Catching Finicky Bass from Shallow Cover

If you're an avid bass angler, then you know that fishing around cypress trees in shallow water can be an excellent way to catch finicky bass. 

Cypress trees provide bass with plenty of cover and shade, and they often hold a variety of insects and small fish that bass love to feed on. However, fishing around cypress trees can be challenging because the trees' roots and branches can make it difficult to get your bait to the fish. 

Here are some tips to help you improve your chances of catching stubborn bass around cover in shallow water.

• Use a slow presentation. Bass in stained water after cold fronts are often less aggressive, so you need to give them time to see and react to your bait. Use a slow retrieve or let your bait sit for a few seconds before moving it again.
• Use a bait that stands out. In stained water, it's important to use a bait that will stand out to the bass. Use a bait with bright colors or a bait that makes noise. A jig with bright accents and rattles is an excellent choice for probing cypress tree systems.
• Fish the edges of the trees. Bass often hang out near the edges of the trees, where the water is shallower and there is more cover. Focus your efforts on these areas but remember to work the bait out away from the tree to trigger strikes from following bass.

In addition to jigs, a few other baits to consider when fishing shallow cover for stubborn bass include:

• Squarebill crankbaits
• Spinnerbaits
• Texas-rigged and wacky-rigged soft plastics

Louisiana bass pro Greg Hackney cut his fishing teeth fishing the cypress lakes of the south bass and other gamefish. Take a few minutes and watch as he gives an on the water demo of his approach when fishing shallow cover for stubborn bass…