9-13-05 Structure/cover and how you fish it

[bass1cpr]

      IN summer I like to run a spinner bait thru Lilly pads making it rise and hit the bottom of the pad then letting it fall, and pull it to the next one and do the same.
They can't stand something in their house un invited.

[bass1cpr]

     Early in the year I like to throw a suspending Jerk bait around the first break line.

[BassBUFF]

Springtime, throw a baby brushhog to any stump in the creeks. Might even get a crappie or three.

[bass1cpr]

     I like to run a carolina rig in the summer months around points keepingthe boat in thirty to forty feet of water. finding some stumps or rock piles on a point will make it one to return to many times during the summer.

[BassBUFF]

I like to pull a Zoom speed tail worm across emergent vegetation in the early mornings or late evenings during the summer.

[bass1cpr]

     I like to drop a Baby Brush Hog in coontail with a pegged weight and just work it through the grass finding holes and letting it fall back into them.

[Mike Noble]

I like to slow roll a spinnerbait all the side of a log that is either laying on top of the water or submerged.

[Mike Noble]

For cypress trees, I like to cast a buzzbait past the tree and bump the tree with the buzzbait as it comes by.

[Ouachita]

When fishing docks on sunny days with a skipping jig I target the docks nearest deeper water in summer. I use a spinning rod no longer than 6' to get a whiplash snap for skipping. I begin searchng for a pattern by targeting the outside open water around the dock if the water is clear.

Jim

[Ouachita]

If no bass come out from under a dock I target the shadiest side of a dock with the skipped swim jig. I'll put it near an outside post corner and swim it out into open water.

Jim

[Ouachita]

When jigging a dock I fish the upper water column first with a swimming jig, working back toward the back sides and rear corners once nearer targets are tested. One technique is to let the jig fall a couple of feet then swim it back up shallow and very close to the edge of the dock, out of sight of bass below. Curiousity often makes them swim up to investigate, knowing the jig is present but seeking cover itself like minnows will do when being cautious.

Jim

[Ouachita]

Before switching to a wood jig for a deeper presentation I'll pitch the swim jig to the walk ramp and other areas near the shore behind a dock. That's where baitfish will congregate more, attracting bass to find a hiding place next to a seawall, in a sunken tire under the walk ramp, or under a partially beached boat.

Jim

[Ouachita]

Once I determine bass are holding under the dock or too deep for a swim jig to appeal to them, I reverse the order of wood jig presentation, beginning from shallow to deep alongside the shadiest side of the dock. I'll let it fall and swim, jigged erratically, in 5 foot depth increments each cast. My last cast to that side will be a bottom-bounced cast or two. I'll then work the sunny side the same way in case bass are watching out towards the better lit waters. I'll switch jig size and color to eliminate those preference detail among the bass. If I manage to catch one of the usually smaller outside dwelling bass I know I've come close to the optimum size and color the larger inside dwelling bass will take.

Jim

[Ouachita]

When fishing the underside of a dock I look for a pattern as to what parts of the dock larger bass are using. They might be holding in a long shadow cast by the dock into deeper water. Maybe they are just below the outer edge, or way back at the back edge. They might be on bottom or suspended in 10 feet midways down the dock. All those zones will be sampled. I'll begin by pitching to the outside edge and let the jig drop straight down, then pause it. I'll raise it maybe a foot then let it fall, trying to keep it close to where it fell. Wherever bass begin biting under a dock will usually be the same for all other docks in the same kind of water, preferably near deep water where they feel more secure.

Jim

[Ouachita]

When fishing a dock near deep water I'll skip the jig about halfway under the dock then let it sink to bottom. That is repeated at least 10 times to the same spot. When retrieving I'll jig it erratically and try to bang a post with the jig. Upon hitting the post I let the jig fall immediately trying to keep it on the other side of the post, set up for another hit.

Jim

[Ouachita]

when jigging a dock the time comes I have to get a jig all the way back to the back end. Once nearby water is eliminated and there's no expected spooking of bass I'll move to about 12-15 feet away and side snap the jig low to the water surface using a 6' fiberglass rod (or shorter) and spinning reel. The idea is to skip the jig over the surface to complete the cast, much the same as skipping a flat rock sometimes 100 feet across still water. You have to sling it a little underhanded with a slight upwards ending motion of the forearm. A jig designed for skipping is best, one that has a flat belly and wide profile. A very short trailer is best, while a long trailer will brake the skipping action too quickly. The skipping jig alerts the bass below of a possible fleeing baitfish being chased for a meal, triggering competition. When it stops and begins to sink bass see it as injured and are more likely to strike on the fall. Have your free hand ready to flip the bail manually to be set for a bite. Taking time to find the reel handle and reeling it to trigger the bail can cost you the first bite detection. When the bail if flipped down the hand needs to slide down to the line to help detect a bite. If I have some line pulled out to the side trying to tighten the line, I'll keep the line out there in the event of a strike rather than try to reel in slack. Let the line down under direct control until you can switch to reeling. Keep in mind you don't often have enough space under dock to allow normal hook setting. Use a side sweep to prevent rubbing the line against the underside of the dock. There's often some metal siding or nails that can result in a breakoff. Keep the rod tip low to the water.

Jim

[HoosierAngler]

On severally shallow flats(1-2') with scattered brush, rock or grass--I like to throw a Baby 1-minus in ghost or firetiger color. These fish see alot of spinnerbaits and topwaters, but most people don't hit areas like this with a crankbait. Steady retrieve for stained water, Stop-n-Go for clear.

[Lipripper]

When fishing laydown logs or trees I like to throw a rapala minnow bait past them and retrive them just fast enough to make it tick the tember the stop and let it come back to the top and twitch it.

[Lipripper]

When fishing rip raft I like to pop a minnow stick bait along the shore line about 2' off the bank.

[HoosierAngler]

RipRap- early morning and late evening I like to buzzbait parallel to the edges, making the blade contact the rocks as much as possible. Usually a Wht. or Chart. buzzbait. Focus on points, pockets and any other irregularites on the bank.

[Ouachita]

Some docks are only inches above the water. In that case I skip a jig on the water outside the dock so it will skip low through a very narrow gap and come to rest under the dock.  I position myself as low to the water as possible, even with the edge of the boat (gunwale), and aim for a specific spot a few feet out from the dock gap. The jig will skip to wherever destiny makes it go. If your casting position is too high the initial bounce angle will usually be too great and the jig will bounce into the dock structure. Keep it super low. It's worth the effort. The largest bass are often taking up the choice, most protected areas under a dock, out of reach of most anglers.

That takes a lot of practice. Set up a board in the yard to provide a low gap and try skipping under it. A sheet of plastic under it will simulate a water surface, allowing skipping. Use an old rusty hook jig, clip the hook off, and use that for practice. You will learn a skip doesn't always have to have power behind it. Precision is usually what does the best job. I got into a rock skipping contest with an 8 year old nephew while camping. He almost always managed to skip farther than I could even though I had far more power. Mine tended to catch the water and dive in too soon. His sailed smoothly, thrown with arms I could fold up in one pocket. Knowing how he does that, I still can't beat him because of habit and lack of ability to consistently hold back on speed and arm power. I still say part of his secret is in the way he spits on the rock before skipping.   But I CAN do it with a rod and jig while he still can't do that. It's all in the forearm/rod action. Let the rod deliver the jig, not your arm.

Jim

[Lipripper]

Jim that a good story and  and your 8 year old nephew will learn how to do it if he keeps fishing with you 

[bobsfishing2]

  At the river I usually use a jig and look for down trees or I try to find  were alot of plants are growing and pitch it towards the edge of it.If I can I try to run it in front of the edge.Other times I let it bounce of the bottom with it.

[bobsfishing2]

  At the river I usually look for down trees or plants and pitch a jig right by it.

[bobsfishing2]

  Other times I'll use a bobber and just let a worm float down the river.