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Structure - Where to find BASS |
Bass are most often found near "structure". Structure is everything that isn't water. Main channel structure is typically the sheer cliff wall or more accurately breaks or irregularities in the cliff wall. When searching the cliff wall, I look for something unique or different from the basic habitat type. Cast to cracks in the wall, a corner, broken rock, or even shade - maybe a sunny, warm spots in the winter. |
| Main channel water color is very blue where water is deep. Visually scan the cliff searching for best looking spots and then fish these spots exclusively - not the entire cliff. |
Investigate the steep cliff further with a graph or just your lure, to find a shallow shelf or "bottom" where bass have a ledge to live on. Main channel structure would be a small jumbled rock pile, an isolated talus slope, a sandstone point with broken rock that is jutting out from shore and visible underwater as yellow colored rock.
But a cliff face is only one type of bass habitat.
To increase success look for more gradually sloping structure that
has an abundance of rocks. Crayfish live and hide under rocks.
Smallmouth live near and around rocks and prefer to eat crayfish.
Anglers need to use this knowledge in developing fishing strategies. |
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 Low
water offers a wonderful opportunity to study and learn about potential
bass structure that is usually underwater. Broken rock (rocks from 6
inches to 2 feet in diameter) large enough for a crayfish to hide under
are prime smallmouth hunting grounds. We see here ideal rock piles
ending in a series of points. Bass will always be near these rocky draws
searching for crayfish. Sometimes they will be actively searching on top
while at other times they are resting in the deeper water between rocks.
Just find the structure and then fish both shallow and deep to locate
the fish. |
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If a school of shad swims near the rocky home range then bass temporarily leave the bottom and chase in the water column. When shad leave bass return to the rocks.
 One
of my favorite main channel fishing spots is the deep purple wall country
downstream from the Rincon. The steep purple cliff has a talus rock field that
can be completely covered at high water but very visible at low water. These
cliff spots are often noted by just a small rock slide which has abundant shelf
habitat below the surface. Find a spot like this and the bass will be there each
time you make the trip. |
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PATTERN |
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To find bass fish in, around and across the top of each rocky point by bouncing
a soft plastic grub from the top of the shallowest rock to the deepest sandy
bottom at the beginning of every fishing day. Catch the first fish, get the
first hit, and then determine what technique made that bass hit the lure. Was
that fish on top of the rock or in the trough? Try that approach in the next
rocky spot. If it works, then you are on to the pattern and will be successful
in all similar habitat for the next hour or even the entire day. That is what
pattern structure fishing is all about. |
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TALUS ROCK SLIDES |
 Many
of the larger bays are lined with miles and miles of talus slopes. These
rock piles are lined with miles and miles of smallmouth bass. On some
magical days it is possible to find a bass behind every rock. Most of
the time it is not easy to find bass on this immense structure since
bass tend to group and there is no habitat "target" that shows
us where to fish. It is always worthwhile to fish the talus. If the fish
are cooperating then identify the pattern and have a great day. If not,
look for smaller habitat types with specific habitat targets that tend
to concentrate catchable fish with less time spent looking. |
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REEFS and SHOALS |
 A
rock island that suddenly appears in front of the boat causes the driver
to pucker up and swerve. The rock should have the same effect on bass
anglers but for a different reason. Bass will be near the rock and will
likely be catchable. Slow down, approach the island slowly and throw
long casts to the edge of the rock. Make sure the bait sinks to the
bottom on each hop. The first time the bait bottoms out it may be 2 feet
deep. A gentle pull may place the bait over 20 feet of water. Let it
fall. The next pull may be at 40 feet. Work the bait down to 60 feet
before regrouping and casting to the other side of the rock. Work deep
around rocks in open water. |
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 Shoals
are probably the most overlooked but perhaps, the most productive bass habitat
type in Lake Powell. Shallow spots near the main channel are often marked with
white rock buoys. Most shoals are not marked but just barely noticeable by the
color difference as the flooded rocks lend a yellow-brown cast to the blue
water.
Shoals are made for drifting. Toss the bait on top of the shoal and drag it
toward the edge as the boat moves with the wind or trolling motor. Bass will
most often be at the breaking edge where the shallow reef falls into deeper
water. When the bait drops over the edge give it slack so that it can find the
deeper bottom. |
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TEST QUESTION: Where would you fish
at this location? Why? |
 Answer:
The recent rock fall (new spall) has littered the bottom with broken rock
providing habitat for bass and crayfish in a cliff area that was previously
devoid of fish attracting habitat.
How did you do? |
