It’s a common axiom that not all bass go deep in the summer. While boats line up on main lake ledges competing for their piece of the pie, some anglers like to leave the crowd behind and seek bass that the majority of their competitors pass on. And, no one can deny it’s just plain fun to sneak up on bass hiding in shallow visible cover. Legendary shallow water guru Denny Brauer has lined his pockets by picking off bass from skinny water.
This prominent pro won the Bassmasters Classic in 1998 on High Rock Lake by targeting shallow bass, smack dab in the heat of the summer. And, he assembled a game plan that categorically turned the heads of those who regularly haunt that clear water impoundment. “Traditionally, mid summer tournaments were won deep cranking, Carolina rigging, or with some other offshore technique,” he remembered. “Because of the heat, lake oxygen levels dropped, which in turn pushed a bunch of fish shallow and I ended up winning the tournament catching them in two feet of water.”
When asked if there’s such thing as water too hot or too shallow, Brauer emphatically says “no,” provided there is enough shade and oxygen. “I’ve caught fish so shallow I was shocked I couldn’t see their back sticking out of the water,” he chuckled. “They’ll get extremely shallow if they have some sort of canopy overhead, whether it’s a boat dock, grass, or even a little of that slime moss.”
While Brauer acknowledges every lake is a little different, there are some common factors to deliberate when attempting to construct a shallow water scenario, especially in the heat of the summer. “You’ve got to consider things like water clarity, oxygen content, wind, and the type and amount of cover available,” he said. “I’ve even seen clear water reservoirs like Lake Mead have super shallow bass during the summertime, if they have the cover.”
Location:
First and foremost, Brauer focuses on two key elements: shade and forage. “Shade is the number one factor that you need to look for,” he revealed. “On some lakes, you can go up into the creeks that feed the lake and the backs of those creeks will be cooler. There are times when big fish move so far back in those little tributaries most people would never believe they were there, and this can be a real sleeper pattern.” Along with shade, access to food is a must. “Next, there has to be an abundance of bait in the area,” Brauer continued. “They’re not going to stay where there aren’t any groceries.”
Eliminating unproductive water can be a daunting task, and unfortunately there aren’t any “easy buttons” when it comes to narrowing down where to fish. There are, however, some features to consider and a high mid-day sun can actually help in this process. “Early and late in the day, the fish can roam large areas and be very loose in relation to cover,” Brauer reveals. “Once it gets later in the day, that sun is going to force them tighter to their hiding places and actually make it easier to decipher where the strike zone lies. Fish holding on something as simple as a bluff can actually get pinned against the wall as the shade narrows, and this can be a quite interesting summertime pattern.”
Bring The Stealth:
When strike zones are small and fish are holed up from direct sunlight, Brauer notes the importance of a stealthy approach. “You never want to cast a shadow on a piece of cover where you think a fish may be living,” he began. “Your first presentation is critical. A lot of anglers don’t realize that the element of surprise can generate a lot of reaction bites. When that bait suddenly appears in the fish’s home, it’s forced to do something and often, that’s strike.”
Brauer is also a believer in keeping electronics turned off and eliminating trolling motor noise by maintaining a steady pace. “If I know the water I’m fishing, and I know my electronics are not going to aid me in any way, I’ll definitely turn them off,” he disclosed. “It certainly can’t hurt to reduce all those extra pings.” He went on to point out that trolling motors tend to create more underwater disturbances when starting and stopping so finding the right speed and sticking to it will ultimately spook fewer fish.
On windy days, this big time shallow water aficionado likes to utilize his Minn Kota Talons. “Normally, you always want to be fishing into the wind because you have much better boat control,” Brauer explained. “Plus, if you get a bite off of a target, whether your fighting the fish or dropping him in the livewell, the wind is pushing your boat away from the cover, so you can potentially move back up and catch another one.” Brauer notes the only exception to this principle is when fishing large grass flats like those common on Florida lakes. Then he likes to alternate blowing with the wind, and using his Talons to stop the boat when he wants to dissect a particular spot.
Lure Selection:
Brauer likes to leave a little bit of wiggle room when it comes to lure selection. “Summer time gives you a variety of choices,” he began. “If you’re fishing a specific bit of cover in the spring when the water is cold, a jig might be your only option. But once you get into summer, everything is moving a little bit faster and you can use a variety of soft plastics that have a lot of built in action like the Strike King Rage Craws or the Rage Hawg.”
In muddy water, Brauer opts for bulky baits that displace more water, whereas in clear water he goes for smaller and more streamli
ned offerings. “In dirty water I’ll use the Strike King jig I designed which has a rattle that’s pretty loud,” he said. “There are also certain colors such as the Texas Craw that have some chartreuse along with black and pumpkin type colors. I’ll put a black neon Rage Craw on the back and that makes a bait that’s real easy for fish to locate, and is really an ideal dirty water bait.”
Establishing the proper rate of fall can be the difference between a bite and a spooked fish, and Brauer holds to the formula that theorizes colder water necessita
tes a slower descent, and warmer water calls for a faster fall. But, he also enters depth into the equation. “If the fish are super shallow, say in two feet of water, a 3/8 ounce jig or tungsten weight might be perfect, but if they are in four to five feet of water I might go up to a half or even a 3/4 ounce presentation,” he explained. “Obviously, cover is also a consideration and dense cover requires a heavier weight. Water clarity is definitely a factor, because if it’s clear I want my bait to drop faster, whereas if it’s dirty I want the bait to go slower so it’s easier for the fish to locate.”
Denny’s Flippin’ Gear:
Brauer arms himself with a ten rod series he designed for Ardent and while he uses all ten sticks on different occasions, 
the majority of the time he has a 7’6″ medium heavy rod with an Ardent Apex Reel on deck. Interestingly, he uses 25 lb. test Seagar Tatsu Fluorocarbon for all his flipping and pitching duties unless he’s fishing grass, where he opts for 60 lb. Seagar Smackdown Braid. “Braid cuts through grass better and allows for a straighter line of sight hookset,” he disclosed.
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Fat Bass In Skinny Water Summer 2015 Bass Angler Magazine (Rob Bryant pg. 51-53)