Shadetree Anglers

I remember reading an article about stripper fishing that talked about the size of the fish’s eyes and that not only making them exceptional hunters at night but also very sensitive to bright sunshine.  There is no doubt that strippers have no trouble feeding at night but I have sometimes questioned the latter.  Largemouth bass have smaller eyes proportionally than a stripper however; I am convinced that they are affected by bluebird skies and a high u.v. index.  I think this is especially true in the summer time when bass are more sluggish and are less likely to chase rather ambush while using contrasting light to there advantage.  All things being equal, water temperature, current, depth, and forage, there is more to it that just finding a shady spot. 

 

Pay attention to where the strikes are coming from.  Chances are that the bass are not moving a great distance; you are presenting the bait in a close enough proximity that they are willing to move on it.  A lot of the time it is the side of the dock or overlying structure that presents the hard contrast of light and dark that is the most productive.  I find this is truer through the 10am-3pm portion of the day.  Another scenario I like to keep an eye out for is bands of broken light left by a dock under construction with maybe no deck-boards or a fence leading into the water.  I find these areas to be most productive before 10am and after 3pm depending on the time of year and angle of the sun.  Under bridges is another great place to look for bass hiding from the sun.  Here there are two strike zones.  There is the contrasting edge of light and dark, which is difficult to fish effectively in deep water, and the pilings themselves.  Bridges are typically constructed on choke points so be of current breaks and eddies while setting up.  You may find casting one direction productive while fishing the same line from the other direction fruitless. 

 

Targeting shady spots and contrasting light conditions will obviously not work every day or all day long.  When you are sweating so bad that it’s spraying on the inside of your glasses or if you can smell you flesh cooking try applying this technique.  Clear days when there is no cloud cover or a very high u.v. index are also going to be more productive fishing in the shade.  Next time the morning top-water bite fades, the sun gets overhead, and the weak run for the boat ramp, look for what’s lurking in the shadows.  Let’s go fishing!

-TM-