When fishing gets tough on the main lake in late fall, sometimes I go into the backs of creeks and pick off bass around isolated wood cover in relatively shallow water. “Isolated” is the key word. Any piece of wood cover that is by itself along a bank is prime – the bigger the cover, the better. If it’s a fallen tree, bass might be holding anywhere from the bank out, depending on the depth. Those fish are in ambush mode, and it’s a high-percentage deal. It’s not always a flipping game, either.

Depending on the conditions, there might be more fish out toward the end than, say, up toward the bank in 2 to 4 feet of water. These fish are out there ambushing shad, so I start out casting a No. 3 Storm Arashi Square crankbait or bladed jig to that deeper end of the wood and gaps in the branches. If the thickest part of the cover is over a depression or any kind of ledge, it can be a gold mine. If it’s at an inside bend, even better.

Once I’ve thoroughly covered the outer end, I’ll move up and start flipping jigs or maybe a Gene Larew Punch Out Craw with a 1/4- or 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. Especially on a high-pressure day, I want that lighter weight so the Craw goes to the bottom with a slower fall. You really want to take your time and cover everything thoroughly, because isolated wood cover is almost a sure thing unless somebody has already beaten you there.