Postspawn/summer bass movement

[Anthony Watson]

Let’s talk postspawn/summer bass movement. I think it’s safe to say that there is a group of fish that move out deeper after the spawn and throughout the summer and and a group that stays shallow throughout the summer. In my opinion it seems like more quality large bass move out deep than stay shallow. Sure some big fish stay shallow but the overall “quality” average seems to be smaller. What does everyone else think about this?

[LrgmouthShad]

Nope, completely disagree. I think there is no way to say for sure. I think on some lakes, there is so much shallow habitat that a more numerous and potentially bigger population lives shallower. Think of all those big bass that are caught flipping in Florida. 
 

Also worth considering is what “shallow” and “deep” exactly mean. How shallow is shallow? And a hump offshore could still be shallow but it is nonetheless “out there” 

[Anthony Watson]

@LrgmouthShad I’d consider shallow to be 8-10ft or less. I think those are all solid points! I wouldn’t consider an offshore hump to be “deep” either unless we are taking a 30ft of water with a hump that comes up to 20fr

[LrgmouthShad]

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:03 PM, Anthony Watson said:

@LrgmouthShad I’d consider shallow to be 8-10ft or less. I think those are all solid points! I wouldn’t consider an offshore hump to be “deep” either unless we are taking a 30ft of water with a hump that comes up to 20fr

Expand  

Okay gotcha. There’s probably some people that will be surprised at your definition of shallow. Historically, larger than average bass that I’ve caught have been in relatively shallow water close to deep water. But I haven’t been in this part of the country for very long, and I also haven’t fished in big drought periods

 

I was looking up some information on Lake Conroe recently and saw that the lake record at almost 16lbs… yes 16lbs you heard that right… was caught in mere two feet of water at the back of Weirs creek

[Pat Brown]

I think a lot of the biggest bass on the lake are in the same places they are just.... deflated somewhat.

 

I tell ya, I'm half kidding, but also not.

 

A lot of those 3.5-5 lb fish are the same fish that weigh in at 6-8 lbs during the pre spawn.

[Anthony Watson]

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:14 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

Okay gotcha. There’s probably some people that will be surprised at your definition of shallow. Historically, larger than average bass that I’ve caught have been in relatively shallow water close to deep water. But I haven’t been in this part of the country for very long, and I also haven’t fished in big drought periods

 

I was looking up some information on Lake Conroe recently and saw that the lake record at almost 16lbs… yes 16lbs you heard that right… was caught in mere two feet of water at the back of Weirs creek

Expand  

I agree that the majority of the larger than average bass that I have caught have been in shallow water, many with deep water access. Most of this is due in part to the fact that I primarily fish shallow, I just don’t have the confidence in deep fishing. It just seems like we get throttled in the summer months by guys weighing big bags fishing deeper offshore. That’s one of my goals this year is to get more comfortable offshore

 

Yeah you guys grow some MONSTERS in Texas. We don’t have quite that caliber of fish is Oklahoma, at least not near as many 

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:21 PM, Pat Brown said:

I think a lot of the biggest bass on the lake are in the same places they are just.... deflated somewhat.

 

I tell ya, I'm half kidding, but also not.

 

A lot of those 3.5-5 lb fish are the same fish that you weight in at 6-8 lbs during the pre spawn.

Expand  

That’s a very fair assessment. I don’t doubt that many of the “good” fish I catch shallow in summer were “studs” in the pre spawn 

[LrgmouthShad]

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:29 PM, Anthony Watson said:

That’s one of my goals this year is to get more comfortable offshore

Expand  

I started to try to learn recently too. If I could go back and change what I did in the past, I would stop old me from fishing a point just because it’s a point. I want there to be some cover, or at least something. A brush pile, some rock, tires, standing timber, whatever. Just some kind of target. Makes me a whole lot more comfortable and I’ve had better luck offshore when I have something clear to throw at. Not to say I won’t throw at structure without any cover. But I want there to be something. Maybe it’s just a hard spot. Something

 

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:29 PM, Anthony Watson said:

Yeah you guys grow some MONSTERS in Texas

Expand  

Yeah as soon as I got back to the house I struck up conversation with somebody who had fishing poles in their truck and they mentioned at some point that somebody they know just caught “like a 12lber” out of a pond. And I just thought, yep, definitely could be true ?

[WRB]

A lot depends on the lakes location, size and surrounding terrain. 

For decades off shore LMB were a mystery to the vast majority of bass anglers at the end of the trolling era and beginning of the “bass boat” w/trolling motor era coinciding with bass tournaments in the late 60’s.

Welcome to BR. I have been advocating for the shore pounders to look over their shoulders because they were missing out on a population of bass undisturbed by anglers after the spawn cycle.

The last decade however bass anglers have caught on with the aid of good sonar units with detailed mapping features.

Off shore bass sanctuaries are exploited more and more each year. With FSS and Live Target the entire ecosystem has opened up to knowledgeable bass anglers.

I and few other old timers had those to our selves, no longer.

Tom

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:53 PM, WRB said:

A lot depends on the lakes location, size and surrounding terrain. 

For decades off shore LMB were a mystery to the vast majority of bass angler at the end of the trolling era and beginning of the “bass boat w/trolling motor era coinciding with bass tournaments in the late 60’s.

I have been advocating for the shore pounders to look over their shoulders because they were missing out on a population of bass undisturbed by anglers after thecspawn cycle.

The decade however bass anglers have caught on with the aid of good sonar units with detailed mapping features.

Off shore bass sanctuaries are exploited more and more each year. With FSS and Live Target the entire ecosystem has opened up to knowledgeable bass anglers.

I and few other old timers had those to our selves, no longer.

Tom

 

 

Expand  

Tom do you think there was and continues to be… a population of large bass on a lake possessing really thick, really difficult shallow cover that tries to seek out the absolute most difficult place for bass boats to get too? 

[WRB]

Depends on the lake location. For example in heavy cover lakes in Florida or more swamp like lakes in the south the big bass have little choice where to find a sanctuary area with good prey source to sustain growth. Those bass usually locate near a spring with good quality/water that attracts the prey needed. Harder for anglers to get to is a bonus.

Animals either adapt to changing conditions or parish same for bass. Those bass that get caught and become someone’s PB tend to get removed. The question is will the big bass adapt and answer is they haven’t during my lifetime and get over harvested.

Tom

[LrgmouthShad]

  On 5/1/2023 at 10:10 PM, WRB said:

Depends on the lake location. For example in heavy cover lakes in Florida or more swamp like lakes in the south the big bass have little choice where to find a sanctuary area with good prey source to sustain growth. Those bass usually locate near a spring with good quality/water that attracts the prey needed. Harder for anglers to get to is a bonus.

Animals either adapt to changing conditions or parish same for bass. Those bass that get caught and become someone’s PB tend to get removed. The question is will the big bass adapt and answer is they haven’t during my lifetime and get over harvested.

Tom

Expand  

Really fantastic answer thank you

[papajoe222]

  On 5/1/2023 at 8:47 PM, Anthony Watson said:

 In my opinion it seems like more quality large bass move out deep than stay shallow. Sure some big fish stay shallow but the overall “quality” average seems to be smaller.

Expand  

I disagree, but I will agree that more small bass stay shallow than go deep in the summer and I discount schooling bass when talking about shallow fish.

  I'm referring to cover oriented shallow fish. The reason many believe that more quality fish go deep is because those deep fish tend to congregate in the same areas whereas the bigger fish that stay shallow are loaners. If you take into account all the shallow cover that has the potential to hold a big bass and compare it to the few spots that hold numbers of quality fish found on deep structure, you'll understand my reasoning.

That being said, If you're looking to catch numbers of bigger fish, targeting those off shore fish gives you better odds. You'd need to fish a lot of cover and be able to distinguish which cover has better potential for holding a big fish for that shallow strategy to pay off in numbers of bigger fish. The fishing pressure the shallow bass receive vs. the deeper fish also contributes to your opinion.

[WRB]

The location factor applies to Northern Canadian Shield natural lakes that tend to more shore oriented cover related bass. The off shore “reefs” with abundant prey source are usually dominated by larger predators like Pike and Musky.

There are exceptions but few and far between for LMB. Smallmouth being more open water hunters and roam more then LMB are usually found on off shore locations more often where LMB would be if the larger predators were less dominant.

Regional lake types play a roll where bass locate.

Tom

[Anthony Watson]

  On 5/2/2023 at 2:19 AM, papajoe222 said:

I disagree, but I will agree that more small bass stay shallow than go deep in the summer and I discount schooling bass when talking about shallow fish.

  I'm referring to cover oriented shallow fish. The reason many believe that more quality fish go deep is because those deep fish tend to congregate in the same areas whereas the bigger fish that stay shallow are loaners. If you take into account all the shallow cover that has the potential to hold a big bass and compare it to the few spots that hold numbers of quality fish found on deep structure, you'll understand my reasoning.

That being said, If you're looking to catch numbers of bigger fish, targeting those off shore fish gives you better odds. You'd need to fish a lot of cover and be able to distinguish which cover has better potential for holding a big fish for that shallow strategy to pay off in numbers of bigger fish. The fishing pressure the shallow bass receive vs. the deeper fish also contributes to your opinion.

Expand  

I would agree with that. It seems to me that when you find them out deep they tend to be schooled up and seem to be of like size. I also agree with fishing pressure and the cover options up shallow being my reason for opinion. The big shallow fish are just farther apart and more targeted which makes it seem like there are less of them

[Catt]

Shallow & deep are relevant to the body of water.

 

On Toledo Bend 20-25' is considered shallow compared to the surrounding area.

 

Size of bass shallow vs deep again is revelant to the body of water.

 

Toledo Bend has over 1,200 miles of shoreline (shallow water), it has 190,000 acres offshore.

[WRB]

Sticking to the title topic post spawn transition to summer bass location varies greatly again on the lake size and classification.

Where I fish the lakes are basically Highland deep rocky structure with sparse cover. When I say deep think 300’ Lower main lake and 150’ mid section 75’ short steep walled creek arms.

There is a population of bass living deeper then 35’- 40’ year around and then move shallower to spawn, then return.

Thermocline sets up during the post spawn summer transition and most of the adult size bass locate near that depth during the day and move shallower at night as summer traffic quite down. 

There is also a group of shore oriented shallower bass above 10’ hunting prey fish and crawdads. The big bass are coming to spawn during prey spawn and both groups are catchable.

Big bass high % time is pre spawn because they are feeding getting ready for the spawning rigors fasting for a few weeks.

These big bass recover a week or so during post spawn, some don’t make it they are too weak or old.

Big bass locate where they are comfortable temps and abundant prey source regardless of the lakes terrain, some are catchable a few are not.

Tom 

[Bassbum1016]

  On 5/1/2023 at 9:14 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

relatively shallow water close to deep water

 

Expand  

Bingo!!

[Anthony Watson]

@WRB thanks for the awesome info Tom. I always look forward to your responses, you are such a wealth of knowledge. @Catt as well. One day I’ll make it down your way to fish Toledo bend! That place has always been on my bucket list 

[TriStateBassin106]

My home lake is a 350 acre manmade impoundment that has an average depth of 7ft and has tons of cabbage grass (duckweed) if the fish aren't shallow they're usually hiding in that stuff.

 

But to go back to the question  i've caught quality fish on the bank and out in the grass offshore. We have it in plenty of coves and some fields of it on the main lake. The only "deep" parts of the lake is the area near the dam and channel section which never holds fish for me. 

 

I feel like if a lake has more cover on the bank the bass will be there more instead of deep water this time of year. 

[the reel ess]

I can't disagree that most big bass move to deeper structure and cover after spawn. But they don't just haul butt to 15' deep. They take a while to get there. I still catch good bass shallow in May and June. The best bite moves from middle of the day to morning/evening for the shallow ones. I had a PB in July in 3' max of water one July but I have eclipsed that one since.

[the reel ess]

  On 5/3/2023 at 2:44 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

My home lake is a 350 acre manmade impoundment that has an average depth of 7ft and has tons of cabbage grass (duckweed) if the fish aren't shallow they're usually hiding in that stuff.

 

Expand  

And very difficult to locate, right? 

[Bankc]

The biggest bass will get the best spots.  They can push off the smaller bass, if they want.  

 

Now, what constitutes a best spot?  Because on a highly pressured lake, the shallow cover might not be the best spot.  In my experience, the more pressured a lake is, the deeper the large bass will often go.  In that situation, they are both predator and prey.  Of course, there are exceptions abound.  But on a small, private pond that rarely gets fished with no natural predators, you'll often find the biggest fish near the shallow piece of cover where all of the baitfish congregate.  In that case, they're the top of the food chain, and not worried about being exposed or hunted.  

[Bankbeater]

Most of the time on the small lakes that I fish on the summer the bass will be in the vegetation. They may be shallow or deep depending on the conditions, but they won’t move far from that vegetation. 

[Functional]

Yesterday was the first day in about 2-3 weeks I've been able to get out. On my home lake which is fairly small,  they are no longer in any pockets and are mostly on main lake points in 5-0ft of water and close to deeper water Tucked in weeds. 

 

I can also say quite happily.... the frog bit is DEFINITELY on. I can say happily/unhappily I think I need a longer frog rod to help take up line faster on hook sets. 

[Catt]

  On 5/1/2023 at 8:47 PM, Anthony Watson said:

I think it’s safe to say that there is a group of fish that move out deeper after the spawn and throughout the summer and and a group that stays shallow throughout the summer.

Expand  

 

Biologists research supports that.

 

  On 5/1/2023 at 8:47 PM, Anthony Watson said:

In my opinion it seems like more quality large bass move out deep than stay shallow.

Expand  

 

Biologists research doesn't support that, it totally depends on the body of water.

 

One also has to take into the overall population of the bass.

 

One also has to define "large" bass.