Understanding Suspended Bass

Suspended Bass typically refers to bass that are above the bottom which also means they are not using cover to provide shelter, hiding places, or ambush points. Suspended is a term typically used when fishing deep (offshore). Generally, the term suspended also means the bass have little movement, in other words, they are not roaming.

Why is Understanding Suspended Bass Important?

It is important to understand suspended bass to:

Find Bass: Some suggest locating schools of bait fish will often results in finding suspended bass.
Select the Best Lure: Some suggest a horizontal presentation that goes to the right depth and some suggest a vertical presentation that allows the lure to stay dead-stick at the optimal depth near the bass. Some suggest a few feet above the lure as the bass are generally looking up while others suggest putting the lure very close “on their nose”.

Understanding Suspended Bass

Actively Feeding: One of the reasons bass suspend is they are targeting bait fish [Figure 2] which can be located at various depths in the water column.
- Surface Commotion. A surface commotion results from a group of bass targeting a school of bait fish pushing them to the surface. This can last a few seconds to several minutes or even longer from what is sometimes referred to as a feeding frenzy. Birds can also be an indicator of a bass feeding frenzy as the bait fish pushed to near surface provide forage for birds.
Structure: Some suggest bass suspend in locations most likely bait fish will travel. Some suggest points and ledges as likely baitfish depths as they represent natural pathways to different locations. Some suggest flats as they provide a consistent depth.
Thermoclines: Some suggest that in lakes with a thermocline (a distinct temperature gradient separating warmer surface waters from colder deep waters) bass will suspend at the depth where the thermocline is located possibly because of lower oxygen levels or colder water’s (impact on metabolism) below the thermocline.
Oxygen Levels: If the oxygen levels are more suitable at a specific depth, bass may suspend in that zone, especially if the bottom or near-bottom areas have poor oxygen conditions.
Water Temperature Preferences or Changes: Some suggest water temperature during certain times of the year, bass will suspend at specific depths based on their preferred temperature range. For example:
- Spring Warming of Eggs: Some suggest that bass will suspend in the spring, especially in sunny conditions, during the pre-spawn, to warm their eggs.

Additional Considerations

Structure Fishing Strategy: Some suggest identifying bass suspended on one structure then going to other locations that have the same structure and depth.
Nearby Cover: Some suggest bass will locate on cover near the depth of baitfish on a structure.
Bait Fish: Often are migrating or targeting rising or sinking algae blooms.
Baitballs: Also called Bait Balls, is a term that describes schools of bait fish, identifiable with electronics. They can be suspended or on the bottom.
Strike Zone: The strike zone is the height of the baitfish which some suggest is typically 5 to 10 ft above the bass depending on bottom depth.