You have no choice but to do as the fish do, and follow the water...and hope, of course, that you can find a ramp that's wet enough to launch your boat. Even then, your problems aren't solved, because you next have to figure out where the fish have gone. Just don't plan on burning down the bank, fishing the visible cover you usually would.
When the water level falls, for whatever reason, bass tend to move away from the bank and suspend. They're not comfortable in that dirt-shallow stuff. They need a little water over their heads for an increased sense of security.
Start the "finding" process by not being afraid of fishing what you cannot see. All that good-looking cover you normally fish is likely going to be sitting high and dry.
As an outdoor writer described the situation, "I always start looking for the displaced bass about 10 feet in front of that cover and somewhat suspended. They often seem just to be hanging out in the middle of the water column, in some sort of a staging area. If the water comes up, they quickly can return to their preferred cover, or if it happens to fall farther, they have a readily accessible route to deeper water. I usually begin my search by making parallel casts with a square-bill.
"While it may feel a little strange at first, fishing in front of your normal shoreline cover, you'll quickly gain some confidence the first time a big bass smokes your bait.
"If you're dealing with clear, low water," said the outdoor writer, "you're crazy not to have a jerkbait rigged and ready to go. I don't say that to sound ugly, but rather to make a point. Because bass tend to suspend and, at times, get a bit lethargic with changes in the water level, a suspending jerkbait is an outstanding choice to grab their attention. As with the square-bill crankbaits, you'll likely have your greatest success working this jerkbait parallel to previously productive shoreline cover."
The writer went on to note that this technique is much better on a sunny day, with a little breeze.
"The sun really helps that jerkbait flash and attract bass from a distance," he said. "A breeze also is helpful because, not only does it position baitfish on windblown banks better, but the chop on the water helps mask some of the unnatural characteristics of your jerkbait (hooks, split rings, etc.) while it's paused."
Another favorite lure for the outdoor writer in shallow cover is a topwater frog. You work it a little differently, though, when the water is low.
"Target only the front posts of every dock," he advised. "Skip and pitch the frog a few feet past the front posts, and as it comes within a foot of each post, drastically slow your retrieve. You want to walk it in place. Even if a bass isn't actively feeding, it can't take that commotion too long."
Another excellent topwater bait for shallow cover in the early morning hours, according to the writer, is a buzzbait.
"While this bite only lasts for an hour or two," he said, "it's an awesome way to catch your biggest fish of the day. Target the fronts of docks with the buzzbait, just like you do with frogs in lowlight conditions. This lets you cover water very quickly. Put your lure in front of as many of those active early-morning bass as possible. Whatever you do, make sure you knock your buzzbait off the dock posts. If you're not making contact with the wood, your chances of a bite diminish considerably."
In closing, the outdoor writer noted that "you're not always going to go out there and bust 'em in these situations. However, don't let that mess with your confidence. Some of the better days I've ever had have occurred in low water."
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