SM relating to bluff walls

[Megastink]

I love near a primarily LM lake but it does have a small population of smallies. A local guy told me that he catches them around bluff walls near the main channel. I have no idea how to search for smallies in this type of area. Any tips?

[Turkey sandwich]

What lake, curious?  Also, not sure about your question.  Are you asking about how to find them on sonar, which presentations to use, seasonal patterns?

[Megastink]

1 minute ago, Turkey sandwich said:

What lake, curious?  Also, not sure about your question.  Are you asking about how to find them on sonar, which presentations to use, seasonal patterns?

I mean to ask how do smallmouths relate to vertical cover? Do they suspend off of it, lay against it? What features do I look for when fishing vertical cover? It's as deep as 40 ft in some places on this bluff:

[Turkey sandwich]

I hate giving non-answers, but it depends upon the lake, the forage, the season, the weather, and to an extent how small a population we're talking about.  Do you have a map of the lake or any other information?  Generally, smallmouth will relate to bluffs, but everything else is going to play a factor.  

[Megastink]

14 minutes ago, Turkey sandwich said:

I hate giving non-answers, but it depends upon the lake, the forage, the season, the weather, and to an extent how small a population we're talking about.  Do you have a map of the lake or any other information?  Generally, smallmouth will relate to bluffs, but everything else is going to play a factor.  

I guess I was hoping for a "fishing vertical cover 101" course. Lol. For instance, when friends ask me about fishing shallow grass, I always say to fish the points and irregularities in the grass. Fishing standing timber, look for the timber around the channel or with deep water close by. That sort of thing. I don't know if the same rules apply to Deep bluffs. 

[Turkey sandwich]

8 minutes ago, Megastink said:

I guess I was hoping for a "fishing vertical cover 101" course. Lol. For instance, when friends ask me about fishing shallow grass, I always say to fish the points and irregularities in the grass. Fishing standing timber, look for the timber around the channel or with deep water close by. That sort of thing. I don't know if the same rules apply to Deep bluffs. 

 

Sometimes they do.  Fishing irregularities and changes in structure is still a good idea, but when fish will hold to them and how is going to depend upon season, weather, and forage.  

 

Generally, if they're holding on the wall, working a suspended bait along the bluff wall with the current is a good place to start.  

[38 Super Fan]

Bluffs can be tricky to fish, my local lakes have miles and miles of them, so I tend to focus on irregularities. Any little nooks, or laydowns should be good if you can find them. I also tend to focus more on the bluff-ends, where the bluff transitions more than the vertical walls themselves.

 

The fish will probably be suspended, so something like a jerkbait is usually a good choice, but you'll just have to let the fish tell you as far as lures go, and don't overlook topwaters! Also, try to cast parallel to the bluff to cover more water more effectively.

 

In case you haven't seen them, there are a couple bluff fishing articles here on the forum:

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fishing_walls.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/bluff-fishing.html

 

[SWVABass]

We have that here on my lake. Spring time jerk bait, summer a wacky worm fall spinnerbait. Also picked them up on drop shots, and tubes. I've had the best luck where I can find some small shelfs, or a transition to a 45 degree bank or chunk rock.

[TnRiver46]

I fish some that are over 100' deep straight down, just throw a tube up against it and let it sink while watching the line. If your line stops it's definitely not because it hit the bottom so set the hook!