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All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Shallow Water Techniques, 0 to 10'

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By Rick Seaman and Dan Westfall

Bass Knowledge Center

Bass spend a considerable portion of their lifetime in shallow water. The type of lake can impact what percentage of time they spend shallow, versus deep. The bass will be shallow for one of three reasons. They are shallow to feed, to spawn or to find comfortable water conditions. In some cases more than one of these influences may apply.

3 Most Important Factors About Fishing Shallow For Bass
  • Bass are shallow to spawn, for comfort, to feed, or a combination of these.
  • Shallow areas with cover will hold more bass than open water.
  • Shallow feeding bass are likely to be cruising, while shallow holding bass are likely to be positioned in cover.
3 Most Effective Fishing Methods & Lures
  • Make long, accurate casts in clear water.
  • Cast tight to cover in dingy or dirty water.
  • Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, flukes, top water, rip baits, worms – most lures work in shallow water when properly presented.
Locating Shallow-Water Bass.

If seasonal patterns and current conditions dictate that the bass should be shallow, the next step is to determine what areas of shallow water to fish.

Shallow Feeding Bass.

When bass are shallow to feed, most areas will produce. Some better than others. Use a search type bait to cover lots of shallow water quickly to define what areas and types of cover are holding the most bass. A crankbait, spinnerbait or top water can allow you to define where the bass are located. Once you locate them experiment with other baits to determine which bait and presentation produces the most bites.

Shallow Spawning Bass.

During the spawn bass are wary and protective of their nesting area, eggs and fry. In pre-spawn the bass feed in preparation for the spawn and will aggressively attack lures. Once the actual spawn begins, feeding stops and any contact with lures is to protect their nesting area. During the post spawn period bass begin feeding aggressively again to regain the weight they lost during the non-feeding spawn period. Note that all bass do not spawn at the same time, so different bass could be in different stages at the same lake.

Shallow Holding Bass.

There are times when the water temperature and oxygen content is ideal for bass even when they are not feeding. During these times the bass are holding in shallow water for the comfort it provides. These bass will not be as aggressive and may require slower, more direct presentations to trigger a bite. Worms, Senkos, flukes and other slow-moving lures presented close to the bass have the best chance for success. Accurate pitching or flipping may be required to get the lure in front of the bass.

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