Start Early, start deep, start with something on the bottom

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya'll,

 

Well this past weekend I had a tough time fishing. After a tough time Saturday, with more cold weather Sunday, I was just trying not to get skunked. The only fish I caught were early, offshore, and with a lipless yo-yoed. I got to thinking about why this worked when nothing else was. And I realized that by following three things 1) starting early 2) starting deep and 3) starting with something on the bottom, to me, you are putting percentages in your favor. I'm one of those that thinks there is nearly always a morning bite. If nasty weather hits, fish offshore cope better than shallow fish. And bottom bouncing baits target fish on the bottom, which, in my opinion, can have a tendency to be more active than suspended fish. I plan on following this three step method fairly often and seeing how it works, especially during tough conditions. I'm not the first person on here to talk about starting deep early, but I had to kinda figure out for myself why... by following these guidelines, you are putting odds in your favor to catch something, and it could be a big one.

 

What do you think?

[Bankc]

This time of year, I can get on board with that philosophy.  But in the summer, I always start shallow with a topwater.  It's been a proven winner for me, even when the bite is tough.  Then I move deeper as the day progresses.  

 

But in the colder months, I do like to start deep.  Let the sun warm up the skinny water for a bit before heading over there.  By 2:00-3:00, I might start heading shallow to see what I can pick up, if the sun is out.  

[Mobasser]

This time of year I like to fish afternoons more often,and give it a chance to warm up a little. I think it's a good idea to bring some baits that you can cover the whole water column with also. Warming spring days can be good for spinnerbaits, lipless or similar baits. And yes, suspended fish can be tough at any time.

[Catt]

Start Early, start deep, start with something on the bottom

 

30 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 

What do you think?

 

That's me year round!

 

It's very well known that there is an early bite shallow.

 

What y'all ain't understanding that same early bite happens deep as well. Deepwater fish are less affected by pressure because all y'all are shallow.

 

[Mike L]

Got to know your waters. 
It’s true that early morning and late evening bites for that matter, can happen regardless of depth and location. 

But when you factor in clarity, weather and structure a clearer picture can emerge if you frequent the same waters. 
 

A life long guide/professional once told me that bass live “off shore” and even tho they can feed out there the majority with all things being equal, come shallow to feed. “Resident” fish don’t move as much but in big water lakes the bigger girls and juveniles will come shallow because thats where the vast majority of thier food chain lives. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[TOXIC]

That’s why we have electronics.  If I can’t mark them deep, move shallow.  Takes most all of the guesswork out.  

[Team9nine]

Grow big or stay little; either will help you survive, or not.

 

Lay a million eggs or give birth to one, it makes no difference.

 

Wear gaudy colors or avoid display.

 

As long as you have a plan or an approach you can live with and stick to, you’ll be fine regardless of the specifics.

 

We must repeat…

[A-Jay]

Having some knowledge about whatever the bass are looking to eat in the body of water I'm fishing, at time of the year and time of day I'm there, has been helpful. 

Example; super early season (low 40's water temp) yellow perch spawn in the back of shallow coves.

Much of that happens early morning & late afternoon (insert low light).

Ignoring this and fishing deep would have me completely missing out on what has been in the recent past, one of my best big brown bass patterns. 

Are there fish to be caught out deep?  There probably is.

And when the goby feed is on, I'm there too. 

Clearly nothing's guaranteed and this in only one example.

I believe this goes to the point that the bass know what their prey is doing, when & where.

They also know which deals can offer them the best opportunity to feed.

I try to make my job to learn this as well - and there's quite a bit to it and it seems to change;

wildly at times.  

So when I'm deciding on fishing location, at any point in the day, 

I'm including this into the 'equation' in some way. 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

Deep is relative to where you fish. Since this thread is about early pre spawn or late winter depending on the location anywhere between 10’ to 40’ could be considered deep.

on average east of the Rockies 20’ is considered deep. Where I fish 20’ is considered normal, 10’ is shallow.

Early dawn bite most of us are hoping to find active for shallow bite.

Tom 

[the reel ess]

3 hours ago, Bankc said:

This time of year, I can get on board with that philosophy.  But in the summer, I always start shallow with a topwater.  It's been a proven winner for me, even when the bite is tough.  Then I move deeper as the day progresses.  

 

But in the colder months, I do like to start deep.  Let the sun warm up the skinny water for a bit before heading over there.  By 2:00-3:00, I might start heading shallow to see what I can pick up, if the sun is out.  

I throw the topwater early and often and until it gets no bites. Then I throw it again late. I caught a bass in Feb on the Plopper.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

hoping to find active for shallow bite.

Tom 

 

10-15' offshore is my "shallow" bite even during late winter/pre-spawn. 

[TnRiver46]

My lure usually goes shallow to deep on a single cast 

[Big Hands]

In most of the water I fish, I can be fishing shallow, rotate my chair 1/8 of a turn, and then be 'fishing offshore'.

[scaleface]

I've had it figured out before too . Many times . 

[LrgmouthShad]

47 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I've had it figured out before too . Many times . 

?. I understand. When I wrote this, I thought that this strategy would be a good starting point when I expect fishing to be tough, or neutral, or even positive, depending on conditions and season. What y’all have done is broaden my perspective more, depending on where you fish and what your experiences have been. I wanted to hear your thoughts and I’ve been very happy to hear them so far.

 

Sure, it would be nice if I had it ‘figured out’. I know this strategy is not some catch-all secret of bass fishing. But I do think that, as long as I am keeping many other important considerations in mind like baitfish, time of year, and experience on the body of water I’m fishing… I can be putting odds in my favor by doing this, just as a starting point. It might not work. That’s where the rest of the fun figuring out the puzzle begins. 

[Bluebasser86]

If you can figure out how to catch them offshore in the lakes I fish, you're better than I am at it. I've tried countless times and it's almost always fighting a losing battle. The only exception is lakes with grass, but that's a short list.

 

I do agree with the early morning bite. I've had too many hot bites between 7 and 10 am in January just for the bite to die in the afternoon when it warms up.