Fly Fishing for Bass... Part 3 "A Seasonal Pattern Guide"

"A Seasonal Pattern Guide"

I've been chasing bass now for 30 of my 38 years.  One thing that I've learned is that you have to be aware of the season and the current weather conditions to increase your odds of hooking up with a fish and taking one for a walk.  Through the years of trial and error, keeping notes, and other research: books, magazines, etc.  I've came up with a simple system for helping to find bass. It's my Seasonal Guide.

The Seasonal Guide is a simple bit of collected information that I use to eliminate unproductive water.  Most of us do not have unlimited amounts of time to spend looking for fish.  Hopefully, this guide will help you to narrow your choices to higher percentage areas where the bass might be.  The two main ingredients in this guide is time of year and water temperature!  "Yup... just like those fancy high class trout, the good ol' boy dirt-ass bass are just as dependent on it too."

The type of water your fishing is important as well.  Bass on different types of water my use different types of structure.  Bass relate to structure.  Structure is the changes in the shape of the bottom.  Yes... there are many types of water bass live in including, reservoirs, rivers, natural lakes, man-made lakes, etc.  Since, I live in the midwest... the state of Michigan.  We have mainly all natural lakes.  My guide is geared more for natural lakes but, this information can be applied to any type of water.

Winter... nope!  Here in the Mitten we don't fish for bass like they do down south.  We have that damn hard water!  So we will start with:
Pre-spawn. Water temps around 50-55 degrees.  Bass are now beginning to leave their winter deep water hangouts and moving towards their springtime love shacks (spawning flats).  Bass spawn on shallow protected flats.  Now is the time to intercept them as they make their way to these flats.  Fish along deeper water directly connected to these flats.  Structure like ditches, drop-offs, sloping banks, and such, will help to funnel fish onto the flat.  Look for logs, rocks, etc. these items help to hold heat.  Bass like it warm!  Hint!  Always locate the flats on the northern end of the lake.  These are the ones that warm first!  As water temps. rise the bass are on the move.  I like to throw crawfish patterns and baitfish patterns this time of year.  Crawfish are now emerging from hibernation.  Fish slow along the bottom.  My favorite is a Murdich Minnow.  I'll fish them slowly as well.  I like to let them sit and suspend in the water column.  As the water temps. rise towards 55+ degrees I begin to pick up my pace.  That means faster retrieves.

Spawn.  Water temperature 55-70 degrees.  Most bass will be up on those shallow flats.  Look for related structure again around these flats.  Bass are now either, spawning, looking for romance, or already did it!  Not all bass spawn at the same time.  Usually the larger ones are first and on down the line.  I prefer not to harass them while they are on their beds.  The future depends on those mommas dropping eggs.  I like to still target the pre-spawners.  Most of the time they can be much more aggressive.  With the water temps now approaching 60+ degrees I whip out my surface patterns.  Every good bass anglers favorites.  Bass now will hit a variety of fly patterns fished in a variety of different ways.  They aren't so picky anymore.

Postspawn.  Water temperatures 70 degrees +.  Bass now can really be all over the board as far as how to pattern them.  After bass spawn they tend to be a little lethargic and not overly aggressive. They tend to hang not to far away from the spawning flats.  You can tempt them into biting with a fast presentation.  If fished close enough to a bass' strike zone it can cause a reaction strike.  I still prefer to fish the flats and the related drop-offs and structure around them.  Look for objects that they will hold against, timber, rocks, boat docks, floating rafts, etc.  Remember!  Not all bass spawn at the same time, so the ones that spawned earlier are now recouped and ready for battle.  Same thing... use a variety of fly patterns and retrieve style until you can figure out just how they want it!

Summer.  Water temperature 75+ degrees.   Summertime can a hot nasty mess!  The high skies and high water temperatures... at times, can force bass to seek a little mid-day refuge.  The main lake or deeper waters are what they seek for a cool a summer shake down.  Clear water and lots of light penetration will also determine where bass may be.  Bass many times will hold in a shaded waters to avoid high light levels.  One reason they do this is to stay hidden from their prey.  This is where the shade of docks, rafts, lily pads, weedlines, and shady shorelines come into play.  Bass and baitfish will hold in these areas looking for cooler water which leads to higher oxygen levels.  I look for all of above in my quest of summertime bass.  Early morning, evening dusk and night are key times of the day to find bass.  The lower water temps. and light levels will activate bass into feeding more aggressively.  Topwater flies rule at these lower light levels.  I'm a shallow water fisherman so I plan my fishing time for before sunrise and at sunset!  Cloudy and overcast days are great too!  Summertime bass feed in short high charged bursts.  Be on the lookout for those feeding frenzy's.  Act fast and take part!

Fall. Water temperatures 75-55 degrees.  As water temps. fall the bass get going again.  They begin to feed for longer periods of time and do what I like best!  Stay shallow longer.  In my natural lakes they love feeding on baitfish and bluegill.  I like flats and weedlines where these fish species tend to hang.  Just like in spring I love flies that resemble baitfish.  I also love to fish frog and mouse topwater patterns as well.  Bass love to school now and be prepared for some fast action.  I always have two rods rigged and ready to go!  One with a topwater pattern and one with a baitfish pattern.  Unfortunately, just after fall fishing comes to end... That bastard old man winter shows up again!  I hate that S.O.B.!

Here are a few of my favorite patterns for covering all seasons, and water temperatures.

Check out the rest of this continuing series Fly Fishing for BASS SERIES parts 1-6

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