Locating good places to fish for largemouth bass begin with the basics. In our first article in this series, “Finding the Best Places to Fish”, we covered generalized basics for considerations pertaining to fishing for any species. Here we get down to the brass tacks for largemouth. There are still some basics you must look at first, for example, will you be fishing from a boat or will you be bank fishing?

Finding largemouth usually comes down to three keys: Type of Water, Structure and Vegetation, and Season. If you think about these three things as you search for fishing spots in your area or elsewhere, they will keep moving you in the right direction. We will talk about each area in more detail for the balance of the article.

Type of Water:

Largemouth bass are nearly always found in water without a current or with very little current. Lakes, ponds, and rivers or streams with a very low flow are the areas you are after. According to Karen Kellogg, Darwin Fellow in the Biology Department at UMass-Amherst in her article “Small and LargeMouth Bass” , “Largemouth bass inhabit marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and creeks to large rivers.

In river systems, largemouth can be found in pools and backwaters. It prefers warm, generally clear water, and is less tolerant of turbidity than other black basses (Jenkins & Burkhead 1994). Largemouth can tolerate a range of salinities and is often found in estuaries.”

Structure and Vegetation:

Stumps, weeds, and underwater brush (perhaps flooded) are one source of excellent structure. Another type of structure that often seems to hold largemouth bass are humps on the lake bottom as well as points extending from shore. If you are fishing from shore, often a point is the ideal location, and even better yet if perhaps a weed line is present.

Season:

In the Pre-Spawn time of the year, (early Spring) begin your fishing in the Northwest corner of a lake. This is where the water will be warmest. Work outside ledges and points. Work creek arms after a warm rain (rain warms water faster than outside temperatures).

For the spawn, fish will look for protected areas but areas that have access to direct sun. Spawning areas will be next to an element of protective cover such as a submerged log. As a side note, practice ethical fishing at this time of the year. Consider releasing spawning fish unharmed to the water immediately.

The post spawn, typically around two weeks after spawning, fishing can be tough. Fish suspended fish and off points. The fishing will pick up after that point, but normally the spawning and post spawn period will vary throughout the lake.

For Summer fishing, I first of all suggest reading a previous article I wrote entitled, “Catching Bass in the Summer Heat.” In a nutshell, especially if bank fishing, weed beds and structures are a great first option. The aforementioned article will provide much additional detail.

Fall fishing for largemouth can be dynamic. Look at this time of year for steep drop-offs, like cliff edge. Also look for green weed-bed structures. As the water temperature drops, slow down presentations as largemouth, being cold blooded, adjust their movements commensurate with body temperature.

Winter fishing can be very slow, but often fish caught are large ones. Continue looking for steep vertical drops. Alter presentations to vertical, such as jigging. This time of the year a boat is a real plus, as is having electronics, such as a fish finder. Patience can be rewarded with a real wall hanger largemouth bass.

Many specific locations can be found visiting websites such as Family-Outdoors Fishing, where specifics are discussed for various lakes, rivers, and where in addition to discussion of largemouth, other species are discussed as well.

Next in our series will be locating the good locations for smallmouth bass.