How deep will fish go
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JOSH
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 4:00 pm
How deep will fish go
Well, what are somethings that determine how deep a bass will actually go. Ihave a lake close to home with most of the water in the 40 to 80ft range, with 20ft water pretty close to the shore. will fish hold on the deeper structure in 60ft in dingy water.
Joshua P. Mattingly
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johnnie crain outdoors
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2002 5:00 pm
How deep will fish go
Pugs392,
Very interesting question, and you will most likely receive several differing answers. And, they could all be right or all be wrong. The key word in you question I will discuss is about the dingy water. There are a few things that could cause fish to dive deep even in "dingy" water, extreme weather, heavy boat traffic, and location of bait fish. I feel that given a choice, most fish, especially bass will prefer to stay fairly shallow. Ten feet or less around cover in dingy water. Yes, they will use the drop off at twenty feet a lot of the times, but when ready to feed most will cruise the shoreline. I doubt very much if the fish would ever go as deep as sixty to eighty feet, not much life at that depth. In extremely clear water they do, but not dingy. It's too streful on their swim bladder to stay at that depth. I have caught bass in sixty feet of water on jigging spoons on gin-clear Bull Shoals, but that was an exception more than a rule. Visability at that depth would be very poor in dingy water. I wouldn't spend a lot of time fishing deeper than forty feet, stay in the five to twenty foot zones for best success. A lot of anglers believe that the really big bass are really deep, not true, or at least if they are, few people ever catch them, most come from fairly shallow water. This is soley my opinion, hope you get several more and keeped tuned to Bassin' USA. We love to answer questions, makes us think and recall things we may have forgotten. Johnnie Crain, Iowa Pro Staff
Very interesting question, and you will most likely receive several differing answers. And, they could all be right or all be wrong. The key word in you question I will discuss is about the dingy water. There are a few things that could cause fish to dive deep even in "dingy" water, extreme weather, heavy boat traffic, and location of bait fish. I feel that given a choice, most fish, especially bass will prefer to stay fairly shallow. Ten feet or less around cover in dingy water. Yes, they will use the drop off at twenty feet a lot of the times, but when ready to feed most will cruise the shoreline. I doubt very much if the fish would ever go as deep as sixty to eighty feet, not much life at that depth. In extremely clear water they do, but not dingy. It's too streful on their swim bladder to stay at that depth. I have caught bass in sixty feet of water on jigging spoons on gin-clear Bull Shoals, but that was an exception more than a rule. Visability at that depth would be very poor in dingy water. I wouldn't spend a lot of time fishing deeper than forty feet, stay in the five to twenty foot zones for best success. A lot of anglers believe that the really big bass are really deep, not true, or at least if they are, few people ever catch them, most come from fairly shallow water. This is soley my opinion, hope you get several more and keeped tuned to Bassin' USA. We love to answer questions, makes us think and recall things we may have forgotten. Johnnie Crain, Iowa Pro Staff
Johnnie Crain
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
How deep will fish go
Pugs,
Johnnie makes some good points. Another thing to consider is the dissolved oxygen content in the water. In dingy water, sun light does not penetrate as deep as in clear water. This makes it difficult for vegetation to grow at greater depths. Vegetation plays an important role in oxygenating water by means of photosynthesis. Smallmouth and spotted bass are more likely to be in the depths over 25' than largemouths. In the northeastern lakes with clear water, it is not uncommon to catch smallmouths in 60+ feet of water, but you can always find some fish in water 30' or less.
The same fish you mark on your depths finder in 20'-30' of water at some point during the day make contact with nearby structure to feed. If you are marking fish out in the open water, look for the most likely structure you can find nearby. Points, saddles, humps & channels are great places to target. When these fish turn on, the feeding will first start with a move towards structure. A good rule of thumb is to make several passes over the structure you have found close to the school of fish through out the day. When you see them holding tight to the structure on your electronics, then stop and fish. These fish are now ready to feed.
A few things to keep in mind:
These fish are catch-able in the open water but you, will have your work cut out for you. Vertical presentations can work best in this situation.
When you are looking for structure in open water, remember that a school of fish can be relating to something as insignificant as 1 boulder on the bottom and be suspended over that boulder awaiting a school of bait fish to pass by.
There are always exceptions to every rule.
Johnnie makes some good points. Another thing to consider is the dissolved oxygen content in the water. In dingy water, sun light does not penetrate as deep as in clear water. This makes it difficult for vegetation to grow at greater depths. Vegetation plays an important role in oxygenating water by means of photosynthesis. Smallmouth and spotted bass are more likely to be in the depths over 25' than largemouths. In the northeastern lakes with clear water, it is not uncommon to catch smallmouths in 60+ feet of water, but you can always find some fish in water 30' or less.
The same fish you mark on your depths finder in 20'-30' of water at some point during the day make contact with nearby structure to feed. If you are marking fish out in the open water, look for the most likely structure you can find nearby. Points, saddles, humps & channels are great places to target. When these fish turn on, the feeding will first start with a move towards structure. A good rule of thumb is to make several passes over the structure you have found close to the school of fish through out the day. When you see them holding tight to the structure on your electronics, then stop and fish. These fish are now ready to feed.
A few things to keep in mind:
These fish are catch-able in the open water but you, will have your work cut out for you. Vertical presentations can work best in this situation.
When you are looking for structure in open water, remember that a school of fish can be relating to something as insignificant as 1 boulder on the bottom and be suspended over that boulder awaiting a school of bait fish to pass by.
There are always exceptions to every rule.
Brendan C.
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JOSH
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 4:00 pm
How deep will fish go
Thanx guys you've been most helpful, and I appreciate your time. i'll be fishin' till u here from me again.
Pugs
Pugs
Joshua P. Mattingly
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
How deep will fish go
Happy to help Josh... Let us know how you make out on your next trip...
Brendan C.