Article
Date: 9/15/06
Tidal
fishing
In
30 years of bass fishing, the most predictably and consistently
productive waters I have found always been in Current. Here in
the Delta tidal fluctuation is the key.
Now,
many of you may find that opening statement pretty strong, especially
those who struggle here on the Delta with tidal waters. However,
it is quite true. I have been lucky enough to fish for largemouth
bass all over the Country and, possibly with the exception of
some private ponds and Clear Lake, tidal waters stand tall as
the overall best.
Let
me give you some characteristics of tidal water bassin' to start
thinking about and then we'll discuss the subject in depth:
1.
With the exception of short periods of time at both maximum high
and low tide conditions, tidal waters are in continual motion.
It’s this motion that positions fish.
2. The constantly moving currents preclude stratification of the
water by temperature or oxygen level.
3. The oxygen content is nearly always excellent.
4. The shallow zones are always cooler in Summer and warmer in
Winter than a body of still water would be.
5. The fluctuating direction of tidal flows creates structure
features not found in non-tidal rivers and lakes.
6. The resident bass are much more heavy-bodied and stronger than
their still-water cousins.
7. The waters are very fertile and normally clean.
8. The bass are extremely predictable as to location and feeding
patterns.
9. Tidal water bass are generally found at the same depths year-round,
though their responses will be slower during the colder months.
10. No matter what type of water you may fish, there is one `rule'
which remains constant: Moving water draws feeding bass like a
magnet. In reservoirs, the junctions of feeder creeks and tributaries
provide excellent feeding areas for the fish. River fishermen
know all too well that certain locations with specific current-related
characteristics continually hold bass schools. Tidal waters, with
their near-constant state of motion, are no exception, only better!
In
the West Delta bays and flats will be brackish waters, with an
increasing degree of salinity as one approaches closer to the
actual ocean. Bass have been found to be very tolerant of a goodly
amount of salt in their water, so how close to the actual ocean
they may be found must be determined for each specific area. A
good rule of thumb is that the rear one-half of the bay should
support bass.
In
addition to the natural vegetation, certain man-made features
will be found in these locations. Among these are walls, piers,
boat houses, bridges and associated rip-rap, barge and boat mooring
areas, and duck blinds.
The
tidal water bass of the bays and flats will orient to water flow,
first, and objects, second. Moving water brings food and bass
know that very well. Accordingly, groups of bass will be found
where the current if flowing, yet in a location that allows them
to remain just out of its effects. Because of this, any area of
constriction, such as the passageway under a bridge or a open
zone between heavy weed growth can be real 'hot-spots'. No matter
which way the tidal current is moving through a constriction,
the bass will normally be on the down-current side and holding
in an area of eddy water. Look for the back-flow of an eddy and
work the edge of it thoroughly.
This
leads to one of the important rules for fishing tidal water- `bass
will virtually never be found in the same locations on both outgoing
and incoming tides.' Similar locations, yes; the same locations,
no. This must be fully understood so that time is not wasted fishing
yesterday's 'hot spot', when the tidal conditions are different
today. A bass loves moving water and the food it brings, but he
must have an adjacent, protected area to hold out of the force
of the flow.
Areas
of open water grass can be exceptionally good, but, again, the
angler should apply the principles of reading current flow. In
addition, attention should be paid to depth. Moving water is `bulk'
material. As such, it tends to flow with greater force within,
and along, a channel or area of increased depth. In the tidal
bays and flats, these `channels' may be very subtle and noted
by nothing more than a foot or so of depth variation. Should you
locate a slightly deeper area within the vast expanse of weed
growth, note closely its boundaries and the relationship to the
weed beds. The bass will use the weeds for cover and concealment,
as well as a shield against the current flow. Normally, expect
to find them in the down-current edge of the weeds closest to
the strongest current.
Duck
blinds and old mooring pilings are favorite fishing locations
for most tidal water anglers. They are also favored by bass, since
they are some of the few open water objects the fish have to relate
to. Bass are nearly always found around these locations, but the
best will still be determined by reading the adjacent current
flow. Duck blinds always have an opening in the center, accessible
from one end of the blind, or from the rear. In addition to its
perimeter, be sure to fish within the blind, itself. In warm weather,
be especially cautious of snakes sunning on the grass, limbs and
poles of duck blinds.
A
`confined tributary' is any creek, slough or river which is effected
by the tidal fluctuations. Bass populations in these waters are
usually very high and extremely predictable as to location, again
by reading the current flow and the adjacent shielding ambush
areas.
A
tidal tributary, slough,Creek or river has some interesting characteristics
which differ from its non-tidal cousins. First, the alternating
direction of the changing tidal flows has a tendency to create
deep holes in areas where the bottom composition is soft. Accordingly,
the tributary may have an average depth of 10-15 feet, but have
deep areas of up to 50 and 60 feet. Where, in a non-tidal tributary
the inside bends of a channel turn are usually shallow and have
a bar, the tidal counterpart usually has a deep hole on the inside
bend. However, there may be a bar below and/or above that hole.
These bars, or the bank area upstream or downstream from the hole,
serve are current breaks for holding and feeding bass. Which ones
hold fish are defined by the direction of the tidal currents at
the time. Nearly always, the downstream current break is the one
to fish.
The
outside bends of the tributary may also have a deep area, depending
on the sharpness of that bend. However, there is an oddity to
these outside turns. Most seem to have a shallow shelf which runs
out for a distance before dropping off into the deep water. The
tidal current will generally maintain itself within the deeper
confines of the channel, and the bass hold on the shallow shelf
in the slight eddy that is created.
Another
interesting, and important, characteristic of a tidal tributary
has to do with the mouths of feeder creeks and other major drainages
into it. In non-tidal situations, feeder creeks usually have a
defined channel which extends a distance out into the adjoining
tributary, with a bar on the down-stream side. Since `down-stream'
changes four times a day in tidal waters, the currents never allow
this bar to fully form. If one is noted, it will usually be very
small.
In
addition, the protruding channel also is also absent.What is usually
found is that, at the place where the feeder creek flow intersects
the main tributary flow, a washout will occur, resulting in a
hole with a steep drop-off. Bass will gather along the top lip
of this drop on outgoing tides and for short periods when the
maximum high and low tide conditions are reached.
The
further upstream one goes in the Delta, the less the tidal influence
will be. Consequently, these characteristic features we have mentioned
will gradually diminish.
The
`inland marsh' areas Like Frank Tract and Mildred are those back-waters
off the confined tributary. These usually have a feeder creek
or main drainage channel flowing through their midst and will
have numerous small drainage ditches and channels intersecting
all along its course. At high tide, virtually all the marsh will
be flooded, while at low tide only the drainage channels will
enough water contain water. When the marsh is flooded, the bass
will seek food out in the thick cover growth. In most cases, the
marsh flats, themselves, are inaccessible. When the waters begin
to fall, the bass instinctively move towards deeper water and
will normally return to the drainage channels. For that reason,
falling and low tide conditions are always prime times to be in
the marsh areas.
Moving
waters are being constantly mixed. Accordingly, there is very
little, if any, stratification by temperature level or oxygen
content. This fact is very much in the favor of the angler, in
that it normally precludes bass from taking up deep water positions
in tidal areas. In fact, the year-round depth pattern on any given
body of tidal water remains generally constant. The one major
difference in cold and hot weather fish positioning is that the
bass will not be found in the shallow cover zones during the colder
months. The cold causes the food chain to vacate the shallows
and move to open water areas. The bass, of course, follow.
We
have already mentioned the feeder creeks and drainage channels
in regards to where they converge with the main tributary. In
addition to that drop-off and hole at the mouth, there are a couple
of other features to be noted. As the creek or channel intersects
the tributary, its waters, and the accompanying silt it carries,
will encounter the resistance of the tributary flow at incoming
and high tide conditions. This causes a build-up of the slit just
inside the mouth and creates a shallow area. Just behind the shallow
slit bar, the waters will start to deepen again and this is an
excellent place to find schools of bass. First, it provides a
current shield on the incoming tide. Second, it traps limbs and
other debris drifting out on a falling water condition and often
creates what tidal anglers refer to as `log jams'.
Lure
selections for tidal waters follow the same criteria as for any
other location. First, key the lure to the depth of water to be
fished. Experience has shown that the vast majority of tidal water
bass are caught, year-round, in ten feet, or less, of water. Second,
consider the most probable retrieve speed, based on the season
and water temperature. Temper both of these criteria with consideration
of the lure's ability to be worked in the cover (grass, logs,
duck blinds, etc.) of the area being addressed.
A
third criteria is purely seasonal, and that is lure size. During
the colder months, always go with small lures to insure maximum
response.
While
I am definitely not an advocate of lure color being relevant in
catching bass, it does appear that some color selections work
better in the brackish, stained tidal waters. The darker colored
plastic worms and jigs always appear to do better. Black and purple,
Black Red get the top nods. This would seem reasonable, in that
the aquatic life usually takes on the basic color of its surroundings.
In crank plugs, reflective chrome finishes are the top producers.
White, yellow, and chartreuse are usually chosen by the spinner
bait anglers. These brighter colors would seem to be a bit out
of line with the rationale for the worm selection. However, fast
moving lures basically trigger `impulse' strikes and they need
to be seen and attract attention.
Actual
lure presentation in tidal areas is about the same as for any
other type of water. However, a point to note is the direction
of the retrieve in relation to the current flow. Fish will always
face into the oncoming current. Therefore, always present the
lure upstream and retrieve down the current. Cross-current retrieves
are also acceptable, if the cast is made upstream of where the
bass are most likely to be holding. In other words, keep the lure
out in front of the bass's field of vision.
There
is a plastic worm variation which should be noted. Because the
bottom of tidal water areas is often coated with bothersome decaying
vegetation and a fine, hair-like grass, a constantly moving, `swimming'
retrieve may be required. This can be done with a lightly-weighted,
Texas-rigged lure, with the slip sinker securely `pegged' with
a toothpick. Another variation is rig a `ribbon-tail' worm with
a small split shot just ahead of it, and a swivel inserted into
the line above the shot. The object is to make a very slow retrieve,
while keeping the lure just off the bottom. This is an extremely
deadly lure in the drainage channels of the marshes during a falling
tide. In fact, the swimming worm is possibly the best tidal water
lure ever devised. It's that good, believe me.
One
specific fact the angler will immediately note about tidal water
bass is their unusually high level of stamina and strength. This
certainly comes from living in an environment of constant current.
Lots of exercise obviously builds strong bodies (ask my personal
trainer). Another physical characteristic of these bass is their
short, chunky body form.
Outside
of lure color, the single most debated topic among tidal water
anglers is the tidal condition which is most productive. The arguments
cover the entire spectrum- high, low, rising, and falling. The
fact is, they are all good times to fish. The tidal condition
has absolutely nothing to do with WHEN a bass will feed, only
with WHERE he will be found.
The
same fishing `lesson' applies to both tidal and non-tidal waters:
"Catching bass is easy; finding him is the hard part."
But, once the angler learns to effectively read tidal topography
and moving tidal currents, the `finding' aspect will become reasonably
easy, too..
Selecting
tidal water lures means paying attention to the primary factors
of depth and speed, while also matching them to the type of cover
being fished to preclude snagging and tangling. Smaller lures
are more productive in the colder months. Dark-colored soft
plastic lures,
reflective-finish crank plugs, and bright-colored
spinner baits always seem to be best. Below is a "fisherman's
choice" of recommended lures. Enjoy!
Pennies
on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more?
You be the judge!
