The Bass Insider Issue 1 September dropping, the fish make another run up the channels to the backs of the creeks and after a few weeks when the water temperature gets cold, they head back deep again. Anglers should memorize key temperatures for these major movements. The pre-spawn migration to shallows start when the water temperature climbs into the mid to late 50’s. The late summer run begins when the water temperature lowers back to 70 and below, the bass head back deep again as the temperature into the low 50’s. WHERE TO FIND BASS ALONG CREEK CHANNELS Bass locate along different portions of creek channels in different periods of the year. PRE-SPAWN – When the pre-spawn migration begins, bass are normally out in deep, main channel areas, and they start swimming into major creeks. At first, when the water temperature is in the mid 50’s, the fish will be somewhere toward the lower (deeper) to middle third of the creek. To find them I look on a topo map for places where the creek channel swings in close to the bank. Then I go check these areas with my boat, and I hope to find several lay downs, brushes or any significant structure. These are prime places to locate big bass as they’re headed back to the shallows. In the immediate pre-spawn period, when the fish are close to their spawning areas, I look for horseshoe shaped sections or points along the shallow portions of the channel. I hunt for definite structure changes on the creek itself, which is probably meandering through a flat. Another main spot is where little feeder branches come out of the side pockets and empty into the creeks. This is the type of spot where the big bass collect and hold before swimming on toward bedding areas. POST-SPAWN – After spawning, the bass backtrack to deeper water. Traditionally, this is a difficult time to catch fish. I believe this post-spawn migration happens quickly, before most anglers realize what’s going on. The fisherman is still up there, locked to shallow water, and they don’t get on the fish’s movement back out of the creeks until it’s too late. One of my favorite spots is where a creek channel cuts a point that’s real shallow and then falls quickly into deep water. After spawning I think the fish prefer steeper drops, say where 5 feet of water falls off into 1