How many elements do you consider?

[WRB]

You can't exclude season, it's the primary factor to consider when trying to locate big bass.

I suggest you read In Pursuit of Giant Bass, Bill Murphy. The only reason that I have caught the numbers of big bass is my belief in seasonal and depth factors. The only time of year giant bass are vulnerable to the average angler is during the spawn cycle, because they are visible on or around beds.

To locate big bass you need to understand what prey source they are currently feeding on....locate the prey the bass will be close by. The prey like the bass locate where their food source is abundant and that changes seasonally.

Peace.

Tom

 

[CJ]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

You can't exclude season, it's the primary factor to consider when trying to locate big bass.

I suggest you read In Pursuit of Giant Bass, Bill Murphy. The only reason that I have caught the numbers of big bass is my belief in seasonal and depth factors. The only time of year giant bass are vulnerable to the average angler is during the spawn cycle, because they are visible on or around beds.

To locate big bass you need to understand what prey source they are currently feeding on....locate the prey the bass will be close by. The prey like the bass locate where their food source is abundant and that changes seasonally.

Peace.

Tom

 

I totally agree with you. It's just that it was a more simple question. It was to see what elements, conditions, and factors we deal with across the states or globe. Where elevation and current are very important for me versus weather trend and wind are probably more important to someone fishing Toho for example. Season is the most import factor hands down that's why I excluded it. It's obviously the most import. I wanted to dig deeper.

[Highschoolbassin]

I think that boat traffic and fishing pressure can make a key difference in some situations. Back in the summer before I had made the agreement to start making payments on my bass boat and was still fishing out of a modified v-bottom with a trolling motor. I had some of my best days by pushing that boat back into the deeper holes in a creek protected by a gravel bar where bass boats couldn't get in. These fish don't receive fishing pressure and generally you can convince them to bite.

[Nitrofreak]

Weather is always my number one factor to consider before I go for safety reasons, after that, I wont know about the current until I get there, it's a nuke plant lake and it depends upon the amount of electricity being generated as to how many turbines they have running, secondly is I pay attention to the depth of fish during my launch, I will idle around a bit and scan a fair amount of structure to eliminate as much water as possible and primarily focus on those depths and same type of structure for the day, thirdly is the current amount of sunshine or overcast to help me decide how fast or how slow I need to fish and lastly is water clarity for bait colors, I can have three or four different clarity choices on any given day depending on what part of the lake I am fishing, from stained to gin clear.

If all else fails, just start skipping under every single older dock on the lake like everyone else does.  

[roadwarrior]

This is what I want to know, pretty much in order of importance:

1.  On river reservoirs, how much water release is there?

2.  Are the fish more focused on bottom contact tackle or moving baits?

3.  What is the specific depth where active bass are holding?

4. Is there specific structure or cover that seems most favorable right now?

 

[Catt]

My first consideration after a kitchen pass is what body of water I'm fishing. All the conditions ya listed affects each body of water differently.

I mentioned a tidal brackish marsh, tidal movement trumps everything...no tide...no fish!

I fish Lacassine Wildlife Refuge, a shallow marsh (18-24") that is extremely clear with tons of various types of vegetation. Because of water clarity the best fishing is on overcast days, the more cloud cover the better the fishing. On bluebirds days the bite will only be an hour before daylight until 30-45 minutes after sun rise. Then again for maybe an hour around sunset to total darkness.

Toledo Bend ya need to pay attention to the entire list & the some!

[Raul]

I love when my everyday has the water level to look like this, then it´s perfect ( you could add maybe 3-6 ft more of water ), then I know that pleasure boaters and water skiers ain´t gonna be around ruining the fun !!!!

[CJ]

Water elevation will be trumps for conditions at this year's KY Lake roadtrip most likely, for example. Well moon phase could be a game changer as well. If there is a full moon (I haven't looked it up yet), there will be a good chance that the biggest spawn class will be on the beds and that will be YUCK! KY Lake just isn't the best bed fishing lake cause sight fishing is tough due to normal water clarity for spring here, stained 1-2 ft. visability. Yet out in Cali there are numerous trophy fisherman who are counting down the days for the spawn to happen. These are good examples as to where I was trying to go with this thread. I think you would be surprised to see how conditions and elements alter angler's approach for a body of water. Example of this is that I understand some fisherman may fish structure by sitting in the shallow and throw to the deep, "fishing uphill". While if you were to do that on KY Lake when the current is running, you would be sitting on top of the fish. I am fortunate to have several good fisheries within an hour drive from where I live and I approach every one of them differently even on the same day. So when a member post their respectable techniques for how they do things I hesitate to argue. Bass are master predators who can become acclimated to their ecosystem and use the elements to their advantage. As WRB mentioned earlier on that season is important. I didn't want to make the thread over complicated cause then most of us would have to of wrote a whole book breaking down each seasonal condition.

[Nitrofreak]

45 minutes ago, Raul said:

I love when my everyday has the water level to look like this, then it´s perfect ( you could add maybe 3-6 ft more of water ), then I know that pleasure boaters and water skiers ain´t gonna be around ruining the fun !!!!

There is always a certain time of year I really look forward to fishing my home lake, when I know for sure I can go to several places and not have to worry about a single wake boat or jet ski, just me and maybe a few others trolling around flippin and  pitchin in the peace and quiet all day long.

nice photo Raul !!

[geo g]

On ‎2‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 10:54 AM, CJ said:

This is a subject I feel can be critical as a bass angler. Some of my best days on the water were dictated because I already had a pretty good idea where and what was going to get big fish in the boat. But when I have traveled to other waters away from my home lake, I've found that there are always different elements that will cause big bass to be where they are and strike what they strike on any given day.

So the question is: In the area you fish the most, what are all the things you research before you go? We will exclude season because it's the obvious that everybody deals with and list them in order of what you feel is most important. I'm not asking if you would go fishing or not. Let's say, "you are going", what homework do you do and/or what elements, condition, etc. do you look for?

Here's what I look at:

1. lake elevation - my lakes will fluctuate around 5-6 ft with the season, sometimes more but I always check through out the year every time I go. Just a few inches of up or down can cause fish to move. I also always check the trend (water going up or down). This gives me an idea which way the fish may be going especially in the Spring.

2. current - another thing I have to know. Current effects the fish's location and their feeding mood. +current=feeding fish usually shallower

3. water temp - pretty obvious one that kind of goes along with season but I look at the trend just as much. I would rather fish 45 degree water that is going up over 50 that is going down as an example.

4. water color- now I'm starting to look at factors that help dictate "what" I'm gonna throw but it still can dictate location especially in cold water. Won't get into that. Way too much info and it's been covered.

5. wind - on my lake it may dictate where I get to fish but again it has more to do with lure choice for me. Except for the rare time I fish near the bank in the prespawn then I prefer wind blown banks or water with some chop.

6. the sky - cloudy or clear, I know we all deal with it. Probably should be up on my list.

I could probably come up with more but these are my most common. All of these taken into account usually can be put into a formula that can make a fishing day a better fishing day that can be done before you make your first cast. I left out weather trend because we all deal with it. I'm really wanting hear from anglers from all over to see if there are some more things, some that may be unique, that help you plan your trip and help you have a good all around understanding for your outcomes.

 

You did a great job on your lake variables.  Like you, I go through a check list before deciding where and how to fish an area.  One thing I would add is not all strains of bass behave the same to these variables.  Florida bass are notorious for completely shutting  down when a sudden front moves through.  They are much more sensitive then their northern cousins to sudden changes.  Things can get very difficult with clear skies and a north wind once the front comes through.  

[ClackerBuzz]

On 2/11/2016 at 11:35 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Good list for your waters Chris. 

My list for lake Erie.

1. Wind direction & speed. If the wind is blowing from the east, north or west at more than 10-15 mph I'm probably not going. An offshore wind will allow me to go until it gets over 20-25 mph. 

2. Water turbidity. If the water is dirty from recent storms & high winds I'm probably not going. I feel I need at least a foot or two of visibility to have a chance for a good day on the water. 

3. Water temp. I prefer fishing prespawn for the big girls so I'm looking for water temps from 40-60 degrees in the spring & 65 degrees or lower in the fall which will bring the smallies more shallow than mid summer haunts in deep water. 

4. General weather forecast. If thunder storms are in the forecast I'll either go or not depending on how much time might be available to fish before the storm.

These are the only elements I consider because the rest can be dealt with as part of normal fishing conditions.   

finally the Lake Erie Da Vinci Code.  I'm going to get to work scratching this on tombstones so all those tormented souls can RIP

[Oregon Native]

To me everyday on the water is a gift from above to be enjoyed as it is.  Many years ago while fishing tourneys I noticed someone seemed to always get em no matter what.  So if I have the kitchen pass like mentioned above I go.  Winter is one of my favorites as rainy days are due to the fact their are less people out on the water and fishing is usually pretty good.  Like also mentioned above the fish are always around the area somewhere it's just unlocking the keys to figure those fish out...that's why bass fishing is so great and why we have so much tackle.  Give me any day on the water and I'll thank the Good Lord for that day.  If the fishing is better than I hoped I may be a legend in my own mind that day!!  Tight Lines