How to Fish a Point on Lake Guntersville
by Mike Gerry
The first thing I do when approaching a point is use my electronics. Before making the first cast, I want to know what is happening underneath the water.
If I see baitfish, bass or other signs of activity, there is a good chance I am in the right location. I also pay close attention to the edges of the point, especially anywhere there is grass, a drop-off or other structure.
Current plays a major role in how bass position on a point.
Baitfish will often use grass, structure and changes in depth to get away from the strongest current.
Bass take advantage of that by positioning themselves where they can conserve energy while waiting for the current to bring food to them.
Many times, the bass will hold on the downstream side of the structure while facing into the current.
Once I have identified what I believe is a productive point, my first approach is normally to cast across it.
I want my bait to travel from the shallow water on top of the point toward the deeper edge.
This allows me to cover several different depths with one cast and helps determine exactly where the fish are positioned.
After working across the point, I begin concentrating on the edges and especially the first significant drop.
That first drop can be one of the most productive areas on the entire point.
The shallow water on top of many Lake Guntersville points contains grass and other cover.
When that shallow water suddenly falls into deeper water, bass have almost everything they need.
They have cover, access to different depths and a natural ambush location where they can wait for baitfish.
When current is present, I concentrate heavily on the downstream side of the point.
Look for grass, holes in the grass, irregular edges, rocks, stumps or anything else that gives a bass somewhere to hide from the current.
Those small differences can sometimes hold several fish in a very small area.
Boat positioning is also extremely important.
You want to make a cast that allows your bait to move naturally through the strike zone.
When the bass are facing into the current waiting for food, your presentation should imitate something being carried toward them.
Instead of simply casting randomly around the point, think about where the fish should be facing and where your bait needs to travel to cross directly in front of them.
Bait selection is another important part of successfully fishing points because you need something that allows you to cover water while still producing enough action to trigger a strike.
One of my favorite choices for this approach is a swimbait, especially one rigged to come through grass and structure without constantly hanging up.
A weed guard can make a tremendous difference when you are fishing that first drop because it allows you to work the bait slowly through cover, let it fall into openings and then bring it back through the grass.
Don’t be afraid to let the swimbait fall into the holes.
Sometimes that change in direction is exactly what triggers the bite.
When the bait deflects off grass or structure and suddenly changes speed or direction, a bass that has been following it may react instinctively.
Another mistake anglers make is fishing a productive point too quickly.
If your electronics show bait and fish, there is usually a reason they are there.
Change your casting angle, work the shallow top, fish the first drop and then concentrate on the downstream side before giving up on the location.
Pay attention to where every bite comes from.
One bite can tell you much more than simply that a fish was there.
It can tell you the depth, the type of cover the fish is using, which side of the point is productive and how the bass are positioned in relation to the current.
Once you identify that pattern, you can take it to the next point and often duplicate the results.
Fishing points on Lake Guntersville doesn’t have to be complicated.
Use your electronics, understand the current, identify the first drop, position your boat correctly and make your bait travel naturally through the areas where bass are most likely waiting.
Smart fishing, good technique and making the right decisions on the water can produce impressive results—and during the heat of summer on Lake Guntersville, a well-fished point can turn an ordinary day into a very productive one.
Captain Mike
