Bass depth

[Troy85]

I do most of my bass fishing in SE Louisiana.  Where I fish water clarity is usually measured in inches, during the end of summer if the rivers stay low the water clarity will improve to maybe a few but, on average tho I'd say water clarity probably 10-12".  With that being sad, how does that affect bass depth?  Will a bass sit near the bottom in 8-10' of water or deeper if they can't really see anything,  or will they tend to stay shallower and hang out around the point in the water column where light can't penetrate the water any further?

[Catt]

I'm over in southwest Louisiana & have similar conditions on some bodies of water.

 

Bass in off colored water are lateral lines feeders, they sense the presence of bait long before they see it. 

 

There are many factors that determine what depth bass hold & water clarity is only one.

[Troy85]

Thx Catt. I'm at the launch now. Water a little murky so I'll keep this in mind. 

[Troy85]

Hey Catt,  I've got a part 2 to this question instead of making a new topic.  I've started reading articles about fall fishing. Most of the articles I read are about Lake bass, these articles talk about bass moving from deep main lake structure to the backs of creeks.  Since you do some Marsh/tidal bass fishing I was wondering what your thoughts are on how these fish move during the fall.  Where I fish is a mix of shallow ponds(average 10' or less), pipeline canals and natural bayous.  From your experience how do the fish in these areas transition from summer to fall areas? 

[Catt]

Pipeline canals & natural bayous are controlled by tidal movements, that limits where bass will be regardless of season.

 

Ponds bass are limited to available structure/cover.

 

As to the articles about bass moving from deep main lake structure to the backs of creeks.  Do you think bass 5 miles offshore on Toledo Bend swim to the back of creeks?

[Troy85]

To be honest, I don't know if that bass would swim that far.  Based on how you you presented the question, I'd say the answer is no.

 Up until about 2 years ago I pretty much only fished inshore salt water, so a lot of my thoughts are based around speckle trout and redfish, some speckle trout will swim 10-20 miles during between their summer and winter areas.  I know a bass isn't a trout, but I don't know how far your average bass is willing to travel between summer and winter.

 

As far as locating bass in tidal areas, I've always used a similar theory that I use for redfish, in the winter look for deeper water that doesn't move much, summer I move out  to main canals/bayous that get more water movement.  I was just wondering what your thoughts were on Lake bass(such as toledo bend) vs Tidal bass.

 

 

[Catt]

Bass & Redfish are both predators and will be found in the same areas, relating to the same structure/cover.

 

In the winter Redfish will be in deeper water but given 2-3 days of stable weather, not necessarily warmer weather the reds will move shallower to feed... correct?

 

Bass will do the same!

 

What I'm getting at is don't discount your experience with reds!

 

You already know #1 is tidal movement, where do you fish for reds during high tide, & where do you fish during low tide.

[Troy85]

Good to know I'm on the right track, I always think of bass as some mythical creature.  

 

Yeah, the reds will head shallower to feed if they get a few days of stable weather in winter........seems like cold fronts love to come thru on Thursday or Friday, so I almost never get that stable weather luxury