bottom content

[bucketmouth64]

When I was looking at some new fishing waters up North in the dnr lakemaps it shows areas of rock, gravel, sand, silt, mud and so on. I was wondering should areas that have bottom content of silt or mud be eliminated for areas to fish bass? I know the edge of these areas may hold fish that butt up against different bottom cotent. I don't want to waste time when on new waters I haven't been on.

[thatoneguy]

When I was looking at some new fishing waters up North in the dnr lakemaps it shows areas of rock, gravel, sand, silt, mud and so on. I was wondering should areas that have bottom content of silt or mud be eliminated for areas to fish bass? I know the edge of these areas may hold fish that butt up against different bottom cotent. I don't want to waste time when on new waters I haven't been on.

Goodness, no, don't rule it out. There are LOADS of bass in Leech area lakes in areas with silt/muck bottoms. That said, the best spots I have found are where the soft bottom is near a firmer bottom, whether it be sand, gravel, some rock etc.

[TonkaBass]

Day in day out the hard bottom wins. Pretty sure I would never rely on a dnr map to tell me where these areas are though

[Deitz Dittrich]

Quote:

Day in day out the hard bottom wins. Pretty sure I would never rely on a dnr map to tell me where these areas are though

What he said...

[NTW]

From what little I've observed, Leech is an oddball in terms of bass location. Even when compared to the lakes in that area.

[Nick Kuhn]

The only way I fish sand is if there's something else going on (dropoff, bullrushes, transition to different bottom). I avoid the flats. As far as mud goes, depending on the time of year mud usually hosts a lot of insects, bringing in smaller fish. During a big hatch you can usually find a bunch of fish on mud flats.

[thatoneguy]

From what little I've observed, Leech is an oddball in terms of bass location. Even when compared to the lakes in that area.

Lots of bass in the Cass chain in soft bottom areas as well. Again, I've found it best where it's soft bottom near another feature - deeper water, two types of cover mixed together, etc.

[NTW]

Never been on Cass but that does make sense to me

[RK]

Hiya -

There are times when bass use mud pretty heavily, but usually not just a plain mud bottom. It's usually in conjunction with other cover like nearby rushes where there is a mud bottom with 'junk weeds.' About the only bottom content they really don't seem to like is thick sandgrass. A cleaner bottom, whether it's mud, sand or gravel, is usually better, in my experience at least. I know on the lakes I fish, if there's thick sandgrass in the rushes, I'm out of there.

Cheers,

RK

[Superduty]

Depends on the time of year. Bass and panfish can be stacked in mud bottom bays in the spring. I have also seen bass spawn on pad roots in muddy areas.

[bucketmouth64]

Thanks guys. I will be in the blackduck area. Like some of you have said I would look for two different bottom contents that come together when in the soft bottom areas. How does silt differ from mud?

[mww24]

I don't care so much about about the content. I look more for the subtle changes as well. I love little patches of weeds or small drops or rises in depth. Different water clarity on bigger lakes. I do feel harder bottoms hold more fish usually. I still look for deviations in the are though.

[BassNut33]

This may be a novice questions but how can i identify different types of bottom on my sonar?

[oleballcoach]

Down imaging really helps.

[thatoneguy]

side imaging is very useful as well

[BassNut33]

Yeah it would be, but all I have is sonar. I know there is a way to tell what teh bottom is like, not sure if I am doing it right?

[TurnUpTheFishing]

If you are getting a double echo or a very wide bottom signal your in a hard bottom area. If your bottom is showing up as a narrow return its softer.