Crash Course: How to Locate Bass on an Unfamiliar Lake

Bass fishing isn’t easy, but that’s why we love it. It’s a constant challenge to locate bass that rarely seem to cooperate with our efforts.

If you frequent the same body of water regularly, you no doubt understand the most productive areas in which to fish. But even then, the bass don’t always follow the script in being where they “should" be on any given day. That challenge of locating bass rises to new heights when visiting a body of water you’ve never fished before.

I speak from experience in saying the best plan does not include a frenzied approach of randomly fishing anywhere and everywhere in an attempt to find fish. Instead, a more methodical approach of establishing or eliminating water brings a sense of order to the challenge of finding bass.

SEASONAL BASS FISHING

A seasonal understanding of bass behavior will put us in the ballpark for where the bass should be positioned in a reservoir based upon the time of year. For example, in the spring of the year, we know fish are moving near spawning flats in the backs of creeks and tributaries, so directing our initial bass tactics there will put us on the right track.

In the summer and winter months, bass are often located next to deep water and channel drops toward the mouths of creeks and on the main basin of the reservoir. The fall can be a mixed bag of both shallow and deep, but focusing upon shallow flats near creek channels is a solid starting place to look for bass in autumn.

Of course, understanding seasonal patterns won’t put you on specific locations in which to fish; rather, it provides general reference for where to begin your search on a new body of water.

FISH YOUR STRENGTHS

A highly successful bass-tournament pro gave me sound advice many years ago that I’ll pass along here: Fish your strengths any chance you get. Whenever implementing your favorite lure or technique, you’ll fish with more focus and skill and be more confident in your pursuit.

In my case, I consider myself a pretty versatile angler, but when I have the opportunity to fish in less than five feet of water, that’s when my juices get flowing and my confidence soars. Therefore, my general approach to bass fishing and breaking down a new body of water typically starts in shallow water and progresses deeper with time.

MIX IT UP YOUR BASS TACTICS

While in “search mode”, it’s critical to fish a variety of locations, water clarities and cover types. The goal is to establish productive areas where the bites are coming from, but also to eliminate unproductive water. In a shallow-water approach, I’ll want to fish steeper banks with rocks, shallow flats with isolated wood, clear water and stained, staying on the move with lures with which I can cover as much water as possible in the shortest amount of time. 

Once bass are located, we can try and replicate as many variables as possible in other parts of the lake. Just as importantly, when fishing through an area without getting bites, we want to try and eliminate cover types, locations, depths, etc. so we don’t waste our efforts in unproductive areas. I believe it was Einstein who defined “insanity” as doing the same thing over and again, expecting a different result. That’s what we want to avoid.

HAVE A PLAN B

If my efforts in shallow water don’t produce, it’s time to pivot to another tactic: adjusting my efforts toward deeper water. This could involve fishing tapering points that lead to deep water or moving to an offshore hump or creek channel and trying to locate bass with sonar.

How quickly to abandon “Plan A” and move to “Plan B” is a matter of available time. If I’m on a new body of water for a couple of days, I may dedicate one day to fishing shallow and the next day to fishing offshore. If I have a shorter window of time to explore the new lake, I may recalibrate earlier in the day if the bites don’t come quickly. 

The benefit of having an organized system in trying to locate bass is that I can stay mentally engaged in the process even during long periods of not catching fish. I can at least eliminate what’s not working and focus my energy on other depths, cover types and locations that might open the door to a successful day.

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• Learn more about bass fishing in our Crash Course video series.

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