and few bodies gain confidence in deep water and make it not so scary. A few years ago we would have never fished deeper than 10'-12' but last year we went to KY lake and caught em in 30' on football jigs. That didn't really answer any of your questions and i know you said you have a kayak but I thought is was a good representation of just how deep 20' isn't.

As for the 15' rocky point I would throw a football jig or a crankbait

[Crestliner2008]

If you do not already have a sonar, you probably should seriously think about purchasing one. That one tool can open up a whole new horizon of fishing opportunities for you. It will define current bottom structure (never rely solely on maps!) and most importantly, those structures that attract bait fish. Most of successful fishing depends on location more than anything else. Without a sonar, you are literally fishing blind.

 

There are many deep water techniques to use. Hard to beat a jig. The drop shot should also be part of your arsenal. But again, that depends on the mood of the fish and their location relative to the structure you are looking at. The time of the year, water temperature and weather play important parts as well. (If fishing was easy, everyone would be doing it!)

[Deleted account]

Just think of it as a long gravity assisted cast...What exactly are we afraid of here?...I'm detecting a pattern...

[Felix77]

I didn't have a fishfinder all last season from my canoe.  To find potential deep areas I keep it simple

 

1 - Look around the shoreline for any very steep banks.  If they are that steep then generally the continue down into the water like that.

2 - Points.  A tapering point is textbook.  Fish all around the point from deep to shallow.

 

After that I tackle it using the Top/Middle/Bottom technique.

 

Top - Spinnerbait generally.  Jerkbait works well too.  Trying to get the aggressive ones to come up and strike.

 

Middle - Drop shot.  Trying to hit the lethargic suspended ones.

 

Bottom - It's a slow process but I use a 1/2oz Football jig dragged along the bottom.  When I feel something I pause, hop, twitch it until I get bit.

 

Notice how my presentation slows as I go deeper.  If that isn't successful move on to the next spot.

 

Good luck!

[TrackerJeff]

Carolina rigged brush hog or lizard is a great way to "feel" what's on the bottom. Use braid with a mono leader and you'll be able to tell what's on the bottom. I remember the first time my Car Rig hit the bottom in 22 ft of water and a bass grabbed it after I moved it once. You can also fire up those deep schools of bass with a crankbait once summer begins. Points are a great place to find bass. If there's a stump sitting in 13 ft off the point then you can bet there will be a bass there. If you find some bass in shallow water before the water gets hot then just move to the closest deeper water and find some structure.

[Nitrofreak]

If your going to start fishing deep and you have a big lake to cover,  start small,  don't let the size of the lake be a turn off and think you will never be able to accomplish this, you already have a good idea of what they like in shallow water,  it's time to find the same things in deeper water, but now your adding in the pathways of which they use to get to those shallows you like to fish.

 

Pick a cove that seems to be successful for you, if you spend a lot of time fishing shallows then you already know which ones these are and when,  now look at the path you choose to get to that cove with your boat,  the fish will use that same path in general,  when they are not there then back up and start looking around,  as you locate them pay close attention to detail,  follow the landscape,  not just below the water but above it as well,  bass follow bait and use structure for ambush and cover both but they also use it to navigate from place to place to find food and oxygen they need.

 

Keep it simple,  be prepaired to just look around and take every opportunity to learn and not just fish,  understand why they are there,  keep a close eye on that sonar and look at their surroundings when you do find them,  make lots of notes,  getting off the banks means less fish in the beginning but the lessons learned will be forever in your favor. 

[WRB]

There is a big difference between fishing off shore and fishing deep water. There are deep water areas next to the bank in most lakes within a casting distance. When you move further away from the bank you start to lose the ability of knowing exactly where you are relative to underwater structure elements. This is when a sonar / GPS unit becomes important tool; you know where you are and can return to that spot via way points. Without GPS you can use triangulation by lining up shore objects; the power line pole, the green house with the white window frame and the yellow boat dock for example. Buoys with weighted line attached are handy to toss over to mark a spot; use 2 buoys on each end of an underwater hump or submerged island for example.

The drop shot rig and a jig are 2 good deep water techniques to use in deep water off shore or near shore.

Lots of choices as I mentioned in my 1st post on this thread. So far no response, so can't help beyond general comments.

Tom

[KansasAngler]

Hey guys I really appreciate all the responses and tips!!  Im definitely going to go out and my a sonar unit to equip to my kayak now.  The fish pathways is definitely something i didnt even think of so I think that can help me out alot as well how to fish the underwater structure.  And tom thanks for the replies, seems i need to keep it simple and dont do what many fishermen do in over thinking things and slow down and learn the lake.

[KansasAngler]

Hey guys I thought id let you know that I got a fish finder! I got a hummingbird 110 that snaps right on to my kayak. Thanks for all the help and now ill be able to see the structure and look what im fishing at

[Bluebasser86]

What lakes are you fishing in Kansas? I've fished most of them in the eastern end of the state. 

[KansasAngler]

I live on the eastern end too. Mainly clinton and perry is where I go

[Bluebasser86]

Don't bother fishing deeper water in Perry, they just never seem to be offshore in that lake. I've never bothered fishing Clinton, a lot better options in that area than Clinton imo. Check out the KC Area thread in the Central Forum, lots of reports for lakes in your area.