Summer 2022
F
rom the
natural flow on a river
system, to that on a lake that is
produced by wind, funnel or channel
that connects two sections of the lake,
current plays a role in how a bass will
position itself.
This is a theme throughout the year but is
most prevalent during the summer months as current
brings in fresh, oxygen rich water into the area where a
bass is siting, along with food for a bass to pick off as an
easy meal.
Even though today’s electronics unlock and show
numerous fish holding locations, an angler’s eyes can be
the best way to locate current seams and breaks that
will be holding bass. By looking for a line (seam) in the
current, or a boil (reveals an underwater obstruction that
is providing a current break), an angler can key in on some
great areas,
Any piece of cover creates an eddy that opposes the
river’s downstream flow, such as a wing dam or a shallow
sand bar that sharply drops from one- to three-plus feet
are some of the common areas on a river system that
hold bass. These sandbars can be along the shoreline or
an isolated island in a secondary slough or along the main river channel.
MIMIC THE BAIT
Topwater plugs not only allow you to mimic the baitfish that bass are feeding on in the current, but they cover a lot of water and identify potential spots in the current that are holding a school of bass.
If the current break isn’t a big one and the current is still moving at a good clip, I think a popper-style bait is the optimal choice as the noise and disturbance it creates on top of the water calls in the bass.
I’ll switch to a walk-the-dog style plug, like a Bagley Baits Knocker B if the current isn’t as swift and the bass are holding more in the slack water behind the current break. This way I can slowly walk it across the surface of the water, and this just drives current holding bass crazy.
I’ll make a cast upstream and bring the bait back down with the current and let is wash or work it over the seam. This will give the bait a natural look, just as if a baitfish was caught in the current and being washed down stream.
I’ll cast my topwater to the points that have the current moving by them, or parallel to the shoreline of the channel.
Using a short rod, that has
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