Bottom Fishing

Unless they're on the surface, schools can be a problem to locate. Start looking off rocky points or sand banks, especially where minnows or baitfish are known to inhabit. If on the lake, shoals or rock beds may have a few white bass resting. Large, slow-moving rivers or canals in the current below locks and dams are another good location.

In this situation, it's best to troll or drift-fish lures or minnows or other bait as close as possible to the bottom. Favorite areas for trolling are those off rocky reefs and small bars with a minnow spinner, six to ten inches off the bottom. Weighted jigs can be worked on bottom by pumping rod tips up and down and reeling in slack line on the downstroke. This bounces the jig on bottom, giving the appearance of a feeding minnow. The jig can be one-quarter of an ounce or heavier, depending on water depth and wave action.

Bottom fishermen will often use a three-way swivel which allows them to use bottom weight well below their bait. There are a variety of lead weights on the market designed to fish bottom. By using lighter line to sinkers, only the weight is lost if the bait gets snagged. Tie line from the rod to one eye, bait to the second, and sinker to the third. This makes a perfect bottom rig. Distance to the bottom can be determined by shortening or lengthening drop line.

If you're not familiar with three-way swivels, an ordinary snap swivel will suffice. Use a snelled hook, and on the same snap place another piece of lighter monofilament line with a sinker attached. For example, if fish are about a foot off bottom, use 12 to 18 inches of line between sinker and snap swivel.

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