Water Temp: Bass are unique in that they can handle warm water but don’t particularly enjoy it. When water temps rise, bass tend to feed in lower light conditions (mostly mornings and evenings). During these times, focus your search in the shallows around boat docks and brush that hangs over the water. When the water is cool, bass tend to wander away from the cover as they search for food. When the water is warm, they hide in the heaviest cover they can find. Generally, bass in Alabama will be shallow during the spring and fall and will seek out deep-water refuges in the winter and summer.
Food Source: In most bodies of water in Alabama, shad are a primary food source for bass. Shad are roamers and live nomadic lives in open water. Because of this, it can be difficult to find schools of shad. But once you do, there will likely will be bass nearby. To find schools of shad, look for dimples on the water’s surface. If the shad are feeding on top of the water, cast topwater bait like a buzzbait or popper into and around the school. If the school is below the surface, cast a crankbait that dives to a depth just below where the school is. When fishing for bass around shad, use a lure that resembles a shad, especially in coloration.
Water Clarity: While some water in AL is clear, others are murky or in between. A lure that catches bass in murky water may not draw any interest from bass in clear water. Bigger lures tend to work best in murky water, because they produce a vibration that helps bass find them. But the same bait in clear water may not produce ba catch because it would be easy for them to determine it as a fake. In terms of color, stick with natural hues such as green and brown in clear water and solid, dark colors in murky water. Stick with light line in clear water and use a heavy line for murky waters.
The Surface: In the shallows of many lakes in Alabama is a thick vegetation that can be difficult to penetrate with lures. As a result, some anglers move on. Smart anglers tie on a weedless plastic frog and fish right over the top of the thick stuff. The lures resist snagging and can be retrieved with ease, helping anglers cover large amounts of water. This is important because it can be difficult to tell where the bass will be located. If you fish the shallows, use long, stout rods and a heavier line, as the heavy vegetation makes it easy for bass to get away.
