Structure is everything that isn't water. Main channel structure is typically the sheer cliff wall. When fishing the cliff wall, I look for something unique or different from the basic habitat type. Cast to cracks in the wall, a corner, broken rock, or even shade - maybe sunny, warm spots in the winter. Investigating further with a graph or just your lure, find a shallow shelf or "bottom" where everything else is deep.
Structure is a target where you might cast or a spot where fish may chose to be.
Main channel structure would be a small rock pile, a talus slope, a sandstone point that is jutting out from shore and visible as yellow colored rock.
Main channel water color is very blue where water is deep. Visually scan the shoreline for best looking spots and then fish these spots exclusively - not the entire shoreline. I have found that steep slopes (but not sheer cliffs) hold the most active bass.
Broken rock (rocks from 6 inches to 2 feet in diameter) large enough for a crayfish to hide under are prime smallmouth hunting grounds.
Fishing parallel to shore or bouncing a soft plastic grub down a slope must be done at the beginning of every fishing day. Catch the first fish, get the first hit, and then determine what technique made that bass hit the lure. Try that approach in the next spot. If it works then you are on to the pattern and will be successful in all similar habitat for the next hour or even the entire day. That is what pattern fishing is all about.
Structure is a target where you might cast or a spot where fish may chose to be.
Main channel structure would be a small rock pile, a talus slope, a sandstone point that is jutting out from shore and visible as yellow colored rock.
Main channel water color is very blue where water is deep. Visually scan the shoreline for best looking spots and then fish these spots exclusively - not the entire shoreline. I have found that steep slopes (but not sheer cliffs) hold the most active bass.
Broken rock (rocks from 6 inches to 2 feet in diameter) large enough for a crayfish to hide under are prime smallmouth hunting grounds.
Fishing parallel to shore or bouncing a soft plastic grub down a slope must be done at the beginning of every fishing day. Catch the first fish, get the first hit, and then determine what technique made that bass hit the lure. Try that approach in the next spot. If it works then you are on to the pattern and will be successful in all similar habitat for the next hour or even the entire day. That is what pattern fishing is all about.