| Part 2 - Developing a Pattern Based On Seasonal | | | | Bass are going to be thin and lethargic. The key to |
| Tendencies of Bass | | | | fishing these bass will be to fish slowly but there are |
| By viewing pattern fishing from the seasonal | | | | times when bass will want a fast retrieve. |
| tendencies of bass, you simplify finding and catching | | | | The temperature is probably in the mid 70's. Bass will |
| bass on any given day. You start with a simple pattern | | | | leave the spawning areas and hold on the first |
| that may or may not have to be fine tuned for local | | | | available area with deepwater access. This might be a |
| conditions. | | | | ledge, a rip rap or a creek channel. Top water baits, |
| Winter: | | | | deep-diving crank baits, waking a ¾ - 1 ounce |
| Water is cold, even in central Arkansas. Water | | | | spinnerbait, Texas-rigged worms, jerk baits and the |
| temperature is usually in the mid to upper 30's. Here | | | | Senko will work great. |
| comes that one day where air temps are in the 50's, | | | | Summer: |
| you have been cooped up for a while and you want | | | | Water temperature has risen to the 80's. Many bass |
| to go fishing. Where do I start and what lures do I use? | | | | move offshore during summer and fan out over the |
| Remember the general tendencies: During this period | | | | body of water. These are widely known as "dog |
| the bass are most lethargic. They tend to stay in one | | | | days." Bass will gain some weight and become more |
| place and do not move far or fast to eat. The best | | | | aggressive. They will begin to school and chase bait. |
| bet is a large tributary or the main lake with areas | | | | As the summer continues, the techniques and patterns |
| having a fast descent into deep water. Vertical rock | | | | will change. You will have to figure out where the bass |
| bluffs or steep banks with gravel or chunk rock on | | | | are and play with the various techniques until you |
| them. Try to pinpoint areas that have fallen trees or | | | | figure out what patterns will work. When these |
| stumps along the slopes. | | | | changes occur is all dependent on the weather |
| Fish slowly. Try slow rolling a 1 ounce spinnerbait, a pig | | | | conditions. |
| and jig, a grub on a jig head, or a jigging spoon. | | | | Bass are going to be in 15 to 30+ feet of water. |
| Prespawn: | | | | Fishing for suspended fish likely becomes the name of |
| Water temperature is in the mid to upper 50's. Bass | | | | the game. One pattern that works in this type of |
| are beginning to stage for spawning and males are | | | | circumstance is to slow roll a chatterbait in the |
| starting to frequent bedding areas in order to find and | | | | suspended fish. The pattern Scott Suggs used to win |
| build nests. Bass are foraging for food prior to the | | | | the Forrest Wood Cup tournament on Lake Ouachita |
| spawn. Starting spots will be humps, points at the | | | | this last August was to slow roll a spinnerbait over the |
| mouth of a spawning cove and areas between the | | | | submerged trees, occasionally bumping the tree tops, in |
| deep water and the spawning area. | | | | 30+ feet of water. Top water baits will work on |
| During this period bass are reasonably active and | | | | schooling fish and Texas-rigged plastic worms will |
| feeding. Try chunking and winding a spinnerbait, burning | | | | work on humps and ridges in 15+ feet of water. Your |
| a Rat-L-Trap, a Texas-rigged plastic worm or lizard, a | | | | best bet is to fish very early, daylight to 9 or 10:00 |
| jig and pig, a jerk baits or a Carolina-rigged lizard. | | | | o'clock and late in the evening 7:00 o'clock until and |
| Spawn: | | | | after dark. |
| Largemouth Bass generally begin the spawn when | | | | Fall: |
| water temperature reaches the high 60's or low 70's. | | | | Water temperatures are dropping from the mid 70's. |
| The month or months vary widely depending on which | | | | When the days begin to cool and water temperature |
| region of the country you are in. The full moon has a | | | | is 75 degrees or below, bass become active and |
| drastic impact on this cycle also. Rule of thumb is that | | | | move to flats near the main river channel. These are |
| the spawn occurs 3 days before the full moon and | | | | often loaded with logs, brush or grass. Concentrate on |
| last till 3 days following the full moon. The spawn may | | | | small pockets near these flats. Bass will be very |
| take place over a couple of months. Here on Lake | | | | aggressive during this period and will feed heavily prior |
| Ouachita, where I reside, the bass spawn in waves in | | | | to moving to a deeper, slower winter pattern. |
| March, April and May. During this period, bass are | | | | Bass will be very aggressive during this period and will |
| concentrated in one spot - the beds. They only move | | | | feed heavily prior to moving to a deeper, slower winter |
| to protect the bed or their eggs. They do not eat | | | | pattern. Use faster baits in these conditions such as |
| during this period but will strike baits that appear to be | | | | top water baits like the Pop-R and Zara Spook and |
| a threat to the nest or eggs. | | | | Rat-L-Traps, buzzbaits, and mid to shallow running |
| You are going to be sight fishing for visible bass on | | | | crank baits. |
| beds in reasonably shallow water. The best baits are a | | | | These are some of the ways to combine water |
| Texas-rigged worm or lizard, Senko, slow rolling a | | | | temperature, time or seasons of the year and the |
| spinnerbait, a gitzit, a tube or a jig and pig. | | | | general tendencies of the Largemouth Bass to |
| TIP: Be sure to wear your Polaroid sunglasses and | | | | develop a pattern for catching bass. These are very |
| you will be able to see the bass on the beds. | | | | broad patterns and specific lakes, weather conditions |
| I personally am not in favor of fishing for bedding fish. | | | | and habitat will require you to refine these to a specific |
| That is my preference because the spawn is so | | | | pattern. For instance, if you ever fish Grand Lake in |
| important to the continuation of the species in our | | | | Oklahoma, look for willow trees in the water, especially |
| lakes. If you should catch a spawning big-bellied female, | | | | during postspawn and spring. You find willow trees in |
| please release her after you have taken pictures. | | | | 4-5 feet of water you will catch bass regardless of |
| Postspawn: | | | | what bait you use. If you fish the Ouachita River Basin |
| The male and female bass are now protecting the fry. | | | | in Louisiana, look for Cyprus tree or stumps with live |
| The majority of the time the fry will be in a tight bundle | | | | vegetation growing out of the stump. Nine out 10 times |
| and close to the surface. The adult bass will be close | | | | when throw a worm or craw worm next to the |
| by protecting them. Postspawn ends when the | | | | stump, you will get bit. |
| protecting bass pass through the fry bundle eating | | | | I hope this article has answered some of your |
| some as they leave. This is a signal to the fry that | | | | questions about patterning bass and has given you |
| they are now on their own and begins the Postspawn | | | | enough information to begin developing your own |
| period. Now these adult bass have not eaten for | | | | patterns for the lakes you fish. Keep a tight line and |
| several weeks and are looking for a quick, easy meal. | | | | remember catch and release. |