Highland Reservoirs
Highland reservoirs are lakes that are steep and deep . Their dams are usually in mountainous terrain and are commonly very tall but not very wide . They typically have clearer water and have long river arms in them . Highland reservoirs typically have large main-lake points separating the river arms that can have dozens – if not hundreds – of secondary points and fingers .
Featuring very steep or bluff walls , highland reservoirs heat up and cool down more slowly than lowland reservoirs . The deeper water warms less quickly , so the spawn happens later in the spring than many lowland reservoirs . Bass in highland reservoirs will leave the deep main-lake points and use the secondary points like steppingstones to migrate to the backs of spawning bays .
Examples of popular highland reservoirs include Shasta Lake in California and Table Rock in Missouri .
IN ACTION
The Scenario :
It ’ s mid-April on Lake Shasta . You ’ ve checked the deep mainlake points that separate the different river arms and you can ’ t buy a bite . You ’ ve fished the first three or four secondary points up the river arm from the main-lake point and still no luck .
In this scenario , I suggest making a run to the very back of the closest spawning bay from your location . Put your trolling motor on high and go see if you can find any sign of the spawn . If you don ’ t see any fish cruising or spot any fish on beds , go to the first secondary point at the entrance of the bay .
Start by fishing a glide bait or any other big bait that you ’ re comfortable throwing . I recommend a glide bait
SHASTA LAKE
because it has a lot of drawing power . Even if you don ’ t get bit , fish will often follow the bait and show themselves to you . Continue this process out of the bay , working in reverse , until you find the bass . Side imaging to scan the secondary points is also key to finding structure around which fish might be staging .
Once you ’ ve located the bass and they won ’ t commit to the glide bait , slow down and finesse fish that location if necessary .
Lowland Reservoirs
Lowland reservoirs are typically flatter fisheries with fewer points that feature lots of island tops . Their dams are usually very wide but not very tall and can sometimes be more than a mile long ( or feature multiple dams ).
Lowland reservoirs are typically found in the foothills of mountains or in less mountainous areas in general . They feature water that ’ s usually a little stained and most have standing timber and lots of grass .
sam rayburn reservoir
Lowland reservoirs aren ’ t as deep as their highland counterparts and they lack the myriad main-lake and secondary points ( but usually have an abundance of offshore high spots or island tops ).
Bass in lowland reservoirs will often use the saddles ( deeper water between two high spots ) or creek channels to navigate their way to the spawning bays .
Some examples include Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas and Toledo Bend Reservoir on the border of Texas and Louisiana .
IN ACTION
The Scenario :
It ’ s April on Sam Rayburn . You ’ ve fished the Highway 147 bridge pilings without any success . Your side imaging of the pilings shows a total ghost town .
Don ’ t worry . There are plenty of options to consider . For instance , try moving to the first point north of the bridge near Cassels-Boykin Park using an Alabama rig or deep-diving crankbait ( with a speedy retrieve ). There ’ s a good chance you find some success there , as the fish transition to the back of the cove .
If you still can ’ t get bit and don ’ t see anything on your electronics , quickly fish the remaining points on the north-facing side of the cove . The north-facing cuts warm up quicker than the others and typically draw fish first . Again , you know where the fish were in the wintertime and where they ’ re headed . Fish any key pieces of structure along the way to the back of the cove where those fish will eventually end up .
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