Follow Seasonal Movements
And Locate The Bass

Seasonal Movements

I have found the biggest challenge in bass fishing is finding the fish. Once I have located fish and see how they are relating to structure, I can usually figure out a way to catch them. But locating bass may be more difficult than you would think. Depending on the season of the year, bass tend to move based on several factors. Temperature changes, oxygen levels and the amount of food available affect where bass might be holding from one season to the next. And these movements can differ from lake to lake. It is a continual process for every angler to consider; and a mastery of seasonal movements of bass can be the difference between a successful day on the lake and a frustrating afternoon.

SPRING

Springtime movements of bass center around spawning. Weeks before spawning begins, bass start moving from deep water toward the shallows. This shallow water warms more quickly and is what the males are looking for. On a warm day, bass will move into the spawning area, even though spawning is weeks away. They will move back to deeper water when the weather cools. They may repeat this pattern often during the pre-spawn period.

When the water temperature reaches about 55°F, the bass begin a feeding binge that is unequaled at any other time of the year. You can usually catch bass in the shallows throughout the day. Baitfish are scarce, so bass spend most of their time cruising shallow water in search of food.

Spawning begins when the water reaches the mid-60s. After depositing their eggs, the females abandon the nests and start trying to recuperate from the stress of the spawn. They feed very little for the next 2 to 3 weeks while they recover. Males guarding their beds will strike lures that come too close. This is when sight-fishing becomes popular for many.

Water temperatures in the low 70s signal the beginning of the post-spawn period and the resumption of good fishing. Females have recovered and males have completed their nest-guarding duties. Both feed heavily in the shallows but spend most of the day in deeper water.

Springtime movements of bass extend from February to April in Alabama and most other southern waters. In the North, they are compressed into just a few weeks, usually from May to early June.

SUMMER

With summer comes brighter overhead sunlight and warm surface temperatures. The bass make their seasonal movements to deeper water. They feed in the shallows during the morning and late afternoon to evening, but school along deep structure during midday. Food is easy to find, so they don't usually feed as long at a time. Some largemouths stay in the shallows all day if the cover is dense enough or the water murky enough to block out sunlight.

Water temperature above 80°F will usually push bass even deeper, regardless of water clarity. I usually do most of my bass fishing at night during this period. Local night tournaments are popular and can be the source of some very productive fishing.

FALL

When the water begins to cool in fall, bass in deep water return to the shallows. Early fall is much like the pre-spawn period. The food supply has been reduced and bass are roaming the shallows looking for an easy meal. And with the sun once again lower in the sky, they can stay shallow most all day. Many anglers quit fishing for the season after Labor Day, so they miss the great fall feeding binge. This can be an exciting time on the water.

As the surface water continues to cool, it eventually reaches the same temperature as water in the depths. This starts the fall turnover. With water at the same temperature and density throughout, wind circulates the lake from top to bottom. Bass may be almost anywhere, so finding them is difficult. In most waters, fall turnover lasts from 1 to 2 weeks.

WINTER

By late fall, the surface water has become colder than the deeper water. Bass prefer the warmer water, so they move to deep areas of the lake. They remain in these deepwater haunts through winter, whether or not the lake freezes over.

Temperatures below 50°F make bass sluggish and difficult to catch. But a few days of warm, sunny weather may draw them into the shallows. Fishermen aware of this late season movement can enjoy some of the year’s best fishing, especially for big bass.

BOTTOM LINE

The number one priority in a bass's life is to survive. If it does not eat, it will die. No matter what the season, this is still the key to locating bass. Find the food and you can bet that there will be bass nearby. Keep in mind that when the food moves, so will the bass.

But understanding the bass's seasonal movements will also help us predict where a bass will be during a certain time of year. Understanding the metabolic changes that a bass goes through can greatly increase our chance for success. Learn all you can about these seasonal bass movements and you will be way ahead in learning to locate where to fish on your next outing.

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