Bass Highways (to the Dining Room) - BAG

Bass Highways (to the Dining Room)   
By Alton Jones

Reprinted with permission from Bass Angler's Guide

 There is one key idea that has had a strong impact on my success as a fisherman. This thought goes through my mind constantly while preparing, practicing and while competing in tournaments. Bass follow pathways. Bass are like all the other animals that God created and put on this earth, in that they tend to follow pathways. 

We often perceive a body of water to be this big unknown mystery with fish swimming randomly around out there but once we embrace the fact that they are somewhat predictable, we become better at pursuing them. Bass are creatures of habit, just as you and I are.  You probably eat most of your meals in the same room in your house. When you eat in that room you probably do it sitting in the same chair every time. Sure, you occasionally eat out, but even then, you tend to go to the same restaurant and you frequently order the same items. Bass are just like us. 

They key to fishing success is finding the Dining Room.  While traveling across the country from tournament to tournament, I've noticed fast food establishments at almost every major intersection we pass. My kids are experts at spotting those golden arches.  There aren't many restaurants on rural farm roads in the middle of nowhere, because restaurants are found where the traffic is. This sounds simple but many people spend much of their time fishing in the middle of nowhere, away from the pathways. It doesn't matter how polished your techniques are, if you are fishing where the bass don't swim you won't be very successful.

There are many types of underwater pathways but here are a few of the major ones:  creek channels, ridges, ledges, weed and tree lines, rock seams, stump and old fence rows, road beds, and the shoreline. Many anglers fish the shoreline most of the time and that's why they do best in spring. Spring is the one time of year when many of the bass are using the shoreline pathway.

The best places to find concentrations of bass are where two or more of these pathways form an intersection. Bass are classic predators and will exploit any advantage they can find over their prey; these intersections provide bass with just that. Find an intersection and you've found a Dining Room!
Spend a little time thinking about bass highways and Dining Rooms before your next trip to the water and it will help you put more and bigger fish in the boat!

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