One and Done

[Bud Kennedy]

During my years at Santee many an hour was spent exploring cypress trees one tree at a time.  Seldom was I able to get more than one fish from a tree and would simply move to the next tree and the next tree and so on.  Eventually returning to the original spot and once again able to hook a nice bass. 

My belief became that once you catch one it takes at least 20 minutes or so before the tree reloads and ready for action again.  I don't know if this is common I can only tell my story and experience.  If you watched Mikes recent video he too was moving from tree to tree in a configuration very much the same as Santee.  Lots of trees in shallow water and on a hot sunny calm day was the only shade available for the fish that was  not bank oriented or grass mat oriented.  Do you guys see the same deal in your areas?

[chrisD46]

Some guys have a knack for finding trees that have a slight difference to them than other trees - those are the trees typically holding bass . Still other guys develop unique  casting angles at the base of trees that can be pretty complicated . I'm in the last group - find another pattern (offshore) that I can run and catch more bass.

[njpaulc]

I don't think it's reload, I think it's more like calm down.  Shallow water bass are really skittish, and the disturbance created when one is couaght can cause other fish to bury up tight to cover and become very cautious.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I don't think it's reload, I think it's more like calm down.  Shallow water bass are really skittish, and the disturbance created when one is couaght can cause other fish to bury up tight to cover and become very cautious.

that's a great point. Approach a spot wrong, and your cover is blown!!

[Mike Cork]

When it comes to the shallow cypress tress, I firmly believe there can be multiple bass on a single tree. Some of the root systems are just that complex, and shade pattern that big. However, the noise of a fighting bass, trolling motor or power poles, nets banging around, everything that goes into catching a good bass can really put the other fish in the area on edge.

There are times when there is only one fish on a tree and it will reload after a few minutes. The amount of bass cruising around looking for a place to set up and rest or ambush prey is phenomenal. I always new there were a lot of roaming fish but since having my live scope, it's astonishing that we don't catch fish on every cast...

So One-N-Done... Yes-- Reload? Yes-- The why may vary...

Great point Bud
I've had a lot of success on tree groves that took about 30 minutes to fish. Start on one side and work around it catching fish for several hours at a time. Some of my biggest tournament stringers came from fishing the same 10 trees in rotation all day long. Great for summer fishing when they are a half a mile apart; you get to cool off with a short ride between them LOL

[Wizard]

Is that a milk run with a Cork on it? I enjoy fishing cypress knees. You never know when a bass will slither out of the knees and inhale your jig. There is always the anticipation that THIS cast will draw a strike. I have caught multiple bass from one tree. Usually, it is a tree that sits slightly farther out in slightly deeper water. Current can hit the area around the knees harder and scour around the knees a little more.  More places to hide...more bass.

Wizard

[Oldfart9999]

We don't have cypress trees here, you folks in the south may have miserable hot weather but you also have cypress trees. Lucky you!
Rodney

[topdsm0138]

I don't think it's reload, I think it's more like calm down.  Shallow water bass are really skittish, and the disturbance created when one is couaght can cause other fish to bury up tight to cover and become very cautious.