I've had four deeper structure areas that used to produce a lot of fish, and some excellent quality as well. These were good drop offs with deep water (creek channel) either as the drop or very near. Most in 15-25 foot of water. One of them produced consistently for several years. Then the last 2 or 3 years...not one single bite. I don't get it. A good piece of structure, even if the older class of fish moved off or died, seems like a new group would continue to use it. Two of those were on Fork, one on Roberts, and one on Joe Pool. SMH...fishing.

Pressure will push them away.

Change in lake levels and pressure can change there migration routes, you just haven't found the new and stuck on the old.

other species like striped bass, wipers or big catfish can cause bass to leave areas

Potlickers are the usual problem

I have fished the same spots on my 3 lakes with deep water structure forever. I have 3 on each lake. The fish have been there for 30 years or more. Your fish are still there. Some times they would move off a little ways; but always came back. When they grouped up it was very difficult to get one to bit. They did not all feed at the same time. There was a school of about 30 Bass on each spot. 10 or so would feed and the others would just set there and suspend. Then in a couple of hours others would feed. It was like they would take turns with 10 or so at a time moving around or leaving the pack. I would just set over them and watch. All of a sudden the school would begin to get smaller. That is when the bites would take place.

My ledge was quite long so they could be found at different spots up and down the ledge for over a 100 yards sometimes. There is always that one spot they really like and will keep coming back to it. Sometimes they were hard to find against a 30 ft tall vertical ledge with boulders on the bottom the size of a pickup truck. They would press right against the wall and you just could not see them on the depth finder. Lots of times I got tired of looking and just started fishing and would catch one. I had the best luck fishing up the ledge or UP-HILL from the top where the boat was not visible or could not be imaged.

Your fish are still there. I bet you are not there at the right time and they are masters at staying off the screen. Your fish being 15 to 25 ft. are roamers. That is not the only place they frequent. Things also do happen. Their supply of shad that swim that ledge could have died from cold water temps.. The lakes flooding will change things also. Just don't give up is all I know. You will go there one day and there they will be. That is why I have 3 such spots on each lake. Very seldom will all 3 areas be dead.

[quote=B.Hollingshead]Change in lake levels and pressure can change there migration routes, you just haven't found the new and stuck on the old.[/quote

The two that are most frustrating are at Fork, so I doubt it's lake levels. The one in particular that befuddles me is just inside the mouth of large creek where the channel splits off and a real nice saddle is between the two. I can't imagine that the bass have any other "route" into that creek that would make sense. I don't spend all my time on that saddle , but I still catch good fish on the point leading into the creek and back in the creek itself. Trust me Mr. Harper, I've fished all around it to see where they might move out or off to, but they're just not there. Time of day doesn't seem to be relevant. I don't think I'm "stuck on the old". But if I'm headed into that creek I generally have to pass very near it, I'll check it just to see if there's anyone home. It's possible the two at Roberts and Pool have had a lot of pressure, but the one on Fork I've been fishing for 20 years and have never seen another boat on it. It's a very small area and I just stumbled upon it fishing my way back into the creek one day. No high tech stuff was really relevant for me back then. Now that I can really get a good look at it with my electronics it amazes me that the fish are not using it any more. Still has good bait in the area...still has good shallow and deep water very near or right on it. Dang. Fish.

My spots are always �they�re not on it right now�..... they will be eventually.

I�ve fished spots on fork and never seen a boat, only to see it on video on YouTube with someone catching them there too. Everything gets hammered on fork.

One of the problems I have found with some of my old spots is that people come near by and add brushpiles. One such area has no less than 10 brushpiles scattered on it now. All it has done is scatter the fish amongst the brushpiles where in the past they would all be schooled up together.

Also on certain high pressure lakes the fish get sonar shy. Turn off the sonar and fish.

Well someone brought in some sand bass to Fork a few years ago and that changed the habits of the largemouth bass quite a bit.

Side imaging is what happened...

Too much timber for someone to drop brush piles right in that area. If it was a little more barren I might think that would be the case Captain. Jaret, even if there's side imaging, why would the bass not still use the structure? It's too good of a natural funnel area for them not to use as a route. SRA point, Little Caney point, the sawmill, LOTS of good areas that get hammered still have fish on them. This one just befuddles me. Oh well. I'm still gonna look at it every time I go near it! Thanks for the input guys!.

yep