STRATEGIES
VERTICal fishing
T
he best times to vertical fish are late fall
through early spring, but you can catch
bass vertically all year round. You need
good electronics. I personally use Lowrance HDS-8 and 10 with side finder and network system.
drag bite. The baits, weights, line size, and movements, vary and you will have to experiment with these
I am constantly watching my screen for the
and let the fish tell you
appearance of a mark which looks like it’s catchable.
what they want. This
The things I look for are marks on breaks, rock piles,
can change from day
brush, feeding flats and so forth. Generally speaking, to day. Have an open
the odds go up if you target marks fairly close to the
mind. Sometimes you
bottom and in 25’ or more. This doesn’t mean that
need to drop your bait
you do not drop on a mark in 20’.
down, let it sit and move the boat away from being over
Once I locate a mark I hold the boat in position,
the fish. They can feel the sonar and the presence of
dropping down. I like drop shotting a Roboworm,
the boat, and you will not get bit until you have moved
Yamamoto grub, creature baits, nail rigged senko,
away. Patience is a virtue. When they are feeding you
heavy jig, texas rigged worm, and spoons. You
drop down, and the bites come right away. Most of the
can watch your bait go down on the screen and
time it will take a little coaxing to get the bite.
sometimes you will see the fish move down to the
After spending a lot of time watching your Lowrance
bait or sideways. It’s so exciting anticipating that
electronics and looking for marks and dropping various
you’re going to get bit. I just love it! Just let it sit there
baits down vertically at 25’ or more, you will start to
with no movement. He knows it’s there, and be ready! understand which marks are more catchable than
Sometimes they could be on a shake bite or a
others. It just takes time and patience. Good luck!
Issue 1 April 2011
21
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