While large bass tend to be solitary, there are times when they will school during late fall and winter on highland lakes. This takes place off the drops at the mouths of large coves when large shad schools form in the late fall. Normally, large bass are solitary and protect an area. They do this because the forage is scarce or reduced. However, when large forage schools form, there is enough forage for large bass to form schools. Bass schools fall into two categories at this time. Schools of small bass to the sides of the forage school and large bass underneath the forage. You will not find small bass schooled with large bass.
The forage schools will not be next to shore but will be suspended over the drop. I am sometimes fishing 100 yards from shore. Large bass do not feed often, but when they do feed, they feed as a group. Smaller bass feed more often. Sometimes it is better to fish the small bass school first, and as they turn on, stunned forage will drift below the forage school. This will turn the large bass into feeding mode.
Some of the lures I use are: large 6-8 inch grubs fished on 1/2-3/4 oz. round jig heads below the forage; casting spoons; 3/4 oz. jigging spoons fished both horizontally and vertically; 1. oz. short arm spinner bait helicoptered through the forage; 1 1/4 oz. rattletrap type lure jigged through the forage.
Fishing for suspended fish can take place from 20-45 ft. depth with the forage suspended over up to 100 ft. of water. One circumstance to fish these schools shallow is if the wind is up. A deep jerk bait can draw large bass towards the surface.
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