Different Covers, Different Results

[Beale_Bass]

I went fishing over the weekend at Oroville, and I've got a question about cover in general (or Oroville specifically, if you've been there!).

Now, the banks of most of the lake are rock slides that continue down into the water, with a semi-steep bank. The water was decently warm for the weather (sunny but windy), considering the size and depth of Oroville. My buddies and I were nailing bass with Senko's and Trick Sticks from sun-up til around 5, but ONLY if we stuck to the rocks in coves around the lake.

As we explored, we found coves and areas with tons of submerged trees with their tops poking out of the water (no depth finder, so I have no idea how large those trees really are, but there were several shallow areas). Screams "cover", right? Stick baits, jigs, spinners, nothing produced in the trees.

I know there are no cut and dried answers for this, but I'm curious why largemouth would stick to the large boulders on the slopes instead of trees and brush in shallower areas. Any ideas?

Frank

[Mobydick]

I think you found a really definite pattern there for sure. I have a few guess's about it also. They may have been in the cove because of the wind...they may be on the side of the cove that the wind hits first because the shore serves as a wind break and therefore a current break (current caused by wind). And I could be totally wrong...but rocks take longer to warm up fom the sun than wood does...they may have been on them for the tempurature. It may also be because the food may have been there because the rocks provide a safer cover to them...crayfish prefer rocks over wood too.

How large was the area of trees? If there was any isolated smaller areas, did you fish them? I would have searched for the sweetspot in the area, there is always one. Thats where you need the depthfinder to find cover and structure such as humps, channels, depressions, ridges, weedbed, etc. You need to find somehing in there for them to relate to.

Its all on what the bass want at the time....you may go back tomorrow and only find them in the trees. You eliminated the unproductive water (trees) and stuck to the productive water (rocks).

Just another thought. They may have been on the slopes as you put it because it offers a quicker escape to deper water, quicker than if they were in the shallows. At night they may be up in the shallows with trees and brush though.

Good Luck!

Ian

[DINK WHISPERER]

I think mobydick nailed it with saying they were there due to the wind and prey. I would be willing to bet that there were also some in the trees and brush but they were either inactive or they didn't like any of the lures/presentations you offered.