Bass and Seawalls

[IKickBass]

I regularly catch bass of off seawalls, but I don't understand why a bass would relate to them. What are the reasons that bass relate to seawalls?

[Infidel.]

Any kind of change in the underwater environment will attract fish at one time or another. Seawalls provide shade, current breaks, and habitat for crayfish, sculpins, and other forms of bait.

[Catt]

Any kind of change in the underwater environment will attract fish at one time or another. Seawalls provide shade, current breaks, and habitat for crayfish, sculpins, and other forms of bait.

Bingo 

[Matt Fly]

+1 and.....

    Seawall, retaining walls, quay walls or any other types of walls offer growth, and wind and waves knocks the growth off for baitfish to feed upon.

    Also, in some of my area lakes, there isn't any vegitation, and in summer, the wind and waves crashing those walls and rocks which makes needed oxygen, something that is key during certain times of the year.

   

[paragon]

I grew up on lake st. clair walking all the sea walls in the marinas and near open water. In both cases I would get my big ones with spinnerbaits. when the blades would actually bump the wall. We used to walk those walls for hours.

[tentimesover]

I also have wondered why it's a popular spot for bass.  Many times the walls are near docks, either private or condo docks.  I've thought that the walls provide a place bass can chase bait fish and reduce the dimensions of escape by one - and, then they can go back and rest under the docks when the sun is high.

[Matt Fly]

Those walls get washed out over time, rotted, and just plain ole worn out on some lakes, holes underneath makes nice ambush spot.

   Also, alot of objects end up in the water, bigger concrete chunks get pushed over, and old bucket, lawn chair and other debris that aides in attracting baitfish and predators, lakehouse  owners push alot brush off the edges, you just never know what treasure you may find.

    I have always enjoyed the walls early and late depending on the time of year.

[Chris]

Bass like to relate to edges and vertical edges. The seawall is no different to the bass as a weed line, creek channel, side of a sharp point, timber line, bluff etc. Bass just use it as an object to relate to when they need to change depths if conditions change. If the wall has other objects that are in front of it like a brush pile the bass will follow the wall and relate to the isolated cover that is different that the wall. The brush pile turns into the sweet spot on the wall like Matt said. Any irregular feature on the wall will group fish. The wall itself will be a crap shoot as to where they might be holding at unless there is a depth change. Most of the time you just need to figure out where the thermocline is or the bait. Sometimes when they use it as a current break they might group up a short distance away to tag any baitfish caught up in the tail current.

[cart7t]

Often, when seawalls are built, extra rock dug out from the footings is deposited into the lake in front of the walls providing cover for baitfish and crayfish.  Thus, it's a reliable place for bass to venture to to find food.

Seawalls are also often placed in front of residences to eliminate erosion.  They provide a handy place to fish from and those residents often plant submerged brushpiles to attract fish.

[tnhiker44]

On several of the lakes I fish (Oconee, Jackson, Sinclair), I think the sea walls provide a 'trap' for bait fish. The bass seem to corner bait up against these walls where they have no where to go. Same holds true for steep drop off banks. A Zara Spook thrown so that one of its 'zigs' (or maybe zags) nearly touches these walls is an excellent way to catch fish on these lakes.

[SirSnookalot]

Lot of good reasons mentioned.  Another reason is the  heat that is retained from the previous day.  Fish, not only bass like to hang out there early morning to warm up.