Use Cover and Structure for Better Bass Fishing

Target these areas for more Largemouth Bass

Structure and cover are very important in being able to find more largemouth bass. Now that you know how the seasons and associated water temperatures affect bass activity and location, you now need to zero in on those seasonal spots to increase your chances of finding bass.

Review: Defining lake structure for fishing

Before we go any further lets define structure because there can be some confusion on the difference between structure vs cover. 

Structure has to do with the features that make up the body of water you are fishing. Points, humps dropoffs and flats, creek channels, riverbeds and old roads are examples of structure. Cover, on the other hand, is an area that bass can use to hide or take cover to ambush prey.

Largemouth Bass stage and hang out around various structure. From here they come out to nearby areas in search of prey or for a change of environment. These should be the first things you look for. To identify structure you are going to need a map. (We’ll discuss reading maps in the next lesson. If you are not signed up to receive this free course. you can sign up here.)

Cover that holds bass

Once you are in your researched largemouth fishing spot, now it's time to identify cover. Remember cover is anything that allows a bass to take cover for purposes of ambushing prey or for a feeling of security. 

Just like structure, cover can come in many forms. 

• tree stumps
• down logs, often called lay downs
• vegetation
• weed lines
• grass mats
• lilly pads
• trees
• wreckage
• manmade structures

In a boat you’ll want to take advantage of your sonar to identify things that are not visible from the surface. From shore you’ll want to look for those things that are visible such as tree stumps and grass or other vegetation.

The combination of structure and cover increases the chances that largemouth bass will be in the area but it certainly isn't the only thing to look for. These things merely get you to a spot once you are there, there are a few more things you need to take note of in order to validate the spot as a fish holding goldmine.

The biggest factor in fishing structure and cover

The biggest thing that needs to be present within the structure and the cover is bait fish. Without prey in an area, it doesn't matter what kind of structure and how many hiding places there are, your chances are slim to none if you don’t see any kind of forage in the area that bass can be feeding on.

With what you learned on how bass respond to water temperature using the seasons as reference, you now have identified a spot that has a high chance of holding bass. A spot with nearby structure and cover that shows evidence of forage for bass.

Next, we'll take a look at lure selection and make sure we have a strategy behind that.

Learn more about Largemouth Bass Fishing.

Go to the bass fishing home page.