Near By is just a few yards. The shorter the distance and the heavier the cover the better.
- The bend in the creek provides deep enough water for the Bass to have a comfort zone to live in and suspend during the day. I want that swing to have 20 ft. of water depth in the middle of the creek.
- The exact spot that it comes in contact with the flat, where the fish will feed and spawn, must be an Irregular Feature.
- This feature is a steep drop, short rocky bluff, heavy creek channel trees, and or a funnel point.
- This feature is the beginning of their route to the shallows which is only a few yards away.
- A large Bass will select specific pieces of cover to begin that route each day to feed.
- It starts on the lip of the channel swing at the top of that irregular feature.
- Heavy cover on this lip of the channel will provide an excellent ambush spot of a Big Fish and during most feeding periods She will never have to move any farther to feed up. All She has to do is move up and work the edge ambushing pray a few yards in each direction along that lip. Cover is the key here.
- She will move to Her next ambush spot if the food supply is not in abundance along the lip. Her second stop begins the Mid-Range route to the shallows and this same exact bush, rock pile, stump, and or grass line will be used each day to continue Her search for food.
- She will continue to select specific pieces of cover continuing only a few yards toward shallower water until Her feeding is complete then return to the Comfort Zone of the creek swing.
- Become very knowledgeable and aware with every piece of cover along that route.
Begin your search on the inside bend of this channel swing. Look closely with your depth finder equipment to determine the best irregular feature. The feature may not be on the inside lip. The best feature could be on the outside of that bend. With the swing as you mentioned being in the middle of the creek basin is even better. Big Bass feel much safer there when threaten so they can slip off into the creek quickly. An outside bend that slams against the shoreline is NOT my best choice as the ambush spots are limited. With it off the bank Bass can use both sides effectively for feeding and moving up to begin their feeding route.
- Driving back and forth over these fish looking for the irregular feature is a NO-NO.
- Fishing these areas while look at the depth finder is a much better choice. It takes hours or even days on the best channel swings with heavy cover on top to find that sweet spot or Irregular Feature.
- Once you find the feature then getting on the fish during their feeding time will be your next part of the puzzle.
- Fish it often at different times of the day until you determine the fish's time table for feeding.
