Find bass near shoals and mouths

Another creek bass expert, Brent Baucum, has specific areas that he always targets.

“I usually catch my biggest fish up to 100 yards below the shoals,” he said. “But, as far as numbers, I catch more right above the shoals or in the outside creek bends. They are usually deeper and hold some better fish in the small creeks.”

Another hot areas according to Baucum are the creek mouths where smaller creeks spill out into the main creek. Baucum likes to fish the area where the water pours over the “ledge” or in the area where the current’s mix. Most of the time one or the other will be murkier and oftentimes muddy and the feisty spotted bass ambush the prey when the swim into the open water of the creek.

“I like to use Bomber 1As and cast them up onto the ledge and work it through the mixing water,” Baucum said. “I’ll cast a Baby Bass with orange belly Bomber 1A if the water’s not muddy. If it’s muddy or stained I’ll switch to the perch/brown or green crawdad.”

If the fish are really shallow, Baucum likes a Bomber Long A or Rapalas in similar colors. You might catch one fish below the creek mouths or several, but if the current’s right, you can usually count on getting a bite or two.

“Okatibbee Creek is a little different than most of the creeks and I mostly concentrate on any type of wood structure there including logs, tops and stumps,” Baucum said.