Bass Fishing Culverts

"Culvert" ... that's a funny little word.  My guess is that it's used more in the South than in the North.  Call it what you will .... drainage pipe, canal, etc.  Whatever your term, these structures almost always hold bass.

In the photo above, the culvert is to the right, underneath the guardrail.  Culverts and roadways tend to come in pairs, because these structures facilitate the transfer of water underneath the roadway versus having water pool on the roadway when it rains.

I want to make this very clear ... if the culvert you target is near a road, use common sense.  Make sure you are a safe distance from the roadway.  Another suggestion would be to make sure there is a guardrail between you and traffic, such as above.

I cast in front of the culvert and directly into it whenever possible.  As you can see below, the dividends are mighty.

The bass above was caught using a Berkley Powerbait Power Tube.  Pictured below is another culvert bass caught on the same lure.

Tight lines!

Bass Fishing: Lures That Worked in 2016

Video of a Crazy Catch

Review of Strike King Bitsy Tube

When most people think of tubes, they think of Arkie tubes.  Those are geared to catch crappie.  They also catch bass.  They're a great product.

That said, the bass you will catch on a smaller tube aren't usually huge.  Another downside is that you'll hook up with a lot of sunfish.  If bass are the target, this gets frustrating.

The simple solution is to upgrade to the Bitsy tube by Strike King.  They are large enough to eliminate hookups with all but the biggest sunfish.  They attract bigger bass as well.

I have it rigged on a 1/4 oz jig head.  There's enough weight to cast and retrieve or to jig.  It's a very versatile setup.

The results speak for themselves.

They also work at night.

Here are some nice bass I've landed with them.

If you're going to hook up with a shell cracker on one of these, it's going to be big!

These tubes generate bites, even in hot weather.  They get five out of five stars from me!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All fish pictured were released unharmed.  Tight lines!!

Berkley Power Bait Chigger Craw Review

First, I'll give you a look at the weapon.  And yes, I said WEAPON.  That's really the only way to describe a lure that works THIS WELL!

The bass hit these quickly and FURIOUSLY!!  Here's the photo evidence.

Even the sunfish like it!  Lol!

Here are some more bass we caught with it.

As you saw in the very first pic, the setup on these is very simple.  I use a 2/0 offset worm hook and rig them Texas style.  All fish were released unharmed.

Tight lines!!

How to Catch Bass at Night

Bass are known for their excellent sight and for using that sight as the basis for predatory activities.  So a lot of people overlook the possibility that they can be caught at night.  Do this, and you'll miss good fishing opportunities.

Much like people, bass rely on more than one sense.  When visualizing a target is not an option, predatory fish rely on two things:  location and water displacement.

Let's look at location first.  At night, bass put the odds in their favor by pushing baitfish up against objects.  Retaining walls are a favorite.

Once you find a retaining wall (the marina probably has one), I recommend using a swim bait with a bullet weight.

I'm particularly fond of the three inch Berkley Swim Shad because they have a vibrating tail.  That displaces water and gets the bass' attention.  As you can see from the pics above and below, there are many design options.

Once you have your retaining wall, let the lure drop to the bottom at arm's length from the wall.  Then lift the lure just off the bottom.  Now you will simply want to walk along the retaining wall (which will be a sidewalk if you're in front of the marina), and pull the lure along.

I call this "walking the dog."  It will cause the swimbait to swim horizontally and parallel to the wall.  Remember, the bass can't see anything.  BUT - it can feel something about the same shape and size of a three inch Shad swimming along the retaining wall.  In this pitch black world, the bass registers a cornered shad.

The results speak for themselves.

Check out these shots with the lure still in!

One last tip for bass at night.  Hit the crappie house at least once.  The crappie house lighting tends to attract some fish.

That said, concrete retaining walls where bass can corner baitfish are absolutely PRIME nighttime locations.  All fish pictured were released unharmed.

Tight lines!!

Best Place to Catch Bass in Hot Weather

Bass have more in common with us than we might think.  When it's hot, they look for shade.  Thus, covered and shaded areas are where you want to fish.

In the picture above, you want to throw under the bridge, right into those holes.  Do that, and you'll end up with this.

One other thing.  When it's hot, use a jig.

The fish in the picture was released.  Tight lines!