We anglers like to talk about good fishing spots – a brush pile, a special dock, a row of stumps, a rockpile, a laydown, a pier light and many more. The more I fish and learn each and every time out, the more it becomes apparent that these good spots produce for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, they are located in areas that fish will encounter as they move throughout the lake. Bass and crappie alike will migrate in and out of creeks, sloughs and even up and down the main lake. These migration patterns are similar each year as the weather and the seasons change. But it’s becoming more evident that the movement of predatory fish is related more to the movements of their food sources than any other factor. The only exception is during the spawn, and even then, not all of the fish spawn at once. The remaining segments of the population are still stalking prey.
Being able to locate and predict the habits of the various food sources is key to staying on fish throughout changing water and weather conditions. Although it applies to all seasons, there’s no other time of year when this is more evident than late summer to fall. If an angler can identify the key forage species and how they differ in preference for location and habitat, chances are the key to what makes a productive spot will be revealed.
