Fishing Different Depths...

[WiscoBassman]

This is probably a really stupid question, but whenever I am fishing from a boat for bass I tend to fish around cover and near shallow water. Then when watching videos on youtube I often see the person fishing right in the middle of the lake. Is there something I'm really missing out on? What do you use to fish in the middle of a lake and deep water. 

 

I am a primarily shore fisher, so I'm not as educated in boat fishing. Please tell me about why and when to fish deep(middle of a lake) and when to fish shallow.

[senile1]

That's not a stupid question at all.  It is actually an excellent question.  The people you see in the middle of the lake are probably fishing structure or they found a pod of baitfish with bass hanging around.  The intersection of creek channels with the original river channel are one type of structure they could be fishing because creek channels lead all the way to shallow water and spawning flats.  The best lake structures provide a path for bass to follow from deep to shallow water for spawning, feeding, etc.  Other structures and structure/cover combinations in the middle of the lake include ridges with stumps or underwater cover on the edge of the main river or creek channel, humps, long points that lead to deep water, rock piles, deep weed lines on a structure, underwater tree lines, brush piles on a structure, deep holes, etc.  Generally, you either need someone who knows the lake to show you these locations, or you need good electronics and time to find them.

 

And yes, you could be missing out on something when the best bite is a deep bite.   

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

That's not a stupid question at all.  It is actually an excellent question.  The people you see in the middle of the lake are probably fishing structure or they found a pod of baitfish with bass hanging around.  The intersection of creek channels with the original river channel are one type of structure they could be fishing because creek channels lead all the way to shallow water and spawning flats.  The best lake structures provide a path for bass to follow from deep to shallow water for spawning, feeding, etc.  Other structures and structure/cover combinations in the middle of the lake include ridges with stumps or underwater cover on the edge of the main river or creek channel, humps, long points that lead to deep water, rock piles, deep weed lines on a structure, underwater tree lines, brush piles on a structure, deep holes, etc.  Generally, you either need someone who knows the lake to show you these locations, or you need good electronics and time to find them.

 

And yes, you could be missing out on something when the best bite is a deep bite.   

That was well put senile. For your bait selection it all depends on where the bass are in the water column. If they are near the bottom you can use deep diving crankbaits if the fish are less than 20ft deep and suspended. You can also use other types of crankbaits if suspended higher in the water column. If the fish are relating to the bottom try Carolina rigs, football jigs, drop shots, and even spoons. If bait fish are jumping out of the water try a baby minus, spinnerbait, or even a topwater bait. If all else fails you can throw a rat-L-trap or a-rig which can be fished in all water columns.

That should get you started. It would take 5 books worth of info for all the possibility. Learn your electronics, that's the first step.

Jay-

[Crestliner2008]

Round up a copy of Buck Perry's book entitled, "Spoonplugging for Bass". It will educate you quickly in all aspects of structure fishing, from shallow to deep. Once you understand these basic concepts, you can & will build upon them, according to the waters you fish. Invaluable information.