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Photo: Tyler Mohr
OTHER COVER: Other forms of cover, that are located near laydowns, is also important, as sometimes a weedline or creek channel will run into that laydown and be the key into holding bass. CURRENT SPEED:
The speed of the current is also a key. The current plays a role in how the bass are setting up on that piece of wood. If the current is swift, the bass will set up behind the laydown, as it is a natural current break for them to sit behind and ambush an easy meal.
PATTERNING
As you start to get bit, pay attention to the common factors of your productive laydowns. Are they on points, midway back in a pocket, or on steep channel banks?
All these locations serve a purpose for a bass in their feeding and migration patterns for the year and can be patterned on your lake or river.
Photo: PTyler Mohr
DISSECTING A LAYDOWN
When I find a good laydown, I want to work that piece of cover thoroughly, so I will slowly approach the target using my Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor and then deploy my dual Minn Kota
Talon’s once I’m in a position to make precise casts to the laydown. This will keep me from blowing into or away from the cover and allows me to focus on covering every inch of that laydown.
The first casts should target the outer edges of the wood, so there is no initial disturbance to the inner most area of the laydown.
PRESENTATION
To work the outer edges,
I will start with reaction lures
to grab any active bass. A
3/8 or 1/2-ounce (depending
on depth and current) War
Eagle spinnerbait or square
bill crankbait excel in these
situations as you can cover
water quickly and bring either bait over the limbs of the laydown without getting hung up.
Since I am fishing shallow water and want some stretch in my line, I will spool up my reel with 15-pound monofilament line. This will aid in keeping that square bill crankbait from diving to deep and getting hung up the wood.
The combination of using monofilament line and a fishing rod that loads up when a bass inhales your lure will aid in keeping a bass hooked up as it surges to deeper water once hooked.
My go-to rod for fishing moving baits like a spinnerbait or shallow running crankbait is the Witch
Fall 2020
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