Bass Basics

The first step I took as a fisherman was from catching sunnies off the dock to casting for bass along the docks. It is true that bass are a sunfish, so in theory this is a logical step. Most of my friends, like me, first started serious fishing for bass and then transitioned into walleyes.
Early in the year bass can be found in shallow hard bottom parts of many lakes. These are the spawning beds that the bass use. Bass can be caught in these areas by casting many different types of presentations. I have had the most luck using white or chartreuse spinner baits with fast retrieves. The hard bottoms of these locations are key for finding fish; a good spot to start is sandy bottoms or bulrushes.
Once the water warms up the bass will move into deeper cooler water. Under normal conditions in the mid-west this should occur in early June. Bass can be caught in 6-10 feet of water casting shallow diving crank baits and spinner baits. Small spoons and live bait presentations can work too.
Through July bass will move deeper but can be fished using the same methods. I have had very good luck catching largemouths with leeches while walleye fishing in the dog days. In fact some would argue that live bait presentations might be the best way to catch bass. Longtime guide Marv Koep of the Brainerd Lakes area swears by fishing with redtail chubs in 8-12 feet of water. The largemouth bass after all is in the Panfish family and I do not know of a better way to catch panfish then with a bobber.
Schools of Largemouth Bass and that contain larger fish are most commonly found in deeper water. The exception is that some fish find shade under docks and boats. Bass find these places to be ideal for eating bluegills as well. I have found casting spinner baits in these areas is the best approach. Spinner baits are the most versatile lure on the market; you can fish them deep, shallow, and they don’t usually hook up on weeds and docks. My buddies and I refer to this approach as “bass-mastering it.”
On lakes with softer bottoms lily pads also provide shade on sunny days for largemouth bass. Spots where the lily pads end, and drop offs begin are good locations. During the day try casting weedless spoons and top water lures into the lily pads. The key with top-water is to have a very slow retrieve. If you bring a top-water lure over the drop off make sure to really slow it down once the lure has moved past the weeds. You want to give the bass the impression that the lure ventured into some place it shouldn’t have.
If you don’t have success in the lily pads then go back along the same shoreline and fish the drop off. I like casting crankbaits that dive quickly like the Rapala fat-raps and rattle-traps. Cast the lure on the edge of the lily pads so it cranks down the drop off on the first part of your retrieve. Different colors work in different lakes during different light conditions. A good color to start with when using crankbaits for bass is crawdad.
In northern Minnesota Smallmouth Bass can be caught by casting the same lures along rocky drop offs. These spots can be identified by steep shorelines. This is where the smallies go to feed on crawfish. For lure color my first choice always depicts that.
During mid-day and later in the summer Smallmouth bass can be found around rocky humps. These humps can be found anywhere from 25-15 ft of water depending on the lake and weather. I cast or drift with 1/4 oz jigs tipped with minnows for these fish. By doing this I often catch walleyes too, or vice versa.
Fishing is all about mastering patterns. If you are not having any luck casting in shallows, try switching colors or presentations. If that does not work try different depths and different cover. When in doubt go back to fishing basics and try a bobber and a leech.

Weed Walleyes

The lake that I fish the most is not what you would classify as a “traditional” walleye lake. The lake does not contain any mud flats or rocky points. It is a weedy lake, and the walleyes are weed walleyes. I have found that cabbage flats that are ten to fourteen feet can produce highly productive fishing all year long. Walleyes, largemouth bass and pike all feed in cabbage because certain types of minnows take refuge within them. When fishing for walleyes on these weedy lakes, a good place to start is a cabbage flat on your lake you consistently catch pike on. A wise fisherman once taught me that wherever there are pike, walleyes are just a step behind.
The DNR often stocks walleyes on these weedy lakes to help grow their populations. These weedy lakes do not contain the rocky and sandy shallows that are required for excellent walleye production. Therefore they stock walleyes in these weedy lakes to keep their populations up and fisherman happy.
These stocked walleyes develop different habits than naturally raised fish. For starters, they learn that in order to survive they have to seek the shelter of weeds for protection. As the stocked walleyes grow, they learn that in these same weeds they can hunt baitfish.
On the lake I fish the ratio is very low, walleyes to bass, because the bass have good natural reproduction. Typically I catch roughly twenty largemouths for every walleye I boat. I know that there are walleyes in the lake and it is the challenge that keeps me in pursuit of them. While fishing for walleyes, I have no complaints about catching largemouth bass on a consistent basis. Too often people assume that you have to throw spinner baits or worms in the shallows to catch bass.
The waves created by wind that help increase fish catches on traditional lakes could also help anglers on weedy lakes. These waves are what most fishermen refer to as the “walleye chop”. The waves help to break down the light caused by the sun and that allows game fish to seek prey in the shallows. Fishing for weed walleyes in shallow cabbage flats under these conditions are the best.
Using slip bobbers is the easiest way I have found to reach weed walleyes. When slip bobbering in the weeds placing the sinker closer to the hook will help reduce hang-ups. I prefer to use leeches for bait while fishing with slip bobbers for walleyes. Minnows may work well too, but I feel that pike often reach the minnow before walleyes and bass. Typically I place the leech anywhere from a foot to four feet from the bottom depending on the depth. The deeper the water the farther from the bottom you can present the bait. Weed walleyes have no problem coming up to get the leech and are often suspended off the bottom. When fishing with multiple people, I start by having everyone fish a different depth till we find the depth the fish are at.
Bobber fishing is my personal favorite way to fish. It involves finesse and you never know what is on the other end of the line when your bobber goes down. For me fishing is something I do to relax and starring at a bobber in the lake is very relaxing. It is also easy for children and inexperienced fisherman to use bobbers. Introducing people to the outdoors could be the most valuable way of keeping the outdoor activities we enjoy so much around for generations to come.
Slip bobber fishing is not the only way to fish for the walleyes that feed in the weeds. At night, when walleye fishing is traditionally the best, I like to cast shallow diving crank baits just over the top of the cabbage. This technique is best early in the year before water levels lower and weeds grow tall. There are seldom distractions from other boaters at night, making the outings quite peaceful.
Even on weedy lakes there are water depths that never get sunlight and therefore do not contain weeds. The magic number seems to be about 25 feet. In late July and early August I like to drag leeches with live bait rigs in these deep holes. Cabbage flats, making it convenient for walleyes to catch a snack when needed, usually will indicate the best holes.
The fall is the best time for speed trolling for walleyes on any lake. I have had the most success doing this with perch colored Shad raps. Trolling weed lines in the mornings and evenings can be very productive because the fish are preparing for the winter by feeding heavily. If nothing else you should have enough action with pike while trolling to keep the entertainment level in the boat high.
The most important thing about fishing for walleyes on weedy lakes is thinking outside the box. Do not be afraid to try things that you would normally not do to catch walleyes. For example, I have seen walleyes on my lake boated on both spoons and spinner baits. Be persistent and patient and you will have success.