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Finding Bass in
Timber
by Chris Stevens
I hear this question all the time, "When
can I find bass in brush and timber?" Well, the answer is:
"Almost any time." For some reason bass just can't
resist brush piles. It's like the brush has magnets drawing the
fish to it.
If you have a depth finder you can easily
find underwater brush and you can find some with just your eyes.
First when I am looking for good timber to fish I like to follow
creek channels and look for tree lines beside the channel. If
I'm out in a big lake I like to find points and flats that have
brush piles.
In the summer bass like timber and brush
in about 15-25 feet of water. Fish the brush with deep running
crankbaits, then if that doesn't work switch to a slower moving
lure like a jig or Texas-rigged worm. Keep changing the depth
of your retrieve because a lot of times bass will suspend half
way up the timber.
During late fall and winter bass go to deep
timber that is around 30 to 40 foot deep. Finding bass in deep
timber and brush can be very hard, especially in an area that
has a lot of trees. Your best bet is to fish the edges or find
some isolated clumps. Try jigging the edges and clumps with a
jigging spoon. Start out jigging at 15 feet then work your way
down deeper. Sometimes when we have warm winter days you can
catch bass on surface lures above underwater trees.
When fishing heavy cover you need to have
the right tackle. You will probably need a medium-heavy or heavy
action rod, with 20-30 pound test fluorocarbon line. Don't be
afraid to use your equipment to its maximum capabilities. You
really don't want to have to jump in the water to retrieve a
bass from a brush pile
Chris Stevens
Junior Pro-Staff
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