Sometimes bass just don’t cooperate. Whether it be pre-spawn, post spawn, dog days of summer or when feeding bass on the flats are just plain spooky, there will become a time when you will need to switch gears and begin fishing bass on drop offs.

A drop off can be defined anywhere from a simple two foot change in water depth, or an extreme thirty foot change in topography. If you enjoy spot fishing, flipping docks, or simply twitching frogs over lily pads, the idea of fishing non visible structure deep in the water column may seem a bit intimidating, but it all comes down to two simple factors; boat placement and lure choice.

Boat Placement

Like with all forms of fishing the angle of the boat, and the ability to control it, has a drastic effect on how you will be able to fish. The position will change your angle of cast, your visibility to the fish as well as how long you can keep the boat in your target zone. When fishing bass on drop offs, there are three very basic boat placements:

1. Shallow- Setting the boat in shallow water and parallel to the drop off allows you to cast perpendicular, and work the bait up on to the flats. The major advantage of this placement is the ability to keep a visual of the ledge of the drop off as you work back and forth. If the flats create a sudden point, you have an easier time working down the point while continuously keeping the boat parallel.
2. Deep- The same basic principle for placing the boat in deeper water is the need to keep the boat parallel to the drop off, which is inherently more difficult without the visual. The advantage of sticking to the deep side, is the natural presentation of the bait. Bass, like most predatory fish usually feed in an upward direction. Placing the boat in deep water, then casting onto the flats and working the bait down the drop off will keep the bait above the fish as it approaches.
3. Designated depth- Once you have confirmation at which depth the fish are holding, positioning the boat perpendicular this time along the drop off allows you to cast parallel to the drop off keeping your bait in the desired range for longer periods of time, greatly increasing your hook up rate.

Lure Choice

With thousands and thousands of lures on the market, the general idea for fishing bass on drop offs is to keep it simple. Color choices can be unlimited, but the basic principles of using green, like watermelon or green pumpkin, and red such as rusty craw, are excellent choices for clear water. Colors like black and blue are still the go to choice for murkier water. The simple choice for lures are easily broken down into three categories:

1. Square bill crankbaits- The idea behind crankbaits is that they allow you to cover a lot of water in a quick amount of time. Matching the depth of the drop off with the running depth of the lure is a good first step, but having multiple crank baits with multiple running depths is ideal, in trying to locate suspended bass over the drop off. Having a square bill crankbait is ideal for fishing underwater debris such as logs and stumps, because the square bill is essentially designed for running into objects and bumping off, eliminating most snag ups.
2. Hawgs and Beavers- Hawgs and beavers are simply creature baits that imitate crayfish, a bass’ favorite food. Using a weedless Texas rig, with a ½ oz weight will get you virtually anywhere the bass are sitting. The key to using hawgs and beaver baits is to simulate the same type of movements that a crayfish would. The easiest way to accomplish this is to cast your bait past your target, reel in the slack of your line. Using your rod glide the bait back toward you in very short 10” increments allowing the lure to fall to the bottom. This will give your bait a live presentation, as well as maximizing the amount of drops per cast; an action that bass cant resist.
3. Drop shot- Once you have located the depth in the water column that bass are holding, using a drop shot rig could be the deadliest rig in your arsenal. Using light line, a 3/8 oz bell sinker and an inline hook placed roughly 10-16” above the sinker, and the soft plastic of your choice, gives you the ability to strategically place baits suspended directly over the bass. The key to fishing drop shots is to fish slow, and when you feel like you are moving slow enough, slow down some more. If you are fishing this rig, you already know where they are holding, and the key is to keep the bait in front of them as long as you can without constantly disturbing the water with cast after cast. Its finesse fishing at its best.

Whether you are frustrated with the slow action in shallow water, or you are looking to add another dimension of strategy to your fishing arsenal, fishing bass on drop offs can help you land a more consistent bite throughout the year.