10 Whitetail Strategies You Can Apply To Hunting Bass

A few weeks ago, I posted about my indecisiveness when it comes to hunting and fishing.  Check it out here: Hunting or Fishing? Happy I Can't Decide!  Basically, it asked the question as to why some hunters don't like to fish and some fishermen don't like to hunt.  It is truly mind boggling to me because quite simply, I view fishing as hunting for fish.  Today, I'm going to prove it by outlining 10 tips we all use to locate Whitetail Deer that will work for Largemouth Bass.

Creek Beds... Years ago, I hunted on a lease with a guy who had a feeder right off the creek bed.  He called it the "game highway".  Just like deer and other game travel the trails that follow a creek or river to look for a crossing, bass hold on structure changes under water like the drop off into a river channel or creek bed.

Fence Lines... Often, fence lines provide deer cover and browse in the trees and bushes along these fences and wide open escape routes in any direction.  For bass, a row or clump of standing timber near deep water will provide a feeding opportunity and ambush points with deep water nearby for their own escape routes. Abandoned fence posts from an old fence that extends below the water line will also serve as something for a bass to orient itself and ambush bait fish.

Funnels...  Places where large wooded areas neck down to an exposed or semi-exposed "crossing" of some sort between bedding areas, food sources, and water sources, or river, creek, or road crossings and the like are often thought of as funnels.  When I fish in rivers, I look for funnels in currents that bring bait fish to an ambush point, like a flow through that sucks water out of a large pool, a smaller creek that empties into a river or an eddy. On lakes, look for places where a wind driven current will drive plankton and bait fish into ambush areas.

Points... Wooded areas or brush that extends out into a field to make a point of sorts, will sometimes serve as a funnel or a look out.  This is an area where deer can gain a great vantage point to look for movement from predators that may be waiting.  Underwater, bass use points that extend out into deeper water to ambush their bait.

Maps... This is a great way to scout for fish. Yes, you read that right... I said scout for fish.  I typically use Google Earth and Navionics to scout areas I want to pick apart. Much like using maps to identify potential bedding areas, feeding areas, water sources, to find funnels, creeks, and crossings, you can use these maps to look for features under water, standing timber, creek and river channels, flats, and points.  Arial views such as Google Earth will also give you an idea of surface vegetation and surrounding bank vegetation. Lots of trees may represent stump fields or standing timber close by.  When going to a new lake, it's always good to study maps to gain a little intel so you have an idea where to start.

Screen shots of Google Earth depicting a low lake level
exposing a usually under water hump and what points really
look like below the surface. Source: Google Earth

*Hint: using the history function in Google Earth as shown above to view lower lake levels that will reveal bottom features or humps you won't otherwise see is a great way to look get some good informtion. I have studied maps of this lake since I was a kid, and fished all over it, but never realized that hump was there until recently. I bet it holds fish.

Setting Up Down Wind... This strategy is a must when deer hunting.  While bass aren't going to smell
you, setting up down wind is an advantage when fishing a point.  Like we talked about earlier, a wind driven current will blow plankton and bait fish across that point and bass will patrol or orient to structure along ledges to hide and ambush their prey.  This means you will be casting into the wind which can be problematic, but it makes for a great presentation when you can make it happen.  Keep your casts low and use a heavier bait if you can.  Sometimes, you just have to deal with the backlashes. If there is a river current in the lake, position yourself downstream and cast upstream to start with, then work all angles of the point.

Orange Scented Deer Corn Photo:
Chris Carson

Scent use... Another strange parallel between deer hunting and bass fishing.  Hunters will often use scent as an attractant. Whether it is a scent added to grain like the Orange Corn we sell at Twisted Oak, or Top Secret Deer Scent, that bottles deer urine.  Bass will also follow a scent.  The use of scented soft plastics and scent sprays or dips has become wildly popular in an attempt to land that big bass.  Years ago, when I dipped snuff, we used to spit on our live, cut, or artificial baits for luck.  It seemed to work, so we kept doing it.  Rage Tails now come coffee scented... Who knows!?!

Reel Clean Hand Sanitizer
Photo: Bite Club Soap

Scent Control... A key factor in success for both whitetail and bass.  While fish may seem to like coffee and snuff, one can assume they shy away from many of the things we deal with on a day to day basis, like oil, gasoline,and other chemicals we come in contact with such as those that might be in our personal hygeine products.  Also, in catch and release situations, it's can't good for them. My friend and 5x3 pro staffer Bryan Taylor who also owns Bite Club Soap has developed a line of all natural soaps, and personal hygeine products that are geared toward the fisherman. Reel Clean Hand Sanitizer is a great product for removing that chemical smell and cutting the oil.  Check out the entire product line at www.biteclubsoap.com.




Stealth... A stealthy approach is just as important to catching fish as it is to deer hunting.  Boats that are banging around timber, motors, heavy foot steps on the deck or the bank, slamming lids, shadows and debris falling into the water will scare fish away just as easily as dropping your binoculars in the blind.  The only difference is they won't show you that white tail swinging back and forth or stomp and blow as the leave the area.  They will quickly and quietly leave the area or head for deeper water and you will sit there fishing for them for the next 30 minutes with out a bite.  Big bass boats are a great way to cover lots of water, but the stealthy qualities of a kayak can't be beat.

Unfair Lures available at Twisted Oak
Photo: Chris Carson

Rattling... Rattling up bucks is a proven way to bring the deer in close.  Have you ever heard of a Rat L Trap? Rattles have been a part of the fisherman's arsenal for quite some time now because they work. Throw an Unfair Rip N Slash or a Dawgwalker... The fish will most certainly find it.

As you can clearly see here, many of the same tactics work for both fish and deer.  Many times for different reasons, but I think that is because one is a predator and one is not.  But, does a mountain lion not lie in wait for it prey in places the prey is known to travel?  Do we as hunters not do the same thing with stand placement?  Are we not predators ourselves?

Deer travel together at times and separately at others. Just like many fish school at times and roam at others.  One thing is for sure, Where you find one fish, you will often find more, because whether there is a school there or not, something attracted that fish to the cover you were fishing.  You can usually bet that the same thing that attracted the first fish will attract the next.  However, always remember that the variables play a role too.  It's always a good idea to evaluate the conditions and apply that knowledge to the situation to have a chance at predicting when fish might be holding on that particular piece of cover again.