Catching Bass In A Rough Environment

Ever been to a lake where the water is too clear?
A new lake you never fished before?
No cover that you can see?
The water is too high?
Too muddy?
The water is too low or lowering?
The wind is blowing to hard?

Yes, I think we all have at some time or another. One thing is for sure when these conditions apply to the lake you're fishing it's tough to catch bass. So, let's minimize the effects these conditions have on your next fishing trip.

The water is to clear.

I'm talking about where you can see your lure even at 4-6 foot deep or more. The good news is the bass can see your lure and will chase it more often than in murky water. The bad news is they can see you too.

There are things that you can do to help the cause. One is wear white, blue or grey this will help you blend in with the sky. Try smaller lures with a fast retrieve. Fish on cloudy days and low light periods. Try night fishing. Make longer casts and use lower pound line where the diameter isn't as visible.

A new lake you never fished before.

Here's a word you should remember, ready............ask? Ask the local tackle shop, lake marinas, ask any fishermen you see, ask the game warden or ranger. What do you ask them? Best areas to fish? Do they catch many bass this time of year? The depth they're catching bass?

Get a map of the lake and mark the spots that should hold fish. Look for any cover than you can see like points, drop offs, trees, stumps, grass or any type of cover that is visible. Try trolling to cover areas faster.

No cover that you can see.

Ever been to a lake that looks more like a desert than a lake. I mean there aren't any visible cover anywhere. No trees, no stumps, no docks, no grass, no lily pads.......so what do you do?

Well, my first thing I do is turn on my fish finder and look for underwater structure like flats, drop-offs, points, timber, steep banks, and stumps. See if you can see any points above the water too. Many times what you see above the water is also below the water to some degree. Look for sandy shores and hard bottoms.

The water is to high.

This condition usually occurs in the spring here in Ohio, but of course, it can occur any time there is heavy rain and some lake flooding. First thing to realize is the bass are going to be suspended. They have a lot more room to roam and a lot more new structure to hide around. They won't be concentrated in one place but scattered doing an exploration of the new territory they have found.

Here is what you want to do is this condition. Cover lots of water. Try fishing jigs, worms and deep diving crankbaits. Use big blades on a spinnerbait and use your fish finder and make a note at what depth the bass are located.

The water is to muddy.

My favorite lake gets muddy quite easily and fishing gets tough during this time. Let me give you one thing not to do, don't use the new Vanish fishing line in muddy water, it matches the water and you can't see the line at all. Ok, now for what you should do....use lures that rattle and vibrate. Fish a slow retrieve. Try using scent. Fish ledges, stumps, trees and flip or jig. Fish sunny times of the day. I like to fish from noon to 3 pm in muddy water when the sun is high. Try and find a place where the water is a little clearer than the rest.

The water is to low.

Ever been to a lake that has dropped several feet? I went to Lake Berryessa in California and the lake had dropped more than I ever seen it and the fishing was awful.

I had to find out where the bass were located if I was going to catch anything that day. One thing I knew for sure it is highly unlikely that the bass would be in shallow water. So, I looked for deeper water where there might be timber, deep points and channels. I also knew the bass would probably be suspended hugging the cover. My next step was to downsize and to fish slowly. That seemed to work best.

The wind is blowing to hard.

This is fun fishing, you cast your lure and the boat is past you before you take any line up on the reel. What a pain! Look for coves and any place there is less wind, that is just normal. I fish against the wind and let my trolling motor do some work. Most that I see fish with the wind and let the wind blow them and their boat a 100 mile per hour down the lake. I like to fish spinnerbaits when the wind is blowing hard, for one thing it is easier to detect a strike. I fish it more like a worm though then the usual method of a spinnerbait. I let it drop and use the tip of my rod to move it then let it fall again. I work it just fast enough to keep it from dragging the bottom. I also use this method during a cold front. I like to fish jigs and tubes at this time too.

Try these methods and tips in rough conditions and I think you'll find they work.