Fishing in deep water is way more challenging than fishing in shallow water, especially bass fishing. In deep water, you cannot see such things in your eyes as you see things right before you. Bass spend most of their time in deep water, especially during summer vacation.
A downside is that deep water bass fishing will be difficult for inexperienced anglers as they must understand the structure, depth, techniques, and many more.
But that does not mean you should turn away from this article if you are a beginner. With proper guidance and knowledge, tips and tricks will help you learn deep water bass fishing and make you a pro.
What Do You Use to Deep Water Bass
Deep water bass fishing gears are some of the most versatile and expensive on the market. They can be used for a variety of different fishing techniques, which can result in big fish. Some of the most popular deep water bass fishing gear include Fly Fishing Rod, Reels, fish finders, and Lures.
Fish Finder
A fish finder is crucial for deep water bass fishing as you can locate the fish and throw it quickly. But you should know what the fish looks like in a fish finder.
The fish finder will show you a map of the area on one side of the screen, and on another side, it will show the sonar image that defines fish and structure. When a fish is hanging close to the bottom, you will see it on the screen.
Fishfinder also measures the depth of the water, which is very important to decide on suitable lures for bass.
It also has GPS, transducer, sonar technology, thermoclines to navigate the water condition, detect hazards, etc.
Bass Fishing Gear
Sensitive rods are very effective in deep water bass fishing. Choose a 7 feet medium or 5 feet heavy casting rod as you have to cast long to reach the bottom. A 20-pound heavier test line with Carolina rigs or football jigs is perfect. The rod handle could be cork, EVA Foam, or wood.
Bait and Rigs for Bass Fishing
Bait and rigs for bass fishing are an essential part of the game. By using different baits and rigs, anglers can produce the most consistent results while fishing for this big fish. Here are a few baits and rigs you can use.
Carolina Rig
Carolina rig is another necessary setup for deep water bass fishing. The lures can dive deep with this rig and can go close to the bottom. Bass tends to stay at the bottom so they can easily see the lures.
Fishing with a Carolina rig is the easiest way to bottom-fishing. It covers the water well. To set up the rig, you will need at least a 7-inch long rod, a bait cast reel, ½ to 1-ounce egg or bullet style sinker, swivel fluorocarbon line coming with a monofilament leader, etc. use worm, craw, or any creature as lures and drag it slowly.
Football Jig
It can be an alternative to the Carolina rig and another best lure for deep water bass fishing. The jig has great vibration and flashes under the water to attract the bass and perfectly mimics bluegill or other species.
You also can fish it without a trailer in the winter. But in summer, a large jig trailer will be beneficial.
For 10 to 15 feet deep, use ½ ounce football jig and for more profound, use 1 ounce. Although using this jig is beneficial only for the experienced angler who is a master in retrieval. Remember, you should drag slowly and never snatch it when the bass is aggressive.
Drop Shots
Drop shots help move the bait at the bottom when the bass doesn’t bite much as it has enough weights to maintain the bait like other rigs. The bait won’t wiggle and dance under the water, so it is very effective in covered areas like rock bars, rock beds, brush piles, bridge pilings, etc.
Crankbait
Crankbait works great for aggressive bass. It is a deep diving bait and can wobble even 200 feet deep. Crankbait has a big lip that can contact the bottom for a long time. Your rod tip will move when the bass hits it at the bottom.
Crankbait creates reflection when it contacts the bottom to attract the bass. Just get a quality tackle with a great backbone.
Flutter Spoon
Flutter spoon is a reaction strike evoker that works great when the bass is tough to catch. It has a metal body, so it sinks very quickly. It is perfect for long cast in a structured area because it can fall to the bottom without interrupting. If you are fishing in summer, wear proper summer fishing clothing.
When you cast, pull it back at least 4 feet up from the bottom, then again, let it fall to the bottom.
Focus on the line when the flutter spoon contacts the bottom because the bass can hit it anytime.
Swimbait
Swimbait also works like a flatter spoon. It has excellent action power with vibration and reflection, and the tail kickbacks naturally attract the bass. It also can naturally roll on the bottom to pass out challenging areas. Just use a 4 to 6-inch paddle tail on the jig head to generate the strikes correctly.
Bucktails
It is a very old model bait but famous for every angler. Its soft body makes excellent action power underwater and does not make much noise.
Bucktail jigs are also the same as flutter spoons. They move their heads side by side to look more natural. Remember, whenever you turn back the bait, reel slowly.
How to Find Bass in Deep Water
Look for The Shoreline
Technology made our life easy, but you should not blindly depend on it. Sometimes our eyes work better than any technology.
If you do not want fish finders, use traditional lake or reservoir maps to find the offshore spots and detect the shorelines.
A long slopping point is a good sign to find a deeper area into the water. Try your football head jig to feel the bottom and measure the depth.
Another most accessible spot is cliffs and drop-offs. You can try your drop shots straight down to the deep to know where the bass are positioned.
Look for the area with vertical walls because bass often goes there to find a school of baitfish. This type is bass like staying as they do not want to spend much energy in deep water.
Pay attention to every small detail and difference to identify the water condition. Look for the area with big rocks, transition banks, small pebbles, etc. Keep the lure presentation proper in the various water columns.
Ledges
Water ledges are a protected area for bass, and they can quickly move here and there and eat without giving many visualizations to the predators.
It is easy to hide from predators in deep water, but that does not mean bass will skip any covered area like shallow water. In deep water season, bass also looks for structure areas such as blown-down trees, lilypads, and other areas with protection and food.
You can use any deep water lures for ledge fishing. Just cast the lures parallel so the bass can easily see it in the ledges.
Position Your Boat
Correctly positioning the boat in deep water fishing is slightly critical. Your bait should present in the right direction, so do not overlook your boat’s angle and do not lose sight. Positioning the boat is easy when the water has current. Just follow the current and bring the lures in there.
But when you are in an area with no current, you must find the right direction and angle to position the boat. In this case, you have to test your cast before positioning the boat. Just cast from all angles until it works.
High current areas are perfect for bass fishing.
Visualize Your Bait
It is difficult to visualize your bait when cast in deep water. But you have to see it whenever you cast. In this case, the fish finder won’t help that much. If you are new to those areas, getting a clear picture won’t be easy.
Whether it is sliding or crawling, if you know, you could present the bait right in front of the bass. Know the area, check the fish finder to get information about the bottom, then present the lures.
The bait should reach the proper feet of water. Use drop shot rigs to reach the deep structures. In warmer water, like late summer or summer months, use plastic worm or finesse worm to catch huge fish.
Be Confident and Practice
A very effective technique for fishing deep spotted bass is to use a light line and slowly retrieve it. It would help if you practiced yourself before going deep water bass fishing. It will improve your chances of catching bass, and you will learn new things every time.
Also, be prepared for failure. Sometimes you may not catch a single fish, but that does not mean you should give up. Try all the possible techniques and be patient to gain your skill.
Another biggest key to success is confidence. When you are practicing, it will increase your confidence because practice makes a man perfect. You must pass out many critical conditions to be a better fisherman, so be strong and learn about the offshore pattern.
What Depth Do You Catch Bass
Bass typically move when they need food, during spawning times and when water temperature changes. They will be 6 to 12 feet deep in the lake in early summer and moves 15 to 25 feet deep in mid-summer.
Are Bigger Bass in Deeper Water
Big bass love to relax in deep water. When they eat a more extensive dinner, they do not come outside for a long time. So you can find big bass in deep water at least nine months a year.
Can Bass See in Deep Water
Seeing bass in deep water is challenging, especially when the water is dirty. Watching the bait is very important. Choose lake points and humps to drop your bait. Look for the area that has available current as current moves forage and clean the water.
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