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Bass Fishing: Laydowns

ere is a piece of cover that will almost always hold fish and we are going to show you a few ways to put them in your boat.

Fallen trees can be a haven for big largemouth bass and in many cases are very catchable. Here is a way many anglers can fish their strengths as well as their favorite lures to fill the livewell. Laydowns come in many shapes and sizes often placed along a shoreline by a past storm or flood. These areas will hold concentrations of bass where other areas of the lake may only hold scattered fish. Let's take a look at some surefire patterns for fishing laydowns.

Catch'em by surprise!

The most important thing to remember is your boat position and your presence to the fish. You want to have your boat totally in place before making that first cast this enables you to keep your bait in the strikezone longer and catch that bass by surprise. There are many ways to start fishing a laydown but my initial cast is normally toward the middle of the tree.

Target unconnected trees!

A laydown does not have to be on the bank to be productive. A tree that is not attached to the shore can be a bass bonanza. This tree is normally overlooked or never found by many anglers. I usually fish these types of laydowns with a Zoom trick worm or Senko type bait. Rig this with a 3/16 oz. weight to get a good fall to the bottom through the branches. These type fallen trees are normally in deeper water also so take your time and fish them very thoroughly. If the finesse type baits do not produce strikes then try backing off and running a crankbait through the branches to try and get a reaction bite. A Norman Little N is a good choice here.

Seasonal Positioning!

This depends on the seasonal positioning of fish related to wood cover. If it is fall I recommend the deeper side of the laydown first and if you are in Spring I would start on the shallow end and work it first. You also want to keep in mind that a laydown can produce multiple fish so don't catch one and move on you may be passing up catchable bass.

Think Deflection!

Few types of cover are better suited for getting a good reaction strike than a well placed laydown. I recommend using a square billed crankbait for these type situations due to the wobble they have and they are far less prone to hanging up. A good square billed crankbait is hard to beat for running alongside a log or laydown. Bass rarely turn down a crankbait deflecting off a limb or log.

Radical Jigging!

A heavy jig used to bang against the limbs and base of the log can and will produce bass that are used to seeing finesse type approaches. This gives them a different look and is great for fishing when you have a wrong angle to throw a crankbait. Try using a heavy headed jig like a 1/2 oz. Booyah. The heavy jig thumping the wood can attract bass and entice them to strike.

Power Fishing!

If you are a big time heavy line flipper you can get in on the action also with your heavy hitting approach. Try a good stout flipping combo matched with a bulky but compact creature style bait such as a Sweet Beaver or Chigger Craw. I begin with this technique around the visible portion of the tree and work out to the tips. Always remembering boat control is key.

Be Persistent!

Bass can often be very picky when it comes to bait choice. Fish these laydowns very hard and try multiple baits if need be. Bass will always hold on this type structure. It's just in their genetics. Often times making 25 to 30 casts to a laydown working every piece can pay off in a big way. Stick to this with confidence and be persistent in your approach. Never let the bass win the mind game!

Finesse Approach!

Often times bass will relate to the outer edges of the laydown and can be found deeper. This can be a good thing for you the angler to cash in on multiple fish. My approach to this is with a drop shot rig. I normally use a small finesse worm such as a Zoom Meat head. Be sure and experiment with the length of line between your bait and your weight. Try and pinpoint the water column the bass are staging in. Work this technique very slow and make multiple casts to the edges.

I hope these tips for fishing laydowns will help you boat more fish on your next trip. Always remember to stay patient and use your mind to fill your livewell. Never let the bass get in your head!

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