Deep-Water Bass

To find deep-water bass, cover water efficiently with a rod and reel. When fishing down to about 18 feet or less, fish a crankbait. Use a watermelon-shad color, a pearl-colored lure with a light green-lime back. Because of its back, this lure shows up in stained water, and its white pearl belly shows up in clear water. The further you can cast a crankbait, the lighter line you use and the deeper you hold your rod in the water, the deeper the crankbait will dive. A crankbait works most effectively when fished on some type of breakline, such as an underwater creek channel, an underwater grass line, an underwater stump row or some other kind of breakline. When fishing for deep-water bass, attempt to discover a school of the fish. Then you may want to catch your limit of bass out of one spot. During the summer months, use a faster retrieve to get a reaction strike. Some days you need a slow retrieve for the bass to bite, even in hot weather. But during the winter months, always use a slow retrieve. You even may want to add a little weight to your crankbait to make it suspend. Then when you stop the bait, the lure will sit there for a long time, so the bass can see it and decide to eat it. Work it really slowly through cover.