summer off shore bass

[Mr. Aquarium]

i live in new england so the water doesnt get higher then the mid 70s on bigger ponds and lakes.  summer bassin isnt fishing in water temps 80 plus like down south.  
we have shiners and perch as the main food source. 

i have a big pond, deep clear with tons of perch and REALLY big bass of both smallies and largies.  theres some great off shore humps deep trees,weed beds and rocks. i usually patrol the drop offs in this pond and need some advice on fishing deep here.  

[papajoe222]

What techniques do you feel are your strengths? Find spots where cover is present on the drops, or just off them.  Fish your strengths in those spots even if you don't think they are the ideal presentations for those conditions. If those humps have any kind of gravel or rocks the smallies likely will be close. They will come up a good distance for a bait, so some shallower water baits can produce, including topwater. 

The LM will also respond to many of the same presentations you use for the ones in shallower water, but the deeper fish will relate close to the bottom. Find an area with cover on, or close to the structure and don't forget to fish both the structure and the cover. Often times they will hold on the structural changes and only move to the cover to feed. Add some weight to your T-rigs, drop shots and jigs, go with smaller blades on your spinnerbaits, and maybe add a couple of flat sided deep cranks like a Fat Free Shad. 

Learning to fish deep water structure is a challenge, but it's well worth learning.  If you know someone that can mentor you, sharing that pond of yours is a great way to learn.

[Mr. Aquarium]

i fish the bottom alot! i like slower moving baits to really dissect the area im fishing! i never fish spinner baits or cranks! i used to back in my early years but not any more. im more of a heavy cover slow moving baits guy.   so this offshore game is pretty new to me other then tossing a drop shot!  i need to use cranks C-rigs and spinner bait! i got the electronics! got a side scan fish finder gps unit and another down scan. i just gota break away from the comfort zone

[Mr. Aquarium]

bump

[Catt]

On 6/10/2016 at 4:58 PM, Mike Dixon said:

i fish the bottom alot! i like slower moving baits to really dissect the area im fishing! i never fish spinner baits or cranks! i used to back in my early years but not any more. im more of a heavy cover slow moving baits guy.   so this offshore game is pretty new to me other then tossing a drop shot!  i need to use cranks C-rigs and spinner bait! i got the electronics! got a side scan fish finder gps unit and another down scan. i just gota break away from the comfort zone

That will fit perfectly with offshore structure!

[Mr. Aquarium]

so my usual assortment of comfort baits. like jigs drop shot and t-rigs ! one thing i will use is the C rig! tried it but havent put much time in using it!  i also need to start using cranks and spinners