Learning to fish Bass (Boat)

[Hi im Darren]

Hi and good day to all. 

Re learning to bass fish after 30 years of no fishing. Fishing unsuccessfully for about 1.5 years now. Own a boat and will be doing fairly all my fishing from a vessel. Lowrance Hook Reveal basic FF with Chirp and down scan. I have a basic idea on how to use the FF for water temps and depth as well as how to read the info provided on screen. Weather here has the water temps in to 55-65 range @ 1 foot under surface. My thinking is that the bass are going into the spawn at this time and I should be able to locate them relatively shallow 3 feet or less. Q1. Would I be correct in thinking that under docks, lay downs and rock structure are places to start fishing? The lake I will be fishing next (Lake Bowen in Inman SC) typically has dirty water on top end and clearer down near its Dam. Q2. What water condition is better to start in? Typically in my recent prior attempts at fishing I think I may be spending too much time in single locations. Q3. When fishing a spot believed to hold fish how long is reasonable to cast at before we move? Q4. Is it best to just start trolling down the shoreline at a slow pace casting at potential holding spots?

 

Thanks for your time and I appreciate any advice.

Darren 

[WRB]

Welcome!

Basically you asking questions about sight fishing spawning bass.

1. You need good polarized sunglasses and a wide brim hat to shade your eyes from sun glare on the water.

2. Bass spawn in water between 2’ to 8’ sometimes deeper, you need to be able to see bass beds to locate spawning bass.

Bass beds can be located in wind protected areas usually in coves. 
Bass look very thin due to water refracting or distorting width but length look normal.

Very hard to see bass that are not moving, beds are easier to see. Look. For a. 2’-3’ clean spot on the bottom and cast beyond that spot about 3’ so you lure fall into the bed. Watch closely for any movement towards your lure. Bass strike bed intruders to kill it not eat it.  Hook sets takes practice because you only have a few seconds. I look for a white flash indicating the basses mouth opened and closed set the hook! You rarely feel a bed fish strike, may see slight line movement.

Targeting bass out side the beds in a few feet of deeper water are easier to catch.

Tom

 

[Swamp Girl]

Darren, I can only speak to my experience of bass fishing in Maine. When I finally launch (It's snowing heavily here right now.), I won't work my way down shorelines, casting at docks and laydowns. That's a summer approach for me, when bass tuck under cover to avoid birds and ambush prey. 

 

However, I might catch them tight to shorelines. I won't know until I start casting if they're there or not. My starting point will be deep water abutting shallow water. They spawn in the shallows and stage in the adjacent deep water, so I cast there, in the deep water. However, that's just a starting point. Last spring, I'd catch them in the back of a bay one day, tight to shoreline the next day, thirty feet from the shore the next, and in deep water the next.

 

Keep moving and keep casting until you get a hit. Then pound that spot and similar spots on that day at that lake, but don't assume that they'll be in the same spot the next day. Bass are a puzzle we have to solve everyday. 

[JHoss]

1) Yes. I haven't seen many beds under a dock per se, but along the pilings on the sides will often have beds. Essentially any hard bottom in the right depth can be a bed. Add cover or protection from the wind and your odds go up.

 

2) This is kind of a personal preference thing. Depending on the lake or the day, the fish may favor one over the other. I, personally, prefer to find them in stained water- just seems to suit my fishing style best.

 

3) Again, this is personal preference and situation based. I mostly fish tournaments, so time is money. I try to not to stay on a spot for more than 10-15 minutes without a bite. 

 

4) Generally speaking, you're better off trying to focus on areas they should be in for the current seasonal pattern. But if you're struggling to consistently find fish, sometimes the best move is to just parallel the bank and make as many casts in a day as you can. 

[WRB]

Bass bed on direct sunlight needed to hatch the eggs,

Slow down your fishing too fast!

Tom

[Mike L]

All good info. 
 

Sight fishing beds is one of my go to presentations especially when a boater has the same conviction. 
 

That’s what it is really, a mind set with the conviction to stay with her. 
The trick is to learn her mood and try to predict her movements. 
Not all bedding bass, especially down here will telegraph what it will take but there are certain things to watch for. 
 

@WRB is correct that a bedding bass isn’t trying to eat what you’re throwing, she either trying to run it off or kill it. 

Keeping that in mind and using a few of the points already said, I will never pitch directly into a bed with my first try. 
 

I always pitch past it with my eyes on her. If she sees it coming or turns to look at what just happened, I pull it up and start again. 
If no reaction I’ll bring it in SLOWLY again never taking my eyes off her. 
When she reacts I react. 
 

Another thing color isn’t a consideration when I’m bed fishing. I always use white regardless of water or bait color. 
It helps her and me see it better. 

 
But that’s me. 
 

Good Luck 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Darren.]

Good info above, so I'll just say welcome aboard!

[Harold H]

If you can attain 3" to 4" live shiners or minnows you can use a Thill slip float rig and catch some nice fish. Also dropshotting live or artificial nightcrawlers can be deadly, also under a float. You can also catch little sunfish for live bait, and place under a float. I recommend live bait because it's what fish eat and can give q better chance at catching. I was fishing at one of my usual ponds earlier and had a little Power nymph on my UL rig fishing for crappie, when a 24" bass comes up trying to eat a bluegill after my lure. I immediately went for my live bait rod and caught a gill, but was a little big. Caught another and put it on and had a good take down but no hookup. But good fresh live bait can really increase your chances for some good action, imo

[928JLH]

I would try a swing head with a biffle bug or a owner jig rig with a small keitech. It's a good presentation to cover lots of water fast that looks natural if there's heavy pressure and clear water. You can fish shallow and relatively deep effectively. Pitch jigs around heavier cover and docks. With water in those temps there will definitely be big females staging up and spawning. Not sure if you throw big swimbaits but it can pay off this time of year.

[Swamp Girl]

I'll add that an underspin with a Keitech, Crush City Mayor, or Yamamoto Zako was my number one producer last spring and early summer by far. In 2024, it caught my PB and about a thousand other bass. I could throw it everywhere and it caught shallow bass, deep bass, and in-between bass. It's nearly weedless, so it gave me great confidence pitching it into weeds and wood. It's also a terrific lure to troll, which many bassheads don't do, but I always do when paddling from one spot to another.

[JHoss]

On 3/22/2025 at 10:45 PM, Swamp Girl said:

I'll add that an underspin with a Keitech, Crush City Mayor, or Yamamoto Zako was my number one producer last spring and early summer by far. In 2024, it caught my PB and about a thousand other bass. I could throw it everywhere and it caught shallow bass, deep bass, and in-between bass. It's nearly weedless, so it gave me great confidence pitching it into weeds and wood. It's also a terrific lure to troll, which many bassheads don't do, but I always do when paddling from one spot to another.

I was shocked to learn recently that the underspin had the fewest catches of all lure types on the MLF BPT last year. 

[Swamp Girl]

27 minutes ago, JHoss said:

I was shocked to learn recently that the underspin had the fewest catches of all lure types on the MLF BPT last year. 

 

I'm shocked too. Here's where I caught sooo many bass with it:

 

 

It's one to two feet deep and I'm fishing long before those MLF anglers are up and at it. Even if they wanted to fish a bog as shallow as this, their boats wouldn't let them. Being so shallow and so close to the bass with weeds and wood everywhere, an underspin lands more softly than a spinnerbait, so it doesn't spook them. A T-rigged anything works well too, but doesn't cast as far and the Maine bog bass like the flash.

 

In short, it's the perfect bait for a Maine bog if you're in a canoe. 

 

#bassboatsareanogowhereIgo

[Choporoz]

28 minutes ago, JHoss said:

I was shocked to learn recently that the underspin had the fewest catches of all lure types on the MLF BPT last year. 

Doesn’t shock me.  I still throw it...in fact I have one tied on now, but it doesn't get bit much for me.  Worked ok on tidal Potomac,  but my grass lake bass have little interest 

[JHoss]

Don't get me wrong, I've caught plenty of bass on them and keep a good supply in my box. I would think it's maybe due to the versatility of the bait. It works pretty good at a lot of things, but those guys differentiate themselves by choosing the perfect bait for those exact conditions. So with 10 rods on the deck, there's probably something that does slightly better in each condition than an underspin. 

 

I'd think most of the fish caught on underspins by those guys were likely smallmouth on jighead style underspins. 

[Swamp Girl]

4 hours ago, JHoss said:

those guys differentiate themselves by choosing the perfect bait for those exact conditions.

 

Again, I'm fishing a different environment than them. They couldn't fish where I fish, not in their bass boats. They couldn't even launch where I fish.

 

I score with a lure that's 99% weedless, that has flash, that casts far, that has good mouthfeel, and that lands lightly. A bladed jig would probably work well too in the bogs. I bought some Mike Seibert chatterbaits, so I'll soon see.

[Darth-Baiter]

OP.  i wouldnt get mired down in the baits and gear.  especially the baits.  it could result in a pile of tragic failures.  trust me on this one.

 

you have a boat, so that is head/shoulders above most rookies.  i think just start going and putting time on the water will be the best investment in your experience.  

 

my rookie experience was to look at threads like this and buy the bait suggested.  what a cluster-F!

[JHoss]

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Again, I'm fishing a different environment than them. They couldn't fish where I fish, not in their bass boats. They couldn't even launch where I fish.

 

I score with a lure that's 99% weedless, that has flash, that casts far, that has good mouthfeel, and that lands lightly. A bladed jig would probably work well too in the bogs. I bought some Mike Seibert chatterbaits, so I'll soon see.

My point is more that you and I would look at your areas and think of a couple lures that we think are perfect for the area. KVD would go through and have a couple baits for each type of cover and each type of depth. A weedless underspin is like a leatherman multi tool to us and he's dragging a 20 ft trailer of specialized tools for each nail or screw he may encounter. 

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, JHoss said:

My point is more that you and I would look at your areas and think of a couple lures that we think are perfect for the area. KVD would go through and have a couple baits for each type of cover and each type of depth. A weedless underspin is like a leatherman multi tool to us and he's dragging a 20 ft trailer of specialized tools for each nail or screw he may encounter. 

 

I look forward to seeing KVD dragging his 20 foot trailer the next time I'm portaging through the woods. Or maybe I'll see him dragging his "specialized tools" down this trickle (Yeah, that's a stream.):

 

 

My point is that KVD can't fish where I fish, not if he's going to fish like he's accustomed to fishing. If he were willing to fish out of a lightweight canoe, then sure, he could fish where I fish, but he sure won't be bringing his specialized tools. I fish with fewer tools to fish where fewer fish. 

 

Did you see the thread below. In it, I share how I bought so many specialized tools suggested by others that sit on shelves now because I found what works for my bass. I still try new lures, but I buy less and less of what others suggest because I've spent enough time on the water I fish to have discovered what triggers strikes. There's nothing unique about my journey. We all scroll through lures until we find the ones that work where we fish.

 

 

In the end, KVD does what he does and I do what I do. I love fishing the simple, peaceful way I fish. I hope he loves fishing with his 20' foot boat and specialized tools. There's not much overlap beyond we're both catching bass. 

[JackstrawIII]

Hey, welcome. Good questions:

 

Q1. Would I be correct in thinking that under docks, lay downs and rock structure are places to start fishing? The lake I will be fishing next (Lake Bowen in Inman SC) typically has dirty water on top end and clearer down near its Dam.

 

- Fish can be in any of those spots. I'm a big structure fisherman and always start there, especially early in the year when a majority of bass are shallow. Try different presentations (swimbaits, jigs, plastics) around those spots for sure. 

 

 

Q2. What water condition is better to start in? Typically in my recent prior attempts at fishing I think I may be spending too much time in single locations.

 

- Fish will hang in clear water (usually deeper) and dirty water (usually shallower). Different approaches are idea for each condition, but the fish can be anywhere this time of year. I'd focus on shallow, warmer water. 

 

Q3. When fishing a spot believed to hold fish how long is reasonable to cast at before we move?

 

- Good question. If you figure this out, let the rest of us know haha. 

 

Q4. Is it best to just start trolling down the shoreline at a slow pace casting at potential holding spots?

 

- This is my favorite way to fish. With that said, the danger of doing this (especially as a beginner) is that you'll go too fast and miss opportunities. Try to force yourself to slow down and focus on delivering baits into high percentage areas quietly and accurately. One highly accurate and sneaky cast into a good spot is better than 10 haphazard casts. 

 

Good luck. 

[JHoss]

15 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I look forward to seeing KVD dragging his 20 foot trailer the next time I'm portaging through the woods. Or maybe I'll see him dragging his "specialized tools" down this trickle (Yeah, that's a stream.):

 

 

My point is that KVD can't fish where I fish, not if he's going to fish like he's accustomed to fishing. If he were willing to fish out of a lightweight canoe, then sure, he could fish where I fish, but he sure won't be bringing his specialized tools. I fish with fewer tools to fish where fewer fish. 

I was never trying to say that a pro tour would come to your ponds and I've never been to Maine so I don't know for sure what the areas you fish are like. I'm inferring from the pictures I've seen you post that spots like your bogs/ponds exist on other fisheries- at least the depths and structure is replicable elsewhere. Heck, I have seemingly comparable areas in the backwater marshes of the Northwest River and Back Bay here. On big waters, they aren't the whole fishery, but if you get far enough back you can likely find something similar. Guys like Keith Poche have made a living seeking out some of the skinniest and least accessible waters out there. When he gets back there he still has 50 rods in the locker and 10 on the deck so he has a specialized tool for every scenario. That's why we see guys with the same bait on 3 rods with different line sizes for slightly different depths. All I was trying to say initially is that 10,000 fish catches show the underspin is not a highly productive bait for the pros, but because folks like you and I have success on them, it's likely due to the fact that pros have more and better techniques to fill each niche that we use an underspin for. 

 

[Swamp Girl]

41 minutes ago, JHoss said:

I don't know for sure what the areas you fish are like.

 

Here's the exact spot where I launched to catch my PB:

 

 

To reach this launch site, I drove down a dirt road, lugged my canoe over a hill, across a meadow, and then followed a narrow dirt path through the woods.

 

41 minutes ago, JHoss said:

Guys like Keith Poche have made a living seeking out some of the skinniest and least accessible waters out there. When he gets back there he still has 50 rods in the locker and 10 on the deck so he has a specialized tool for every scenario.

 

Here's Keith Poche on his boat. Note the boat:

 

 

Keith couldn't drag his motor alone to my PB pond. Here's my PB, caught on an underspin:

 

 

My point is that I have to fish more simply than Keith Poche and the other pros. Could I go and buy another 1,000 specialized tools? Sure, but to sadly frank, I already own another 1,000 specialized tools, but the Leatherman Super Tool Swiss Army Knife Underspin 3000 works well where I fish and using it, I don't have to lug even more gear over the meadow and through the woods at four in the morning.

 

41 minutes ago, JHoss said:

All I was trying to say initially is that 10,000 fish catches show the underspin is not a highly productive bait for the pros

 

I caught 2,044 bass in 2024, but if I had fished everyday and fished mornings and evenings, I would have caught 10,000 that the pros caught for their data base by myself...and half of them would have been with a Leatherman Super Tool Swiss Army Knife Underspin 3000.

 

In short, I'm doing okay with what I'm chucking.

 

 

 

Final thought: I'm not closed to new lures. My 2025 tacklebox has three new kinds of lures in it, but to remain in my tacklebox, they'll have to earn their spots. I hope one or two of the three do just that because it's empowering to add another arrow or two to my quiver. Could all three, a deep diving crankbait, a rolling, strolling bait, and a bladed jig, earn their keep? Only the bass will tell.

[JHoss]

53 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Here's the exact spot where I launched to catch my PB:

 

 

To reach this launch site, I drove down a dirt road, lugged my canoe over a hill, across a meadow, and then followed a narrow dirt path through the woods.

Perspective is a powerful thing. For a canoer launching, that point is the start of your journey. If that was connected to a major water body, it would be the end of a journey for a boater working up from the main lake/river. 

 

I'm unsure if the screen shot of an area near me will attach or not. I would think that if the backwater pond in the middle wasn't connected to the main river, it would be very similar to the stuff you fish. 

 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

I caught 2,044 bass in 2024, but if I had fished everyday and fished mornings and evenings, I would have caught 10,000 that the pros caught for their data base by myself...and half of them would have been with a Leatherman Super Tool Swiss Army Knife Underspin 3000.

 

In short, I'm doing okay with what I'm chucking.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

 

[Swamp Girl]

That screenshot has me drooling!

 

 

42 minutes ago, JHoss said:

For a canoer launching, that point is the start of your journey. If that was connected to a major water body, it would be the end of a journey for a boater working up from the main lake/river. 

 

Ha! You're right.

[JHoss]

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

That screenshot has me drooling!

 

2,044 bass in a year has me drooling!