Ledge
A ledge is a sharp break on the river or lake bottom where the depth changes quickly, often from a flat of 10 to 15 feet down to 20 feet or more. These drops hold current, baitfish, and cooler water in the summer months, which pulls bass out of the shallows and into large offshore schools. Ledges are common on reservoirs built along old river channels, so the bottom often has a defined edge instead of a gradual slope. Anglers fish ledges by idling over them with electronics to find the exact spot where the depth drops and to mark any brush, rock, or bait activity sitting on the edge. Once the school is located, boats often position up current and cast baits across the break, working them from the shallow side down into the deep water so the lure bumps the ledge naturally. This mimics baitfish sliding off the edge, which is exactly what triggers feeding bass.
- Deep deep-diving crankbaits that can reach and grind along the bottom of the ledge
- Heavy lipless vibration baits for covering water fast and locating active fish
- Football jigs or heavy soft plastics for slower, bottom-contact presentations
A practical tip: fish the ledge at different points along its length, since bass often stack on specific irregularities like a small point, a rock pile, or a bend, rather than spreading evenly across the whole break.