Those are the exact questions to ask, and the reason for this post. Schooling bass (sometimes called schoolies), are usually found during the late summer to early fall months on large lakes or reservoirs. These bass are typically young, and thus smaller, perhaps only a pound or two each.

The situation normally occurs when very large schools of shad follow plankton around the lake, feeding on it. The schooling bass will pin them to the surface of the water, and then viciously attack. So spotting them can often be easy. Just look for areas where the shad are jumping out of the water, being hit by bass. We usually refer to this as “boiling water”. You can sometimes spot this from afar by using binoculars or looking for birds diving and hitting the top of the water in a particular area.

What To Do When You Spot The Schooling Bass

This feeding frenzy will likely not last very long, however. So we you see it, immediately drop your current fishing spot, and get to that area as fast as possible. Cut the boat more short of the area, and allow your momentum and/or your trolling motor to get you close to the fish. This will ensure that you do not spook the fish. Begin casting as soon as you are within range. I prefer to cast behind the boiling water, and retrieve back into it, as to not scare the fish. But experiment, you may find that the bass respond best when you drop your line right on the top of them!

Smart anglers will have an additional rod and reel rigged up with a short diving, natural looking shad crankbait, or other shad like lure. Having this on hand will prepare you for the schooling fish, and you’ll be able to maximize your catch, since the boiling water will not last that long. I hope you got something out of this article, and if you did, would you leave me a comment in the box below? Thanks, and we’ll see you next time on HiddenFishingTips.com.

Warm Fronts

During the winter, if a warm front comes through for several days, as the water warms up, the bass will tend to come up from the deeper water to the surface, to catch the rays of sun. This can provide better fishing for anglers, because the shallow runners will be usable, and the fish will be more likely to feed in the warmer water.

On the flip side, an unusually warm front that comes through in the summer time may cause bass to be sluggish in feeding, as they tend to not like to feed when the water temperature is above 80 degrees.

Cold Fronts

Bass tend to sense when a cold front is about to hit, and they do not like to feed during the front. So a few hours before a cold front sets in, you can be in an utter feeding frenzy! But don’t be late! Once it comes in, the bass will dive looking for warmer water and will refrain from feeding for several days until the front moves on.

I remember one time fishing with my uncle, and we were just shy of catching some great fish. There was a cold front coming in, and we hit the water, caught a couple of fish, and the action just stopped. What I would have done to get there just a couple of hours earlier!

Wind

The wind can have a significant impact on successful bass fishing. Constant wind can be the catalyst that drives bait fish to congregate in certain areas to feed, and thus bring in the big boys! But heavy winds can cause to much turbulence, and drive the bass into deeper waters, harder to find, and thus harder to catch.

A moderate wind that creates waves on the shore can be a good sign for bass fishing. This will cause the bottom to be stirred up slightly, creating murky water near the shore. The bass will come and hang out along the mud line, and feed.

Rain

Rain can be a good thing for bass fishing. The clouds will create shade, and bass will be more comfortable in the shallow water. Runoff from rain can deposit mud and create some murky water, and again, bass will move in on the line between the clear and murky water. But if runoff muddies up the entire body of water, then the “biting” will likely turn off.