Little Things Mean a Lot...

That's the title of a popular song from 1953, but more importantly, it's a reminder to anglers everywhere that, on many occasions, it's not the things we can see in any given body of water that dictates whether we're successful, but rather it's those little things that we can't see....unless, of course, you have forward-facing sonar. That newfangled technology, however, appears to be a sore subject with a lot of anglers, especially seasoned veterans of the sport, and it appears the jury is still out on just how much, if any, role it's going to play in the future of bass fishing.

Back to the subject at hand, though, a body of water may have an abundance of visual cover, such as cypress trees, boat docks, grass lines, and other bank-related features. These are a fisherman's eye candy. Everyone sees them, and that usually means everyone also fishes them.

While it's agreed these examples of bass habitat are prime features on any body of water, it's often what is underneath the surface that makes such areas even better than they actually are. As bass pro Kenny Covington pointed out, "It can be a small creek channel, curving its way through a cypress-tree flat. It might be an old log road that cuts through the middle of a cove. Or, it may be something as simple as a subtle depth change, or even a change in bottom contour. In bass fishing, little things truly can mean a lot."

As he went on to explain, "Once while fishing a team tour, my partner and I won the event fishing an area crowded with other tournament anglers. We didn't have a secret lure, nor were we able to get away from the other fishermen. We figured out the fish were not relating to the cypress trees but more to the root systems out away from the actual trees. We caught fish all day, fishing behind the other boats. They were so busy focusing on fishing the actual trees they never discovered what was going on around them."

Covington continued, "Areas that have grass can be similar. Always look for isolated clumps of grass separate from the main grass area. Often, these small grass clumps also will grow around a large stump or pieces of wood, making it an even better bass magnet. When trying to fish a 500-yard stretch of milfoil or coontail, the possibilities of where the fish might be can get overwhelming. By identifying smaller areas, you have made your search just that much easier.

"Grass lines usually will identify a depth change or bottom-contour change, so use this to your advantage. Fish the contour lines of the grass, just as you would fishing a land point. This type of area easily stands out. While it may not seem to be that significant, it means a lot to the fish. Work the deeper outer edges, just as you would a creek channel. Allow the grass to show you what is underneath the water, and fish it accordingly. The possibilities are endless, as long as you allow yourself to see beyond what your eyes take in."

You've probably heard stories about people who simply make a long cast out in the middle of nowhere to stretch their line and end up catching a lunker bass. While a casual observer may just consider that toss a lucky cast, there's a reason that fish, especially a larger one, was out there. Large bass, like large deer, rarely are somewhere out of coincidence.

Urged Covington, "Take a minute to fish the area more thoroughly. Watch your depthfinder as you move around. Maybe there was a cluster of stumps on a high spot. Maybe there was a small sandbar. These types of places hide in plain sight. It's simply a case of where the unobvious escape us.

"Become open-minded about the bodies of water you fish, and you will find more fish-catching opportunities," he continued. "The most unforgettable fishing days you'll ever have will happen when you find a school of bass that no one else has located or fished. That's bass fishing at its finest. Just remember there's always more than meets the eye."