FISHING MICRO-FLATS IN LATE SUMMER
B
by Curtis Niedermier
SMALL OFFSHORE STRUCTURES ATTRACT OVERLOOKED BASS
ILLUSTRATION BY MATT PACE
y late summer and early fall, bass on obvious offshore structures have
been picked on to the point that many anglers resort to dragging drop-
shots or needling through brush piles just to get bites.
If you want to stick with the power-fishing approach, consider adopting a
run-and-gun tactic on small micro-flats instead.
KEY BAITS
STRIKE KING 6XD
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- Small flat or flat point in the mouth of a creek.
- Most are close to the bank.
- Subtle drop-off along edge of flat.
- The best spots are situated between the deep water of the
main lake and large creeks where shad will school in the fall.
- Current flow is a bonus.
TACTICS AND STRATEGY
Numbers
The key is to locate a series of small micro-flats, which you
might also call micro-ledges or micro-drops, because their outer
edges drop off into deeper water. Most drops aren’t as distinct
or as distinguishable as on ”more noticeable" ledges.
Presentation
Fishing them is pretty simple. Position out off the drop, cast
up top, and work the bait across the flat and down the drop. Be
sure to fish the entire structure, from the bank to the bottom,
because bass are as likely to hug the shoreline as hang out along
the edge.
Time Management
92
These are generally one- or two-fish spots, so be thorough
with your coverage, but don’t waste too much time on each stop.
GENE LAREW BIFFLE BUG
AND BIFFLE HARDHEAD
3 MORE OPTIONS
FOR LATE SUMMER
1. Brush – Fishing brush piles is a
classic late-summer technique. Use a
Texas-rigged worm or spinnerbait.
2. Shad schools – The morning top-
water bite can be primo around main-
lake points and flats or in the creeks
where bass are chasing shad.
3. Docks and stake beds – Shallow
cover can draw in a surprising number
of late-summer bass that are enjoying
easy meals in the form of schools of
young-of-the-year shad. A swim jig is
hard to beat.
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016