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The best areas for spawning are usually in creek arms or coves. The best coves for the spring are shallow with murky water. This water warms the
quickest and bass will be here in the spring. Some other good areas to find bass in the spring are in shallow bays or on flats that are surrounded by
deeper water. If there are shallow bays or flats near deeper water, bass don't have to travel far to find a good spawning area. They will stay in the bays
or on the flats during spawning, then just return to deeper water when they are done.
In natural lakes, bass tend to spawn in shallow water that is near the deep water that they called home for the winter. Bass don't travel as far as they do
in reservoirs to spawn. Any areas that have shallow water can hold spawning bass in natural lakes. Target any bay or channel first, then follow up with
shorelines that have some type of weeds. If you can find the shallow areas that warm fastest, you will find some spawning bass in natural lakes.
Summer
Bass can be found in many places in reservoirs during the summer time. While most fish move into deeper water, many anglers target the shallows all
summer and they catch a lot of fish. The key is find shallow water that has lots of cover such as weeds, timber, docks, etc. If you can find shallow water
that is close to deeper water, you will be able to catch these bass consistently during the morning and evening as they come shallow to feed on bait
fish. The majority of the fish are usually in deeper water. Some anglers catch bass in water up to 50 feet deep. In most reservoirs, you can catch bass
in 12 to 15 feet of water throughout the summer. Find weeds in these depths and you should have some success. Some fishermen fish too deep
during the summer and they don't catch any fish. The thermocline prevents fish from going too deep. The thermocline is a zone where the water
temperature changes rapidly. Below the thermocline is the deepest, coldest water, however, this water lacks oxygen. The upper layer is the warmest,
but provides plenty of oxygen for the fish. You will find bass hanging out around the thermocline throughout most of the day in the summer. Remember
that they will come to the shallows to feed during the morning and evening.
In natural lakes, it is easier to find bass than in reservoirs during the summer time. There will always be bass around deep weeds in the summer on
natural lakes. Although they come shallow to feed during the morning and evening, targeting deeper weeds is where you will find the most fish. The
lake that you are fishing will dictate what depth you should be fishing. If it is a deep, clear lake, the weeds might be in 12 to 20 feet of water. In
shallower lakes, the weeds might be in 4 to 10 feet of water. Find the deep weeds first and find out what depth the fish are at. There is usually a
pattern and if you can find that pattern, you will find fish. One day, they might be in 18 feet of water and the next day in 12 feet of water. Remember
that some bass stay shallow all day around cover. These fish are easier to catch and most anglers will target the few bass that are in the shallows
because they know that they can catch them.
Fall / Winter
Catching bass in the fall through winter provides its challenges, but produces some of the biggest bass of the year. During the fall, the water cools off
and the bass come shallower again to feed before winter. Bass can be found throughout creek channels feeding heavily. Any shallow water that
provides cover will also attract bass during the fall. You can catch a lot of big bass during the fall before the turnover happens. Once the lake turns
over, fish will be spread out in deep water. They will be tough to find and tough to catch. Targeting them in the deepest cover is your best chance to
catch these fish. They will stay in this deep water throughout winter making them very hard to catch.
In natural lakes, early fall is a great time for bass fishing. Bass are in the shallows again and they are feeding heavily. Any shallow cover can hold
bass. As the water cools and the lake turns over, bass will spread out throughout deeper water. Shallow lakes turnover faster than deeper lakes. Fish
the shallow lakes in early fall and the deeper lakes in late fall. Once the turnover happens, fishing becomes very tough and stays tough through the
winter. In the south, a warm front will bring some bass into the shallows, however, a cold front will push them back into their deep water hang outs.
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