Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

Hey all,got a question.Out here in Az,we have a place called Topock Marsh,that I fish every chance I get.In this body of water,there is a ton of stumps,that I fish,with very little luck.How can I tell,what stumps will produce fish,and which ones won't? I use soft plastics,crankbaits and spinnerbaits.How do I present these lures more effectively,to get hits? Any advice is gratefull. Bassman :rolleyes:

If there is no kind of structure under the water the fish may not be there. When driving to the lake look at all the creeks along the way, see what kind of trees grow along the creeks in your area. Look at the bark on these trees. Now go to your stump feild and look for that kinda bark on the stumps. This will tell you that there is a creek nearby. Then use your electronics and find that ditch or creek. The fish will use this as travel routes through the stumps to feeding areas. The stumps along the this creek or ditch will be the stumps you want to focus on. The depth change may not be much but believe me the fish will use it. Flip or pitch to each one of these stumps. Don't forget there used to be a tree along with that stump use a crankbait and find were the tree fell over in the water. There could be alot of laydowns that extend out into the creek channel. The tree could be several feet from the stump so make sure you search the area good.

Also look at the trees that grow on high spots this could point out a hump in the middle of all those stumps. This wouls also be a great place to fish around.

Look at the bank and look were ditches and creeks meet the water get as close as you can to the bank and find that ditch in the water and follow it out. A good ditch running through a flat filled with stumps is an awsome area to fish.

Hope that will get you started.

Thanks a bunch.I'll look for the creeks and tree bark,this weekend,when I go out.I'll let ya know how I did. Bassman

I know that looking a tree bark may not sound like anything to do with bass fishing but its the only way I know of to identify those stumps that grow along the creek bottoms. IF the bark is gone too, then I don't know what to tell you except look for the bigger stumps.

MoFish, great advice, I'll use that the next time out. We got a few stumpers around here. Can't say that I've figured them out completely, but I do know the lunkers are caught in areas with noticable depth changes. If there's a point or cove around the better. Weather's been nasty around these parts. Good luck guys, Carl.

Bassman, in some cases I've experienced where structure is everywhere, places with little or no structure may be the key locations. The coves, creek mouths and any rock cover may outproduce the massive number of stumps. Tried these yet? Good luck, Johnnie

Bassman, The search in a stump field is much the same as other forms of massive cover. The other suggestions are right but may I add that look on the edges. Check the stumps on the inside and outside edge like a weed or grass patch. I even look on the ends when it changes from the stumps to a different bottom, look for the different size stumps in the field also. Some times the odd things are the places they seem to like.
Don't forget to look for stumps that have been turned on their sides, I think I have more luck when I find some of these in a stump field.

RW-reeler

Man you guys are good. Everyone has some really good points here to look at. Always look for something different that what the surroundings are is some very good advise there. Keep em coming guys great job.