Westernbass Magazine August 2011, Page 28

Westernbass Magazine August 2011, Page 28

UPHill downhIll

m UPh d I o l w l n , hill

By Mike Folkestad

any articles discuss structure fishing,

but few have addressed whether

to fish uphill or downhill. Generally,

crawdads move shallow at night, so it seems sensible to fish uphill in the evening. Using

instead, i tend to believe that bass are much more practical about their feeding habits. When a meal passes by, they take advantage of it regardless of the direction of the bait. With this in mind, being practical is just what a bass fisherman needs to do when fishing

the same logic, it follows to fish downhill as the sun

uphill or downhill. There are reasons for going in one

rises and the crawdads move deeper.

direction or the other, but most have nothing to do

obviously, there are times when fishing in one

with fish expectations. it is the controlled presentation

direction or the other seems to work better. When

for the given conditions that produces more bites.

that happens, you need to ask yourself, “is this

Structure fishing demands you to think of

working because the bait is coming in its ‘natural’

contours when bass fishing. Bass go with bottom

direction? as much as i believe bass are conditioned

changes, and our baits need to relate to the changes

to their environment, i find it hard to believe they

as well. For fishing uphill and downhill, my baits of

lie waiting for crawdads to move in one direction or

choice are the jig and the plastic worm. Keep in mind

another (assuming that crawdads actually do so).

that bass sometimes ride higher of the bottom

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