One of the most important aspects of locating those trophy lunkers is to understand how bass relate to the contours of the bottom. Once a bass fisherman master’s structure fishing, his / her catch rate will increase. For some help I have

Channel Drop-off

– Description –

The area which an old creek or riverbed which flowed through the landscape years ago which created the difference in topography. Once the landscape was shaped, the reservoir was formed. As a note, Bass and other bait fish use channels as migration routes usually around the summer.

– TIP –

Make sure your boat is in deep water, about half-cast out from the lip of the channel. Once you are in proper position the best set-ups to use is a crank bait or Carolina Rig. The best point of contact is the shallower ledge of the channel then works the bait over the drop off. If this doesn’t work, cast the lure at a 45 degree angle so that it slices down the ledge and into the deep water. Either of these two techniques gives a nature look to the bass underwater.

Points

– Description –

There are structures which are around in a variety of seasons which vary in depth and trajectory. The purpose of these areas is to serve as bridge connecting deep, open water to the shoreline. Bass use these points to move to the shallower water in the spring and then out to the deeper and warmer water after they span. During the summer and fall, bass hang around these points to prey on other baitfish.

– Tip –

Since these are well known areas to fish, most bass anglers tend to target the end of the point exclusively. In order to work the area the best I recommend that you fish both sides by fan casting a crank bait or heavy spinner bait. Once you fish the sides, I bet you will catch more bass than the anglers at the tip of the points!

Roadbed

– Description –

A man made structure ranging from a shallow rut which marked an old log trail or the remains of an old highway. An angler can tell this type of structure by looking for stumps, rocks, or big chunks of broken up asphalt. Bass will span in these areas in the spring and will stay there during the winter.

– Tip –

If the roadbed which you are fishing is narrow, use a slice cast technique with crank bait at a 45 – 60 degree angle. However if the roadbed is wide, approach it using the method described in the Channel Drop Off section.

Flat

– Description –

These are structures which are really not structures. However even though they don’t look like they can hold many fish, they do during the pre-spawn time to the fall.

– Tip –

I use spinner bait to medium crank bait and focus on the areas which have some isolated cover. Bass are often concentrated in only one specific area of the structure like a ditch.

Bluff Bank

– Description –

These are mainly vertical structures which are round in rocky reservoirs adjacent to deep channels. Bass favor these areas mainly in the fall a winter.

– Tip –

Usually Bass are suspended around rock bluffs. For these bass use a spinner bait or jerk bait starting close to the bank and moving it progressively farther our from the structure.