Bass Location

Locating the Fish:  A big part of the challenge of catching big bass is locating them. Oversized bass require a steady food supply, ample cover and access to both deep and shallow water. When you're throwing trout plugs, this means finding ambush areas where trout are likely to swim by. This could mean a shallow flat with a nearby dropoff where trout feed in the morning, or a long tapering point with deep water on either side where the wind blows insects around the point creating a feeding lane for the trout and subsequently the bass.

Other ideal locations include large woody laydowns on steep banks that allow bass to hang in 10 to 15 feet of water but still stay close to shore where a not so wary trout might cruise by. This type of cover is especially important in the afternoon hours when the sun drives the fish deeper but the wind and associated chop make for ideal trout throwing conditions. Basically, I believe that big bass want options, and they want them close by. Look for these "combo" areas and you will find them.

Bass Movement / Time of Day:  On the subject of bass movement throughout the day, it is important to rethink a lot of the conventional bass wisdom about morning and evening being the best time to fish. This is true for smaller fish, but for big fish, the afternoon is prime time. It took me a long time to figure this out, but when I look back at all the fish over 5 pounds I ever caught out of Margarita or anywhere, all but one fish on the Delta came mid-day and especially in the afternoon. My 15 at San Pablo was caught at 2pm! For whatever reason, big fish seem to get really active on certain days in the mid afternoon. So quit waking up so early, take a long breakfast, throw jigs until noon, and then break out the big wood and throw it while all the AM guys are putting their boats on the trailer. You might be surprised.

This 7lb Northern Strain bass hit the 7" Slammer mid-day