Cover or
Structure?
By Sam Anderson
Walleye fisherman and bass
fisherman have debated for years about what is more
important structure or cover. Structure for most
fisherman are creek beds, drop-offs, humps, ridges,
points and similar changes in the shape of the bottom
are structure. Structure provides a route fish follow
while feeding and during seasonal migrations and places
where groups of fish are apt to locate and establish
base areas. In comparison, objects on the bottom like
trees, stumps, brushpiles, boat docks are cover. Cover
provides resting and feeding spots for individuals and
small groups of fish in areas where favorable structure
attracts fish. Cover enhances structure, making
structure more attractive or able to hold more fish. But
cover usually isn't structure.
Some cover may function as structure when the cover
forms distinct lines or barriers. Large and solid
weedbeds that create distinct edges function as
structures while they exist. Structure provides areas
where fish concentrate and move. Cover provides specific
spots in these areas where individual fish can be
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Cover like weeds, wood,
boulders and manmade structure attract and hold
predators and prey. Walleyes will relate to this type of
cover. Anglers should concentrate on presenting lure
choices to walleyes even if there might be snags. Lure
modification, such as weedless jigs, or running bottom
bouncers over rocks are the best methods for
presentation.
On any given cover the fish that are the most active and
aggressive will be adjacent to the specific cover and
will attack the bait as it comes close to the cover.
When walleyes hold tight to cover because of change in
barometric pressure or fishing pressure the angler has
to change or modify the presentation. A perfect example
of this is when you stop catching walleyes on a Hatchet
Harness and have to switch over to a light Fuzz-E- Grub
and a bobber combination to dabble in the weeds, instead
of running a contour course on the weed edge.
In fact, that is one of the ways that I like to catch
walleyes is with a jig and bobber combination. Walleyes
are always getting into the deepest weedbeds or floating
timber and by attaching a bobber to a light jig I can
get back into where the walleyes are located.
With any type of cover it might be important to look for
specific conditions that might make walleyes go to the
weeds or brushpiles. For example, ask yourself some
questions before you start fishing a weedbed. Does this
weedbed have a distinct edge adjacent to deeper water?
Is the wind blowing into this piece of cover? Are there
baitfish present? Does this weedline have points, inside
turns, pockets? Does the brushpile offer shade or an
obstruction to current? If any of these questions are
yes then by all means go ahead and slip on a light jig
and add a slipbobber.
Try casting a Thill Center Slider float and a 1/16 oz.
Fuzz-E-Grub, tipped with a leech into a pocket formed by
the weeds. Allow the jig to touch bottom. Then pop the
jig from the floor of the weedbed towards the sky. Allow
the jig to settle down again and then pop it again. This
will give you a vertical presentation even if your boat
is not over the top of the weedbed. If you find the
bottom to be full of tangles or weeds, simply raise up
your slipbobber stopper to the desired depth and again
make the presentation.
I recommend watching your line while keeping some
tension on it. The hit can be seen or felt a
split-second before the Thill Center Slider float
actually jumps.
To put the debate to rest about cover and structure the
answer is that you need both cover and structure to get
fish. Cover enhances structure and holds a higher
concentration of fish. In the tournament circle and from
veteran fisherman this is more commonly referred to as a
"spot on a spot". Remember the cover is the
piece of the structure that you need to concentrate on
and you will produce more fish. See you on the water!
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