Eliminating water and finding bass?

[ArkansasBassin]

I've never really been good at eliminating water to fish. Of course if bass are relating to main lake points then they aren't going to be on every point on the lake. But how do I determine which points are the best to fish? Or which spots are best in general? I've heard that creek channels near any structure that bass are relating to that time of year. If that is true then how come I've caught bass that are completely on the other side of the lake that the creek channel is on. I would just like some clarity and tips for eliminating water and determining the best spots. 

Thanks 

[CroakHunter]

Find all the similarities and differences between 2 different points, fish both until you figure out a pattern. 1 fish is luck, 2 is a pattern. 

[papajoe222]

Start with seasonal guidelines, add current conditions, look at structure and cover options, then make your decisions based on those factors.  Too may guys do just the opposite. They see a good main lake point , or an irregular weed bed and start there.

In the spring, the fish will be using a slow tapering point, or the side of a point that tapers off slower. If the water is falling, that weed bed that was hot when the water was up isn't your best choice.  Water clarity, weather conditions, wind, etc. are all conditions to take into consideration, but look at each one's merits separately and as the apply that day. If the wind just started blowing today, or it's the fourth day after a front has moved through, you need to look how those factors  affect fish location that day.  Find structure and cover options that you have confidence in fishing.  If ledges are your nemesis, find cover close to the drop. That may not be the best location for numbers of fish, but it may be where your confidence is.

[Catt]

Deep water access!

[Catt]

Point Defined: A finger of land that juts out into deeper open water. The most obvious points are main lake and secondary points that originate from the shoreline. Points also occur in conjunction with underwater ridges and humps. Points can also be found jutting out on underwater flats and have no visible area above the waterline.

 

Point Logic: Points create a slope contour that progresses from shallow water to deep but occasionally points will occur in stair-step form; these staggered series of drop-offs create additional structure. Bass relate to points for multiply reasons. Points provide a dining table for feeding acting as natural funnels for staging before, during, and after the spawn.

 

The Best Points: Choose points based on the season; in cold water concentrate on main lake points where bass can find significant depth changes without swimming great distances. In warm water concentrate on secondary points which are points that occur inside the mouth of a cove or bay when bass begin gravitating to shallows via creeks, ditches, and channels. Submerged points are ideal especially during adverse weather conditions. The ideal point has a channel because they provide them a convenient place to feed with deep water access. Points with some form of cover Hydrilla, brush, stumps, gravel, or chunk rock are generally more attractive than bald points.

 

Pointed techniques: Points are the most popular forms of structure because they are easiest to find and can be fished with any lure & technique which makes them the most pressured.

[Todd2]

10 hours ago, ArkansasBassin said:

If that is true then how come I've caught bass that are completely on the other side of the lake that the creek channel is on. 

Lol, that reminds me of a guide trip I took on KY lake years ago. I won't mention his name, he's a great guide but one morning we were fishing back in a bay on a channel bank. He was explaining why and that he'd never fish the other side of the bay and pointed to a boat that was over there. He had barely finished his words when we all saw the guy set the hook and bring in a nice bass...bigger than what we were on..the guide mumbled something about a secondary channel. Percentage wise, I know the guide was right...but that was funny.

 

[scaleface]

Eliminating water and finding bass is what every angler strives to do . Its a challenge that makes the sport fun . Some days they will be on the steeper banks with a channel nearby and other days the opposite side .  I really like Scott Martins You-Tube  videos when he is pre-fishing for tournaments .  I recommend watching those .

 

  The fact about points is they are obvious and everyone pounds them  . I spent the last two afternoons casting to shallow shoreline cover in major coves when I should be out fishing deep . Results , I caught about thirty bass both days and  with solid limits of fifteen inch minimum . 

[Team9nine]

The two best "processes" for eliminating water I've come across in all my years and studies come from Rick Clunn and Buck Perry. Rick's stuff was captured in several sources including Bassmaster and In-Fisherman, among many. The I-F articles done by Paul Prorok, the same person who wrote Bill Murphy's book, are the best. Buck wrote "Spoonplugging," but also has many other articles and material available. Can't go wrong with either system, IMHO. Both will create a permanent foundation of understanding to build upon, something so many seem to lack in this modern era of instant gratification for success.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

The two best "processes" for eliminating water I've come across in all my years and studies come from Rick Clunn and Buck Perry. Rick's stuff was captured in several sources including Bassmaster and In-Fisherman, among many. The I-F articles done by Paul Prorok, the same person who wrote Bill Murphy's book, are the best. Buck wrote "Spoonplugging," but also has many other articles and material available. Can't go wrong with either system, IMHO. Both will create a permanent foundation of understanding to build upon, something so many seem to lack in this modern era of instant gratification for success.

 

Ya but @Team9nine - that means I have to read and study and comprehend and all that takes so much time - 

Isn't there a better & super fast way I can just know everything and go catch tons of huge bass every trip ?

A-Jay

[WRB]

I will try to respond using my IPhone.

Pappajoe made some excellent input as did Catt as usual.

The OP lives near Tablerock reservoir, Bull Shoals so we should focus on highland/hill land deep structured man made impoundments with Threadfin and gizzard shad as primary prey source. 

First thing I do every outing to help me eliminate unproductive water is determine what depth to focus my efforts in. Seasonal period is very important for me, I believe the majority of the active bass population  is in deeper water during the cold water period and shallower during warm water period for obvious reasons, that is where the majority of the prey is located. Fish deeper and slower the colder the water is and faster and shallower during the warmer period. Pre spawn and fall transition the bass are located in between cold and warm water location and depth.

Sonar is your best tool along with a good understanding of maps and structure.

Tom

[WRB]

Points in a man made reservior were mountain or hill ridges that ran from the top crest of the terrian down into the river or creek bed. A major point is located on both sides of a creek arm where it meets the larger river down in the valley, now the lakes main basin.

Secondary points are all those smaller ridges that run down into the creek arm bed or smaller valley, they are not located on the main lake basin. Main lake basin small points that are not major points are part of the lakes bank that form coves or some call drains.

Major points and larger secondary point where a Y is formed dividing the creek arm into another smaller arm are the most obvious lake structures and as far shoreline structure is concerned get the most fishing pressure for good reasons, bass tend group up there to feed on passing schools of Shad and use this as staging areas before the spawn. The reason this structure is good is because it compresses  the baitfish school towards the surface creating a feeding zone. Bass located on points are usually active feeders when baitfish are present.

What makes a good point better than another is changes is elevation creating high and low areas or cliffs, boulders along the points ridge line (isolated structure) and smaller shelves or flats that act as table tops the bait fish funnel over further compressing the schools.

The same type of structures are also off shore under the lakes surface or break through the lakes surface forming an island. Underwater islands are called humps, above the water they are islands that form the same feeding opportunity as the shoreline points.

Determine what depth the bait and bass are using and you shrink the lake down into smaller productive areas, eliminating unproductive water.

Tom

[BigAngus752]

On 7/14/2017 at 7:54 PM, ArkansasBassin said:

I've never really been good at eliminating water to fish. Of course if bass are relating to main lake points then they aren't going to be on every point on the lake. But how do I determine which points are the best to fish? Or which spots are best in general? I've heard that creek channels near any structure that bass are relating to that time of year. If that is true then how come I've caught bass that are completely on the other side of the lake that the creek channel is on. I would just like some clarity and tips for eliminating water and determining the best spots. 

Thanks 

Thank you for posting this.  It's like you were reading my mind.  You got some great responses.  I'm hi-jacking what these guys teaching you!