Deep Flats and Schooling Bass

Now that the hot weather is almost here, it's time for some offbeat summer patterns.
Everyone knows about fishing schooling bass during the summer. It's easy to do because you can see bass busting through the shallow shad schools. The two shallow schooling patterns are fishing the schoolies in the main channel and bass pushing shad up on shallow flats and feeding. The feeding is quick and vicious and you have to be quick with your cast before the shad and bass go back down. There is a third schooling pattern, it's deep and you can't see it happening without electronics. It takes place on deep feeding flats. These flats are generally near main lake points. As in schoolies on shallow feeding flats, the bass are pushing shad from deep areas onto the deep flat and up against a shelf or bluff wall. The bass tend to feed longer on the deep pattern but it is not a long term event. Now, how do you know the pattern is taking place. As you use your electronics on the main point and adjoining flat, you are looking for shad schools. The pattern can't take place without forage in the area. If you start to see the school move up and towards shore, it is likely bass are pushing them. The event on your electronics shows the shad school, with lines denoting bass going through the school. As the shad go on the flat and near the bluff wall, the action increases on your screen. Lots of lures you can use but my favorites are a Little George and a jigging spoon. I use these because they get deep quickly. Let the Little George reach the school and swim the lure back to you, occasionally pausing it for a second. Cast the jigging spoon and let it reach the depth of the feeding. Quickly jerk and pause the spoon to work it erratically. Work the spoon VERY quickly. It is possible to get a quick limit on this deep pattern. Once you have located a deep flat pattern, the bass will use the spot all summer. The pattern is not always happening but it never hurts to check your electronics for it.

 

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