Need Help fishing Deep

[Bassaholic84]

I just got a boat last year so i have not done a lot of deep water fishing.  I know some basics but just cant catch the fish.  I went out yesterday and found a couple drop offs that were holding fish.  I fished them pretty thoroughly with a jig and carolina rig but no takers.  If anyone has any pointers on catching fish in deep water, it would be much appreciated.  

[detroit1]

dropshot and deep cranks.....

[DMac]

If you have electronics, I would use those to locate prime locations and then start using deep cranks and carolina rigs to cover water. Once you've located fish then slow down and fish the area more thoroughly with a big worm or jig. Hope this helps

[J-B]

If you have electronics, I would use those to locate prime locations and then start using deep cranks and carolina rigs to cover water. Once you've located fish then slow down and fish the area more thoroughly with a big worm or jig. Hope this helps

X2  

[Bassaholic84]

I do have depth finder.  I need to learn more how to read it and understand the different colors it shows of the bottom.  I am also going to buy some marker buoys since i think that will help me.  Ive done some carolina rigging and jigging and some deep cranking but just no takers.  Also my anchor rope on my jon boat is only about ten feet should i buy a longer rope so i can drop anchor?

[WRB]

Deep water is relative to where you fish. How deep are you trying to catch bass? How do you know the deep fish are bass?

Do you know how to locate the thermocline depth?

Deep water bass are structure orientated and near baitfish or food source. A breakline is good to find if it has something that the bass relate to; rocks, gravel, ledge, tree, brush, stumps, hump, saddle, weedbed, etc.

WRB

[InLikeFinz]

Yup. I feel your pain on this topic. Just got the smaller of the new HD Lowrance units and have caught squat using it. Nice for GPS though. HaHa. Anyone want to explain the finer details of graph reading we're all ears!! (eyes too)

-Jason

[WRB]

Start with a good book on the subject such as;

http://www.iovino.com/donbook.htm

Don's book is well written for fishermen and easy to follow.

Doc Bruce Samson has instructional DVD's for Lowrance Sonar and GPS units, Google links.

After reading the suggested books or DVD's, it would be easier to answer specific questions.

WRB

[Bassaholic84]

The fish im trying to catch are roughly 18-25 ft deep.  They have moved out of the shallows where i was catching them good.   The lake i fish at is a resovoir that gets about 60ft at some parts and ten feet from shore it can be 15 feet deep.  I have mainly been fishing around the standing timber and some points.  When i was just cruising along i noticed on my depthfinder some kind of ledge or structure on the bottom not to sure what it was but there was definately lots of fish around it.  Do you fish a jig the same deep as shallow and is it better to drag or hop a jig.  

[5bass]

  I am also going to buy some marker buoys since i think that will help me.

Buoys will help you tremendously and anchoring on a good spot is good too, you just have to find the right angle to hit your spot. Current has a big effect on what they do, when they eat and where they set up.

If you cant get bit with a deep crank, a rig, a jig or a big worm, move directly on top of the fish where you can see them on your graph straight under the boat. If they are suspended more than a few feet off the bottom, drop a jigging spoon into the strike zone and see what happens. If they are closer to the bottom, drop the drop shot on 'em and let it soak.

Dont catch 'em all.  

[Catt]

Read these and report back

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1205059810

[Jig Man]

First of all, just because you saw fish doesn't mean that they were bass.

For me your depth is medium.  If I am by myself, I fish that kind of stuff parallel to the bank so my bait stays in the strike zone longer.  If the drops are steep, I'll move in shallow and fish deep to shallow.

I use jigs and triggs for this type of fishing.

[WRB]

When thinking about deep water structure; "structure is the bottom of the lake". Weeds, stumps, fallen logs and anything that has settled onto the bottom, but is not actually the bottom is called cover, IMO.

Keep in mind bass fishing should be freedom to experiment and fish whatever your instincts tell you no matter what everyone says.

Read , but try not to get too caught up in the science of fishing; bass are individuals that can't read.

My favorite method to survey new deep structure areas is to first meter the area to get a good idea what may be down under the water and try to visualize the contours with the aid of a map. I also look for baitfish or bigger fish marks, this helps me to determine the depth of the life zone. I like to fish points and underwater high spots connected to deeper structure.

Strolling is trolling with the trolling motor and very effective method to initially fish a new area. The C-rig works however I prefer the slip shot or drop shot finesse size worms as it tends to slow me down and catch more fish while learning where the rock piles or stumps, deep ledges are located. Work both up in the shallowest area to the deeper areas, bass can be anywhere. Once I know the area, then may come back later to fish jigs or bigger worms if I feel the spot holds larger bass and worth the time. Try to learn something from each area you survey and apply it to the next spot. It doesn't take long to become a good deep structure fishermen, if you fish patiently and enjoy fishing.

Good luck.

WRB

[RiverSmallieSeeker]

The fish im trying to catch are roughly 18-25 ft deep. They have moved out of the shallows where i was catching them good. The lake i fish at is a resovoir that gets about 60ft at some parts and ten feet from shore it can be 15 feet deep. I have mainly been fishing around the standing timber and some points. When i was just cruising along i noticed on my depthfinder some kind of ledge or structure on the bottom not to sure what it was but there was definately lots of fish around it. Do you fish a jig the same deep as shallow and is it better to drag or hop a jig.

wat's the bottom like besides the timber. points rocky? either way, try locating schools of bass w/deep diving crankbaits like a Rapala DT 20 making long casts on a regular speed retrieval w/some pauses. bounce em of the structure and especially the bottom! if they're not schoolin up (not catching multiple fish w/in the same general vicinity) keep throwin that crankbait for loaners or fish suspended deep on that structure. that's wat i'd do. tell me how it works if ya try it.