Analyzing a spot

[RumRiverRat]

This a Bass Fishing Specific spin off of a thread in the Metro Forum.

This is a map of a spot on the lake my dad lives on.

It is a 570 acre lake with a secchi disc reading of 16 feet.

Weedline is at 15 foot more or less.

Largemouth Bass only.

In the pic Brown is sand/gravel 3 to 5 foot deep, Black dots denotes a rocky area. Golfball to basketball sized rocks. Green is vegeatation consisting of Large Lead Pond Weed and Clasping Leaf Pond Weed, commonly called Cabbage.

This is a part of a large main lake bar system.

Depending on the time of year the weeds are just below the surface to about 4 feet below the surface at the deep weed line.

From the left side to the point to the right of B it is about 400 yards long. Spot A is a hump that tops out a about 3 foot.

From the hump to spot B is about 125 yards give or take.

Tell me why and how you would fish spots A,B,C and D.

When I have more time I will post a detailed account of how I fish the spots from the bass opener until the fall.

I am interested to hear what techniques you would use to fish these spots taking all factors into account.....like time of day, amount of wind.....

Pics of Weeds for reference

[TonkaBass]

I would hit them all because you never know, but I would spend the least effort on A and the most effort on C.

[Cecil]

B & D look like better spot's earlier in the year. C and A would be great summer/fall spots. I have fished a spot similar to that and caught a lot of fish in the saddle between the point and the hump. More so in the summer, but you never know.

For me, so much of it depends on the weed growth. Weeds never seem to grow the same every year, so finding that good "clump" is key.

B would also be a good cold front spot. Inside bend and close to a sharp break.

[TR21HP]

RRR, That sand and gravel just begs for a carolina rig. All others I would throw shallow running crankbaits or a swim jig and I would really saturate it with a jig and worm. Of course everything depends on the time of the year but that looks like a sweet spot to fish. I agree with Tonka on spot A, I can't tell if it's a rise or drop. If it's a hump I would certainly go after it with a jig and worm or texas rigged worm.

[Deitz Dittrich]

First things first.. I really wish that spot A topped out in 8-12 rather than 3. If it topped in 8-12 I would be all over it like a fly on dead carp..

Early season—its really to hard for me to say how I would attack this spot. Without knowing if its in a bay, main lake, if a bay is near.. ect.. Plus it would be good to know how deep a water is it coming out of.. I see 20 feet but is there 30 or even 40 near? I guess if I was forced to pick an early season spot (assuming the North is up) I would first look at that small point of weeds just to the west of the D.. try and find the weed trasitions., and depending on water temps go from there..

Summer I would side image the crud out of the saddle area between the point and hump. If there was any vein of anything interesting I would fish it. I would also look for anything that extends out past B.. if there is rock on C its self, there is a good chance there is something out past B, but maybe not. I also notice there are some curves and tweaks to the hump A.. Probably have fish there too. Would at least spend some time looking for the spot on the spot.

Late Summer into fall I would explore the inside bend it looks to have by B.. it would be nice to know how close to shore this spot really is..

As for presentations.. I am not as stuck that each spot is a “this” kind of spot.. like you have to crank this or Carolina rig that.. Im more of the thought that each day try and find the easiest technique to get to how the fish are relating to the cover/structure that day.

[RK]

I would hit them all because you never know, but I would spend the least effort on A and the most effort on C.

Hahaha...I saw A and my eyes lit up. ESPECIALLY if, as Cecil mentioned, there's a saddle between the hump and the point. Cuz if there is - man oh man...

Really so many variables to think about like time of year, weather and weather trends, etc., but generally speaking...

If it's early season, I'd start on the inside weed edge and fish both the sand flat and the weed edge, probably with a swim jig, especially since it's pretty clear. If conditions make me think they're not chasing, or I catch fish on the swim jig that make me think there's more fish there I'd pitch the inside edge with a beaver type bait or a jig.

If it's post spawn, I'd also check the deep weed edge and see if I can find any remaining green weeds from last year. I'd look at the inside turn south of C and along the edge between B and C. I'd try to find the weeds with a crankbait, and maybe fish a jig through them if I find some and think there are fish there. Leeward sides of points and inside turns usually hold some holdover weedgrowth on lakes with a deep weedline, and they can be freaking fish magnets post-spawn. To me, they're the best shot at a big girl between the spawn and when summer patterns start to set up. Looking at the map and how narrow the weed edge is on the S side, it might be a spot I fish "inside out" casting to deep water and bringing a bait to the weedline.

During the summer, I'd start on the deep edge, probably with a crankbait, and feel my way along the weedline looking for little fingers or deeper clumps of weeds, and definitely look for a saddle between the hump and the point. If it's there and I can hit it with a crank, I'd do so, otherwise I'd probably criss-cross it with a football head and see if I can find harder bottom. (If I found any rocks, I'd probably wet myself...). If I don't think I'm getting what I should with a horizontal bait like a crankbait, I'd switch to a heavy (5/8 oz) jig and fish the weedline - especially any irregularities I found with the crank. I can still fish a jig fast, and a fast drop speed will trigger fish. If I *still* don't get what I think I should get, and still think there are fish to be had on the deep edge, I'd fish a jigworm. By now I'd hopefully have located some fish, so I have some areas to concentrate on with something that drops slow. I'd take the same approach on the hump more or less.

I'd also check out the rock pile for sure - probably with a shallow crank and/or a football jig.

Fall - would totally depend on if it's early, late, and weather and water temp. Could be anything from deep cranks on the weed edge to buzzbaits up on top, or slow rolling a big spinnerbait...who knows. Does look like a spot that would hold fish all season though. It's a complex, and complexes are goooood...

Man...now I REALLY wanna fish...

Cheers,

RK

[Nick Kuhn]

I would go to spot B and promptly lose a favorite bait to a pike Seriously though, that looks like pike territory to me.

I personally would not spend much time around spot A. My history with such spots (albeit on dirtier lakes) is that smaller fish tend to the ones occupying such a spot (like 8 to 12 inchers).

Spot B would likely be where I would start on a brighter day if I didn't arrive during the low-light hours. Probably start with a deep crankbait to search for fish. I would then slow down with a jig if I catch a few off a spot, or discover any pockets in the weeds.

Spot C is interesting. With the scale I'm assuming it isn't the broadest area of rocks. Given the close proximity to the weeds, I would spend most of my time near the inside edge of the weeds. If it's apparent that it's an active feeding time a jerkbait or swim jig could work over the rocks, but I just don't see fish holding there all the time given the clear water and how close added cover is. Early in the year there may be fish holding there to warm up though.

Spot D is similar to B, just an inside edge as opposed to an outside edge. I'd use a similar strategy as well. I wouldn't hesitate to swing around to the deep edge there either, especially if there are a few turns in the weeds as you have drawn it.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Hard to tell exactly with such a small snapshot. Where is this spot located in regards to shoreline? Is it smack in the middle surrounded by deep water or does it have avenues leading to shoreline areas?

Hard To say whether Id give it much of look early in the year around opener or not. I guess it depends on how isolated it is from the shoreline or spawning grounds. Ive seen some mid-lake areas like this void of fish early and other times they will spawn at places like this.

My initial gut reaction is that its at its best later in the season.

Is the brown on the map an inside weedline or is their still weeds scattered on top? Does Spot A top out 3-4' or thats as high as the weeds make it below the surface?

Ok, based on my thoughts Id start hitting it mid summer on. During a regular sunny day Id probably target the weeds/weedlines putting lots of effort into the narrow area around C out to the tip at B. Lures would vary but probably lots of deep cranks on the edge and jigs or T rigs in the weeds. Maybe some drop shotting on the edges too. On low light days or early/late Id probably fan cast the top with something like a topwater or swim jig.

I also noticed the deep water between A and B and would look there for fish sitting around this area on those tougher bite days.

Finally, Id probably spend a decent amount of time looking for rocks outside of the C spot. If you could find some clusters in other places (deeper) that could be money.

[Superduty]

It's a small lake so I assume this is probably the biggest piece of offshore structure on the lake. At all times of year, except the heart of the spawn, I would fish everything on your map. It's only 400 yards long. If conditions are cloudy and or windy-start with a crankbait and cover water. Once fish are located, slow down and fish them with a jig worm or carolina rig. If it slick and sunny, I wouldn't mess with a fast bait. Grab a big jig or your favorite texas rigged plastic and fish the weed edge and up into the weeds. Cabbage holds bass EVERYWHERE you find it! Sooner or later you will run into something different on the bottom in the cabbage and it will be worth the search.

[Raider4ever]

Apparently I'm in the minority. I would start at A first thing in the AM (I love fishing humps early morning). Then I would go to C. From C, I would hit B then over to D. Seriously, if it is only 400 yards long, you are done with all the spots in an hour-and-a half to two hours tops (30 minutes a spot is awfully long unless you find the mother-load).

[RumRiverRat]

Spot A tops out at 3 foot and the weeds will poke above the surface in late summer.

Some People call them Red tops because of the red seed pod that will sometimes be above the surface.

There is nothing other than sand and gravel in the brown area.

The brown area is a large 300 by 300 yard area that is the shallowest part of this main lake bar complex. I cut out a lot of it from the map.

The sand gravel area gives way to a large 3 to 6 foot weedy flat that dominates the West side of the lake.

There is a very well defined weedline where the bottom transitions from a softer bottom to the sand and gravel.

You can clearly see the wall of weeds and then the lighter colored sand gravel area.

On the deep side the weedline is just as well defined, especially in August. For the most part it is pretty straight with just a few inside turns and little fingers of weeds that stick out.

With the clear water I pound the transition between the sand/gravel and the weedline with topwaters. Frog Colored Zara Spook is the go to bait. I hit that whole transition area early in the morning, fish for at least 2 hours in the total darkness and the hot time is from about a half hour before sunrise until about 45 minutes after sunrise.

It is shallow but the bass will be cruising the weedline and it is not uncommon to have a fish blow up on the bait every cast, when they miss I quickly reel in and throw a fluke or senko as a follow up bait.

The entire length of spot D is another favorite of mine for using a Spook, I will fish this on partly cloudy or cloudy days with calm conditions. I have had success on sunny days with a little chop on the water using a Spook as well.

Spot A is a great summer spot, the weeds tend to hold large amounts of small bluegills and the bass will suspend around the hump and pick off any that stray to far from the cover.

I will burn a Lipless Rattle bait like a Redeye Shad or a Clackin Rap around the hump to find the active fish. If they does not work I will use a swim bait like a Flatback Shad on a 1/2 to 3/4 oz bullet head and work the entire water column to locate the suspended fish. A swim jig also has work for me in this situation.

B is a great jigworm or drop shot spot.

The entire spot is not very big but I can spend 2 to 3 hours working just spot D.

Some days the fish are just stacked along the weedline and never stop biting.

The saddle area is a great Pike spot, lost many a swim jig to them toothy critters.

I could go on and on about how I fish this area, it is the place to fish on this lake and the locals and the people that live on the lake know it.

[RumRiverRat]

Man...now I REALLY wanna fish...

Cheers,

RK

That was one of the reason I posted this.

Excellent post as always RK!