Ah, I probably wouldn't ever want to bass fish on a tournament level, other than just the fly fishing tournaments which pop up every few years. Those are a different ballgame and just something a little fun and different.

I just wish I had a better grip on the seasonal movements of bass in lakes so that I could do reasonably well whenever I went out - maybe not "win a tournament" performance, but a decent number of fish in the boat consistently. As it is, I have good days and bad days but it's pretty hit and miss, and on the bad days I often don't quite know what I didn't do right. I just don't understand bass the way I understand trout, I guess.

bd

You can get as deep into the habits of bass as you want. We have a good idea of what they do year in year out. We know there is a spawn which trumps all other behavior characteristics that they are supposed to be doing at that time. But bottom line we still don't know everything and that makes it an ever moving target to find them then catch them. Otherwise every pro on the elite level would bring in limits of the biggest bass in the lakes they fish.

That said time doing it helps close the gap in periods of catching and not catching.

Next time your out bd and are having trouble go to 45 degrees banks. They are exactly what they sound like not bluffs and not flat. Those are almost always channel banks and almost always have a shelf up close to the shore then fall off in steps into the deeper water. Fish always hold there year round and will move vertically up/down to feed. Deep water is close by as is food. Being a channel bait fish will use it as a travel way but up on the ledges will have rocks that will more than likely hide crayfish.

That is where I always go when I can't catch or find fish where they "should" be.

Great points and tips, Travis!

Thanks Mike.

Where is the NWS office at in Old Hickory. I always hear it reporting out of Rockland but never seen any buildings marked. Weather is about as big of interest as fishing for me. I went into Geography post high school wanting to make that my career but a bad relationship decision derailed that.