Seasonal Habits of Bass  

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  An essential ingredient to successful bass fishing is to understand the bass habitat.  Doesn’t do much good to make perfect casts and retrieves into areas where there are no fish.  Bass move around, or migrate, in the lake with the change of the seasons and water temperatures.  Only the life sustaining needs (oxygen and food) will take the higher priority on the bass’s list of essential elements for his well being.  Let’s look at “dog day” or just plain hot weather fishing.

  The heat of summer sunshine turns the shallow water areas into less desirable neighborhoods for bass.  Seeking body comfort, the fish will move into deeper water and/or around underwater springs where the temperatures are most pleasant.  There are several exceptions to this typical pattern however.  Depending upon the lake, pond or reservoir, summer temperatures can do dastardly things to the oxygen supply in the water.  At times the fish may be forced to congregate into a thin layer of hot water practically on the lake surface, as this is the only portion of the lake which contains sufficient oxygen for their survival.  While the deeper water is considerably cooler, the fish simply cannot live there.

  A depth finder will quickly if this situation exists in the lake.  When oxygen supplies force the fish into the shallows, they will typically seek out some type of shade for relief.  Boat docks, overhanging trees and high bluffs are all good places to try.

  More common summer circumstances drive bass into deep-water channels that sport stumps and other structure.  Mark off a stretch of the channel with a floating buoys, such as Mann’s Buoys.  Try to drop each buoy into the same water depth along the edge of the drop-ff.  In this manner you will have clearly marked out the structure below and you will be able to use the buoys depth.  If the fish are caught a couple of feet deeper than the buoys are working, concentrate your efforts on the downhill side of each drop off, and vice versa.

  Back the boat off a reasonable distance and cast along the marked line representing the channel shoulder or ledge.  Summer bass in deep water are usually not too active and will not chase a lure the way they will in the spring and fall.  Attempt to cover every piece of structure you can to increase the odds of finding a waiting bass lurking besides any one of them.