North Carolina bass pro and guide Mike Goodman never lets suspended bass get the best of him. In fact, Goodman enjoys some of his best fishing days during the summer, when largemouths and smallmouths alike spend the bulk of their time suspended in the deep waters of Lake James, his favorite mountain lake. Let’s dig into Goodman’s bag of tricks for making suspended bass bite.
-Call ‘Em Up - Goodman spends much of his time working a surface lure during the summer, even when bass aren’t actively busting the top. He favors the steady walking action of a Heddon Zara Spook or Excalibur Spit’n Image over prop baits or poppers for calling up suspended fish.
Jerk Fast – On bright sunny days, when suspended fish are less apt to come all the way to the top, Goodman will switch to a Smithwick Suspending Super Rogue, which he will work very quickly, using fast, aggressive jerks and no pauses in between. He believes most anglers fish Super Rogues too slowly during the summer. Goodman’s colors of choice are chrome/black back, chrome/black back/orange belly and chrome, blue back/orange belly, all of which suggest shad.
-Watch for Schools – Bass that stay suspended most of the day commonly push baitfish all the way to the surface at daybreak, so Goodman always tries to be on the water at first light. Largemouths and smallmouths alike also will school right before dark, and on gray days surface schools may show up at any time. For actively schooling fish, Goodman’s No. 1 bait choice is a Heddon Super Spook, Jr.
-Make Milk Runs – Timing is everything with suspended fish, Goodman has found, noting that an angler must be in a spot while the fish are feeding. He will fish a handful of areas that are likely to produce fish again and again in a day. “It’s not uncommon to fish a spot three times and not get a strike and then come back a fourth time and absolutely wear them out, having changed nothing in the approach,” he said.
-Back Up – Fishing mostly over points, humps and the edges of flats, Goodman typically has his lure over 30 to 50 feet of water (and sometimes deeper). His boat, however, might be over 100 feet in Lake James, which is very deep and clear. Bass often suspend over the outer slopes of structural features or even over deep water just off the structure during the summer, Goodman has found. “Often, fishermen have their boats right where they need to be casting,” he said.
-Watch for baitfish – Where there is bait, there are bass. It’s as simple as that, Goodman said. He watches his electronics constantly, both to see whether baitfish are in an area and to determine their depth. He also looks for active bass, which are distinguishable by the shape of the mark. Bass that are moving show up as half arches, instead of full arches, he explained. “Those are the fish you’re most likely to catch.”
For guided fishing in the North Carolina mountains, call Mike Goodman at (828) 317-9543.