Throughout the year, bass continually shift location, following expanding or diminishing habitat. Small groups of bass may simultaneously inhabit various areas. Seldom do all bass do the same thing at the same time. At most times of the year, some bass in natural lakes are shallow, some are middepth, and some are deep—that is, deep within the typical bass range. The ratio changes from one Calendar Period to another. In Prespawn and Spawn, most are shallow; in winter, most are deep. But during most of the open water season, bass are spread from the shallowest, thickest tangles to the deepest, greenest clumps and in between.

Bass can usually be caught in each depth range during the same fishing trip. Shallow bass often feed aggressively but are usually the first to turn off in response to cold fronts. Deeper bass may be harder to find but are consistent biters once you find them. Most bass probably hold in middepth habitat, but it may take a while to find the best spots, and the fish may be scattered. A good angler develops favorite fishing patterns to use for each of the major depth zones.

Because shallow bass are usually most active in low-light periods, a good general strategy is to work shallow patterns early and move to middepth flats after sunrise. Bass along a deep weedline or in dock shadows turn on later in the day and remain active longer. As the sun goes down, they reverse the cycle and finish the day in the shallows at dusk. So should you.

Seasonal Effects

Early in the season, finding bass can be tough. A surface water temperature gauge aids in finding warm water. Even when two bays look identical, one may warm up faster. Polarized sunglasses are useful, too, as bass typically move into the invisible range at this time. If you don’t see sunfish and minnow activity, bass probably aren’t there, either. Small fish move into the shallows before bass; if you see sunfish but don’t catch bass, you may be an hour or two early.