Bass Fishing May - Jun 2018 | Page 82

2. Skip Docks Up in the Day
once­the­sun­gets­higher­in­the­sky,­the­shad­spawn­is
done­for­the­day­and­the­bass­disperse.­some­ease­out­to
suspend­in­deep­water.­others­stage­directly­under­docks
or­on­brush­and­bottom­structure­beneath­the­docks.­
arey’s­first­tactic­is­to­target­distinct­shade­edges­or
places­where­the­shade­lines­intersect­dock­floats­and
other­parts­of­the­structure.­sometimes­fish­will­set­up
right­under­the­docks­along­these­lines­and­intersections.
they’ll­also­position­on­bottom­or­in­brush­where­the
shade­creates­a­vertical­“wall”­of­cover­down­through­the
water­column,­and­they’ll­rise­up­to­eat­the­swimbait.­
“i­will­target­the­shade­lines­first­because­if­they’re­on
the­most­specific­shade­line­or­defined­shade­line­i­can­hit
those­quickly­and­pattern­them,”­he­says.­“if­you­get­a­cou-
ple­bites­you­can­cover­more­water­that­way.­you­might
leave­a­few­fish­behind,­but­you­can­fish­a­lot­faster,­too.­if
that’s­not­happening,­then­i’ll­start­picking­the­dock­apart.”
this­is­where­arey­leans­on­his­skipping­ability.­
“i­key­on­the­small­openings­on­the­sides­[of­the­plastic
floats]­and­under­the­dock,­and­especially­up­under­the
pontoons­or­any­kind­of­boat­that­provides­a­big­shadow,”
he­says.­“those­floats­typically­have­a­small­opening.­i­tar-
get­the­small­openings­just­because­that’s­not­what­every-
body­does.­they­take­the­easy­route.”
Target hard-to-reach
areas others might miss.
shade line
Skip under boats and floats.
key intersections of
shade and structure
WaCky­baCkuP
on­post-front,­high-pressure­days­with­bluebird
skies,­bass­could­shy­away­from­a­swimbait.­in­those
situations,­arey­will­still­use­the­hitch,­but­if­he­really
needs­a­bite­he’ll­skip­a­wacky-rigged­lunkerhunt
lunker­stick.­
“if­they’re­not­actively­feeding,­those­can­be­some
of­the­most­fickle­fish­to­catch,”­he­says.­­
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FLWFISHING.COM I MAY-JUNE 2018