Inside Or Outside

[Choporoz]

most of the time, especially with somewhat unfamiliar cover, I work outside in.  More familiar laydowns, brushpiles and docks are different once you learn the nuances of the cover and how fish often relate to them.

[T-Billy]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Honestly I rarely fish in cover. I need to change that, especially looking at @T-Billys bass pictures before he got all esox addicted 

 

I like fishing open water on the bottom or the top 

Pitching into a nasty tangle and feeling "tick", or better yet feeling nothing until I go to move the bait is more exciting than a top water blowup to me. Those soft takes are usually quality fish.

To answer the OP, every piece of cover is different and I'll approach it considering wind, depth, sun, fish behavior that day, etc. Sometimes it's outside in, sometimes it's straight to the best looking spot first.

As @Choporoz stated, known cover is also a factor. Say I'm fishing a large laydown that I know well. My first pitch is going straight to the prime spot that historically holds the quality fish. I'll not risk buggering up the sweet spot by getting hung somewhere else. A big laydown can hold several fish, but there'll be a spot or three that consistently holds the bigger fish.

[A-Jay]

When it comes to pitching & flipping, especially in the traditional/conventional sense,

I do very little of either over the course of an entire season.

The bigger smallmouth I'm looking for rarely 'bury up' into anything that dense.

At least on the lakes I fish most; and that includes docks.

So my deal is a bit different. 

 

But I do fish quite a bit of hard & soft, non-visible cover, both shallow & deeper. 

Big smallies really seem to like to snuggle right up and into certain hard cover, both shallow and way deep.  Electronics play a role and with the super clear water here, when the conditions are right, and the deal isn't over 15 ft or so, a good pair of polarized sunglasses trumps everything. 

 

 Whether they are or not, I expect every trophy SMB to be wily, keenly aware and most of all, very spooky.  Running my rig anywhere near where a few may be holding, is like driving a diesel tractor right to a deer stand.  Just not helpful.

 

 According, every presentation I make is done at whatever the max distance is where I can still cast accurately.  I'll often make 'practice casts'  (on my approach) well before I get to where I'm planning on fishing to properly assess what the current casting conditions are.  Knowing what type of distance/accuracy I'm getting in advance is helpful, because it changes.   Seems better to jack up a few cast before I need to make The One that counts. 

 

When ready, I'm always looking to approach from either straight down or up wind.  Cross fire is a tough deal.  I'm often targeting fairly small spots or areas, and even just one hurried or hectic cast, especially one that lands right on their head, can turn a trophy right off or send it zooming to the depths.  Might return, might not, ever.  I prefer to cast past what I'm fishing and work the bait back to the cover.  Often I'm casting into just a few inches of water to start. I do try NOT to get between the bass, and their 'escape route'.  Especially early season when fatties are coming & going all day it seems. 

 

 As for fishing the 'outside', I'll do it, but not at the expense of blowing up the spot on the spot.

I'm more apt to do it at night as bass seem to be relating more 'loosely' to cover rather that getting right in it. 

 

Both of these fish catches came from a really small section of structure/cover.

Took me several years to get on this deal.   While making the first few cast of each trip here,

during the right conditions, this basshead is pooping his pants.  

https://youtu.be/zIqCmH_52IQ?feature=shared&t=387

https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?feature=shared&t=1014

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

[crypt]

most of the time outside first like Catt said then work my way in. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

Most of the time I fish like Catt explained.  Outside to inside. 

[Catt]

43 minutes ago, crypt said:

most of the time outside first like Catt said then work my way in. 

 

21 minutes ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

Most of the time I fish like Catt explained.  Outside to inside. 

 

I do the same thing shallow or deep.

[greentrout]

If I have a wind putting a chop on the water, I'll pull out my  baitcaster and cast a spinnerbait or t-rigged plastic worm into the cover. No wind with a mirror like surface, I'll work a soft weightless plastic like a stick bait around the edges making a quiet as possible entry into the water. Your gear can play a big part in your success.

 

Good Fishing

 

Catch Bass In Heavy Cover | Video | The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide® LLC (bassresource.com)

[ironbjorn]

I got straight to the inside in certain cover. That's where the best fish will usually be, and I don't want to try to make them bite after I've blown out the area on the outside first.

[Pat Brown]

Put me down in the 'it depends' camp but as a rule outside in is wise.

 

However, if I establish a pattern, I try not to waste time.

 

Also if I have a limited time to fish and spooky fish I might hit the money shot on every piece of cover ONLY in a day.

 

Some of my best days ever have been days where I 'trim the fat' and just hit the absolute best cast and keep moving.

[Woody B]

I think species makes a BIG difference.   Where I fish there's Largemouth and Spots.   It's my belief that Largemouth are ambush predators.   It's also my belief that Spots are hunters....or even wolf pack hunters.   I target Largemouth first usually by going inside.   Spots will be hunting/patrolling the outside.   It's my belief that catching the Spots on the outside has a good potential to spook any Largemouth.   

 

I'm sure there's always exceptions.   A few months ago I caught a 4 pound Spot off a stump(on a Devils Horse-topwater).   A Largemouth followed the hooked Spot to the boat.  After I netted the Spot I watched the Largemouth swim into a boat house.   I skipped either a Wacky, or Shaky Head into the boat house.  (I don't remember which)  A 5 pound Largemouth engulfed it before it had time to sink.   I was surprised the Largemouth wasn't spooked by the Spot getting caught.   

 

 

[Bankbeater]

It depends on what type of cover and what the water clarity is like.  I'll make long casts to the outside of a brush pile if the water is clear and there is no vegetation growing.  If the lake is all weeded up then I'll get close to the brush and pitch into it.

[N Florida Mike]

I get just close enough where I can skip a bait to the outer edges. Skipping a bait doesn’t make a big splash , so doesn’t spook the fish. They will often hit the bait on the fall. Then, as I get closer , I’ll skip up into the middle. Many  of the laydowns I fish are too thick to even pitch or flip to, and most of them are 5 feet deep or less, with mostly clear water. I can’t get too close or they’ll spook. So I’ll skip from 20 feet or more away usually. I lose some fish like that obviously, but at least it gives me a good chance. Pulling in too close gives me a smaller chance because theyll spook in the clear, shallow water…