All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Types Of Cover

Bass are predators which like to lie in hiding and ambush their prey. Various types of cover provide unique opportunities for bass to access the particular food source in the area. Cover also provides shade and security for bass. Bass are in their element when there is cover at their preferred depth of the season.

3 Most Important Factors About Bass Cover

Cover dictates where to find fish in any lake.
Cover is a great place for bait to hide.
Cover provides shade and ambush opportunities for bass.

Cover is often a significant part of the pattern

Bass feel the most vulnerable in clear water with little or no cover. When the water is murky bass can hide more easily and they are more likely to aggressively attack bait and other food sources. Often when the bass are shallow, visible cover is the easiest way to locate them. Weather conditions have more impact on clear-water areas than on muddy water areas. The clarity of the water will dictate what presentation is necessary to induce strikes. The clearer the water, the more subdued the presentation. In clear water use smaller, less active lures. In muddy or cloudy water conditions use bigger baits with more action and brighter colors.

Shade is a major element of cover as bass use shade to protect their eyes from UV rays in sunlight. Shade only has to cover the eyes of the bass. The shade also gives the bass more confidence that it is hidden from predators and prey alike.

Brush

Brush is one of the most common cover elements in bass waters. There are many types of brush in different areas of the country. Desert brushes are different than Southern areas which are different from Northern waters. Some types of brush are more likely to hold bass than others at different times of the year. Pay close attention to specific types of brush in your area and which types produce more bass. The thicker the foliage or branch density, the better hiding areas the brush provides. Bass and bait will seek out the thickest brush possible. Typically, the farthest outside brush near deeper water will hold better quantities and often better quality of bass. Begin fishing brush from the outside in. Start with casts to the right and left of the bush before casting into the middle of the brush. When possible cast over or beyond the brush and bring the lure over or into the brush. Start with a spinnerbait or crankbait, followed by worms or jigs fished deep into the center of the brush.

Trees

Trees offer bass similar cover to brush but offer the cover at greater depths. Bass may hold 20-feet deep in a 25 foot tall tree, or they may hold near the surface within the same tree. Often limbs are a major factor when fishing trees as the limbs provide horizontal cover for bass to lurk below. Approach trees much the same way as brush. Start fishing around the perimeter of the tree and work your way to the center. When bass are holding deep in the tree and close to the trunk, try free spooling a Texas-style worm down close to the trunk. If the lure stops – set the hook. It’s probably a bass which took your lure as it fell past its vision. Fallen trees can be a magnet for bass and often for larger bass. The big trunks laying horizontal in the water create the ideal ambush cover for bass. Fish these lay-down trees slowly and efficiently with spinnerbaits and weedless worms or jigs. These bass are often quite shallow and may be hesitant to move far to take the lure.

Grass

Grows primarily in clear water. It is an excellent hiding place for all types of bait and predators. It can often be difficult to fish as there is not a lot of targets to identify. The best way to fish grass is to fish above it and draw the bass out to strike your lure. Look for variations in depth as well as edges and openings in the grass as primary targets. When grass is thick and matted, it may require you to penetrate the surface of the grass with your lure in order to reach the bass. Extra heavy lures called punch lures are used to crash down through the thick grass then worked to attract bass to it. Schools of baitfish often hover amongst the grass so imitating the baitfish can often be a good approach. Top water, shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits are excellent choices for fishing grass.

Moss

Grows only in clear, warm water (50 degrees and above). Generally moss begins appearing in mid to late summer in areas with mud or sandy bottoms which receive plenty of sunlight. This is an excellent hiding place for bass and is nutrient rich which attracts plankton and baitfish. Generally speaking, the best approach is to fish “above” the moss. Virtually all lures will get covered in the moss if you attempt to fish moss like you would brush. Weedless top water lures tend to be the first option. This technique draws bass from below the moss and they attack your lure on the surface even in areas where there are no openings in the moss. When openings are present, a second option would be to fish openings with weedless worms allowing the bait to drop into these pockets. Heavy braided line helps get the bass out of the thick moss.

Rocks

Rocky areas can offer many positive benefits for bass. The nooks and crannies are great hiding places and provide shade for bass and may hold large numbers of bass in a relatively small area. Crawfish and other crustaceans make rocks their home for the same reasons. One major benefit of rocks and rock piles is that they can be found at virtually any depth, unlike brush and weeds that tend to be found shallow. Shallow rocks retain warmth quicker than mud or sand so they are inviting to bass when the water begins to warm in early spring. Fish rocky areas with lures that imitate crawfish. Use crankbaits in the shallower areas and jigs or worms on deeper rocky structure. In summer and late fall, fish deeper rock structure with slab spoons.

Structure

There are many types of structure. Any physical element that is unique to the area would be considered structure. This includes points, humps, islands, river channels and natural drop offs. Bass choose structure for the benefits it provides. Structure with cover present always holds more bass than barren structure. Structure close to deeper water will hold more bass than structure with no quick access to deep water. Based on the season, fish the appropriate depth on these points to locate bass. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and worms work well for shallow bass. As you move out and deeper on the point choose jigs, worms and spoons to fish this structure, based on the cover present.

Resident bass tend to prefer structure that is attached to the shoreline, like long points or creek channels. These areas provide shallow, mid-depth and deep water feeding and holding areas for resident bass. Submerged islands and humps with no direct migration route to the shore tend to be used by migrating bass in summer and fall when bass are schooling and following baitfish.

All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Types Of Cover

3 Most Important Factors About Bass Cover

Cover is often a significant part of the pattern

Brush

Trees

Grass

Moss

Rocks

Structure

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