Rocky Cover In
Clear Water

Given a choice of fishing cover, many anglers would choose weeds first, wood second and rock third. Lakes with a prevalence of rock cover are tough to fish. Here's why:
• Rocky lakes are typically less fertile than woody or weedy lakes, meaning there's relatively little plankton in the water. Baitfish may not be abundant, and the bass population may be considerably thinner than in other types of lakes.
• Rocky lakes are often very clear, and clear water confounds many bass anglers. Time to put away the heavy baitcasting gear and break out those spinning rods and finesse lures.
• Rocky lakes often lack extensive shoreline cover, so pounding the banks can be fruitless. Much of the bass population may live offshore and deeper than in weedy or woody lakes.
Qualities of Rock Cover: Think of rocks as storage lockers. When you or I get hungry, we raid the refrigerator. When forage species in rocky lakes are hungry, they find a cache of food around rocks. When a bass dies in a rocky lake it sinks to the bottom and decomposes. Organic matter becomes trapped between the rocks. Crawfish scavenging among the rocks feed on this organic matter. In addition, the rocks develop a slimy coating of algae, creating a veritable pasture for game fish fry and various baitfish species. Larger bass and other predators approach these rocks because of the rock's attraction to forage species. Rock, unlike weeds, cannot produce oxygen. Rock, unlike wood, doesn't rot. Rock just sits there. It's inert. Yet it functions as a food storage locker and a growing surface for algae, which are vital to the food chain. Nature's edges - those places where one type of environment meets another - attract bass. Weedlines and stump rows are common examples of edges in the lakes we've already studied. Rock edges are naturally harder. Bass can swim deep into the grass on one side of a weedline, and can move around stumps on a flat. But they can't swim through rock. Thus, rocky banks and bluffs concentrate large numbers of bass. Once you know their depth, it's relatively easy to catch them.
Patterning Rocky Lakes: Nowhere is patterning more important than on rocky lakes. Unless you know what kind of rock the bass are using, and how deep they're using it, you may go for days without a strike. Patterning bass on rocky lakes, though tough, is not impossible. Here are some tips:
1. Categorize rocks by size. As you cruise the lake, you'll notice banks having big boulders on them, others gravel, still others fist-sized rock. All produce bass at one time or another. The most consistent action year-round, however, is generally found on fist to softball sized rock. Rocks this size have enough surface for plenty of algae and enough space between them to trap large quantities of organic matter. They also have enough space between them to make it relatively easy for bass to root out crawfish. A crawfish burrowing in gravel may be hard for a bass to catch. But the spawning urge in the spring will override concerns about eating. Smallmouth bass spawn on gravel, so always target this rock when you're after this species.
2. Since rocky lakes are clear, use lures that strongly mimic the forage living in them, mainly crawfish and schooling baitfish. Keep in mind that crawfish are highly nocturnal, staying in hiding during daylight hours and emerging at night. Crawfish-imitating lures are often most productive after dark. Forage fish are usually silvery in color, so use plenty of chrome or silver minnow lures dining the day.
3. Bass in rocky lakes are likely to be much deeper, on the average, than their counterparts in weedy or woody lakes. This is because of the water clarity and lack of bass-hiding cover in shallow water typical of rocky lakes. Bass are likely to be shallowest in the spring, simply because they spawn where sunlight can incubate their eggs. Look for largemouth in creek arms in 1 to 3 feet of water and smallmouth on mainlake flats and bars 5 to 15 feet deep. In summer, bass may be extraordinarily deep, and often suspend over deep channel structure. Consequently, now is a fine time to try deep trolling, because lure casting may be next to impossible. In fall, look for bass suspending off steep bluffs and 45 degree sloping rock banks. They may be 10 feet deep early in the morning and 40 feet by noon. Target deep points and sloping banks.
Rocky Targets: Gravel banks typically have a low slope. You may have to travel 50 yards on a gravel bank to find a 5 foot depth increase or decrease. This means organic matter stays put in gravel, so crawfish often are present. Bass prefer banks with a gradual slope in spring; smallmouth bass spawn on gravel. Gravel banks are less productive in summer and winter, when bass like deeper structure. Points in rocky lakes are extremely important structures much of the year. Because there's so little shallow shoreline cover, bass suspend in open water and use points as contact structures when moving into and out of the shallows. Points often consist of gravel or fist sized rock mixed with mud or clay. In spring, bass may spawn on long, shallow points. In summer, they'll prowl deep points that cascade into deep creek and river channels (especially at night). In fall, they'll again be on slow tapering points, especially when a strong wind blows against these structures. And in winter, they'll be on deep, fast tapering points. Bluffs indicate the presence of a creek or river channel. Consequently, there may be some current along a bluff and, as a result, more highly-oxygenated water. Schools of baitfish suspend close to bluffs while crawfish lurk hi the rock rubble at the base. Bluffs are especially good for spotted bass, which show a strong preference for steep vertical structure. Boulders are big rocks that have broken off a bluff or other nearby rock structure. Where rock are partially submerged, they'll attract birds and insects. Where totally submerged, they're "rest areas" for baitfish schools traveling along bluffs and river channels. Boulders provide shade, making them good places for bass to hide when not actively feeding. Shale, a unique form of rock, is found in highland reservoirs. Shale banks, when pounded by waves, will break up quickly, creating a bed of flaky rock beneath the water. Crawfish burrow into the beds to forage and hide. Shale banks and points are excellent smallmouth bass structures in summer, fall and winter. Shoals commonly occur in rivers and are typically composed of gravel or slick limestone. River smallmouth will spawn on them and all species of bass, when feeding, gravitate to them. Sand is nothing more than rock reduced to its smallest form by wind, water and time. Where sand occurs, larger rocks are rare or nonexistent and weeds more prevalent. Largemouth spawn on sand.
Fishing Tips for Rocky Lakes:
• Since rocky lakes are often clear and lacking in brush or weeds, you should avoid heavy line and large lures. Small baits like jigs, grubs, blade baits and 1/4 ounce diving crankbaits will out produce large crankbaits and big plastic worms.
• If you do find shoreline cover in a rocky lake, such as a stump or flooded bush, by all means fish it.
• Fish rocky lakes with "the big picture" in mind. Bass fishing in weeds or wood is often a game of putting your lure close to the cover. But in rocky waters, bass often suspend off points or sloping banks and may not hang tight to rocks as they will weeds or wood. For this reason, lures that cover a lot of deep water, like diving crankbaits, or blade baits, catch a lot of bass.
• Knowing what depth range the bass are using is critical in a rocky lake. Bass often "slide" up and down points and flats and may suspend in open water when inactive.
• Topwater lures are productive in rocky lakes in spring and fall. Bass will suspend in clear, open water but will rise to smack a surface lure.
Lures For Rocky Lakes:
• Minnow lures are highly realistic and maintain a true baitfish appearance in clear water, In the spring and fall, twitch them on top near bluffs, points, flats and sloping banks.
• Grubs are thought by many to be the ultimate lures for rocky lakes. Fish them year-round on light line with a stiff spinning rod around sloping rock banks, flats and points.
• Metal baits like blade baits, spoons and tail-J spinners are compact, have a baitfish-imitating flash and are readily attacked by easily spooked bass in clear, rocky lakes. They're especially good in winter.
• Diving crankbaits are great in spring and fall when fished on sloping rock banks and points, especially if the lake turns murky following a hard rain. Use metallic finishes in clear water and on sunny days; crawfish patterns on cloudy days and when the water is murky are great on sloping rock banks in winter and early spring.
• Hair jigs are great on sloping rock banks in winter and early spring.
Rocky lakes can offer exciting and rewarding bass fishing. Once you more fully understand them you'll take a giant step toward consistently catching bass.