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Three keys to summer point fishing

It may sound elementary and even a little surprising, but the first thing tournament pro Mark Davis looks for on any lake during the summer is a point -- not a creek channel, standing timber nor an underwater roadbed, but rather the kind of point you’ll find on practically every lake in the country.

Davis made a living for years fishing points as a guide on Lake Ouachita, and he’s won a Bassmaster Classic world championship and three BASS Angler of the Year titles fishing points, so it’s easy to understand why this is where he starts fishing when the weather turns hot.

“There are three major elements I look for on points in summer, and if you find all three, I can all but guarantee you’ll catch bass,” Davis explained. “We always say ‘points point out fish,’ and believe me, it’s true.

“First, I want a point with close proximity to deep water. I also want a point that offers favorable food and habitat to bass. And third, I want a point that has wind.”

Of these three keys, wind is obviously the most variable and least controllable, but the Arkansas pro emphasizes that it’s worth the effort to search for and fish a point exposed to wind.

“Wind moves water, and this water movement can literally start a chain reaction. It’s called upwelling, and it’s like taking a giant spoon and stirring up the lake so fresh oxygen and plankton come in and collect on the point’s windy side. The pH probably changes too, and if the wind continues for several days the temperature may even become a few degrees cooler.

“Wind doesn’t blow baitfish into points the way many anglers might believe,” Davis continued. “The water movement washes in the plankton, causing the baitfish to quickly become more active and begin feeding. Their activity stimulates the bass to move and feed.”

It doesn’t take a gale-force wind to turn bass into feeding machines. At times just a slight breeze will be enough, and can be something as simple as a change of wind direction. Davis remembers instances during his guiding days on Ouachita as well as in tournament competition when he has seen bass turn on in less than five minutes with a just a light breeze over a point he had just fished without success.

“I don’t know that there is a right way or wrong way to fish in the wind, because sometimes it’s more about boat control,” smiled Davis. “Basically, if I’m using a moving lure like a crankbait, I prefer to cast with the wind. I believe the bass are facing into the wind to see forage moving, and I want my lure to surprise them and come in from behind them.

“That’s a different approach than what many anglers take, but I like the element of surprise because it might bring a reaction strike as well as a feeding strike.

“On the other hand, if I’m fishing a worm or jig, I set up the best way I can under the conditions. I prefer to fish uphill, with my boat in shallow water and casting to deep. With bottom-bumping lures it’s easier to stay in contact with the bottom that way.”

The second key element Davis looks for on a point in summer is close access to deep water. The actual depth, of course, is dependent on the type of lake, so deep water might be defined as seven or eight feet on a riverine system or as deep as ten to 20 or 30 feet on a clear highland reservoir.

“Bass use deep water several ways, but I think it’s really about comfort and safety. In the summer, shallow water can become extremely warm, and it stays warm, even hot, for weeks. By moving deeper, the fish can locate a comfort zone that suits them.

“Most lakes actually have what’s called an average summer depth that bass use. On Lake Fork, for example, it’s around 22 feet. When bass aren’t shallow, they’re down at this depth because this is where temperature and oxygen are most agreeable to them.

“The light penetration is less, so the bass may also feel more secure. Depth eliminates any danger from predators up above, including birds as well as bass boats.”

What depth does is eliminate any long movements by bass into shallow water when they do move up to feed. Instinctively, the fish know this is when they’re most vulnerable. A long horizontal movement may also keep bass in unfavorable temperature and oxygen conditions longer than they want to be. Quick access to depth permits a faster vertical movement to the top of the point to feed, as well as a quick exit, if necessary.

“The third key I look for on a summer point, and which may be elementary, is good habitat,” Davis concluded. “This is actually the glue that keeps bass on or near a point in summer. I want a point with some type of cover on or around it like brush, rocks … even some vegetation. I also want to see some type of forage, and cover will help attract them be they shad, perch or some other species.”

When you can put these three elements – wind, depth, and cover – together on a point during the summer, you’re almost certain to be close to bass, Davis says. You can usually determine that pretty fast with either a lipless or diving crankbait, and then fine-tune your presentation if necessary, with a worm or jig. Davis begins with fan-casts from the tip of the point and then works his way around the sides.

It may sound elementary and perhaps even a little surprising, but that’s exactly how one of America’s best bass pros looks for summer bass, and he has the record to prove it works.