| How many times have you heard a real estate | | | | in the river are prime places to look for |
| agent say"It's all about | | | | active smallmouth bass. Current is also found |
| location..location..location? It is said that | | | | in lakes. Many large lakes can have current |
| 80% of the fish are caught in 20% of the | | | | on windy days in the neck areas in channels |
| water. Where to fish is as important as where | | | | or in between islands. The current often |
| to build a house. One common theme to the | | | | times will push in baitfish for an easy meal. |
| diet of largemouth bass is that they take | | | | There are times that the bass can be stacked |
| advantage of edges to capture their prey. | | | | in these areas on windy days |
| | | | |
| There is also a rule that bass and all living | | | | Structural edges: Bass will often establish |
| predators use. The energy used to catch food | | | | a" pecking order" on the prime structures. |
| cannot be greater than the energy the food | | | | The prime structure edges include fallen |
| caught provides. If the energy used to catch | | | | trees and logs, docks, bridges, marinas etc. |
| food is greater than that the food provides, | | | | |
| the predator will eventually die. Edges come | | | | Shade edges: Shade is one of the most |
| in many forms and nearly all will attract and | | | | overlooked edges of all. Docks, although a |
| hold bass at one time or another. | | | | structure also provides a shady area away |
| | | | from the sun. Trees can also produce a shade |
| Weed edges: Many forms of aquatic vegetation | | | | edge. Early morning and evening can provide |
| offer prime bass habitat. Whether you are | | | | some of the best bass fishing in the day. One |
| fishing the edges of lily pads, pondweed or | | | | reason is the shade edge that is created by |
| milfoil, always look for the "spot on the | | | | low sun angles behind trees and the horizon. |
| spot". The outer edges always seem to hold | | | | Just think how at night when you have the |
| fish, but look for inside turns, breaks or | | | | lights on in your house, it is harder to see |
| weed points. Many times the inside weed edge | | | | out in the dark, but it is very easy to see |
| is often overlooked and can be very | | | | from a dark outside to a lighted home. These |
| productive especially in the morning and | | | | edges give the bass a very distinct advantage |
| evening. The weed edges act as a place refuge | | | | over their prey. |
| as well as a place of ambush for bass. Eat | | | | |
| and watch out so you're not eaten. | | | | If you can ever combine different types of |
| | | | edges into one area than you have your "A" |
| Current edges: Smallmouth bass will seek | | | | spot for fishing. Seeking these edges will |
| spots in rivers that serve as a ambush point | | | | provide you with an advantage on finding |
| but also a resting point to expend as little | | | | greater success on your next bass fishing |
| energy as possible. Large boulders and turns | | | | trip. |