Go shallow for river bass in late summer and fall

Two great Arkansas anglers imparted some useful fall fishing wisdom recently on Ray Tucker’s new radio program on KABZ-FM, 103.7, the Buzz.

The program — Ray Tucker’s Arkansas Outdoors ... It’s a Natural — airs from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and features Mark Hedrick, a colorful sportsman from central Arkansas and an outdoor writer some readers of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette might recognize.

George Cochran and Kevin Short were guests on the program the past two weeks. Cochran is a three-time world champion on the Bassmaster and FLW tours. He won the Bassmaster Classic in 1987 and 1996, and the Forrest Wood Cup in 2005.

Short is a popular angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series Tour. He’s known for the pink color schemes that make his boat one of the most recognizable in pro fishing.

“It works because I guess I’m the only one out there with guts enough to wear pink,” Short said.

He has the game to justify it. He’s won two Elite Series tournaments and three other Bassmaster events, and he’s finished in the top 10 three times this season. Two of those were after a tornado destroyed his home in April.

A caller to the show asked Short for some tips on bass fishing in the fall on the Arkansas River. Short recommended going to the far end of the backwaters and fishing as shallow as possible. He recommended this because he said shad concentrate in extremely shallow water in late summer and early fall. Bass always follow the food.

By shallow, Short said he meant fishing in water that’s only a few inches deep.

“If you’re fishing in 5 feet of water, you’re fishing too deep,” Short said.

That advice mirrored Cochran’s recollections of his 1996 Classic victory on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala. The Classic was held in late summer back then, and the fishing was often tough. Cochran won in 1996 by fishing in shallow water that even local anglers ignore.

Cochran explained that in late summer, water levels in lakes and rivers are often stable with little to no current. The highest amounts of oxygen are against the shore, where wind slaps water against the shore and aerates it to a degree. Baitfish follow the oxygen and plankton, and again, bass follow the bait.

Cochran won the Forrest Wood Cup in much the same fashion. That tournament was in August. He fished very shallow water at Lake Hamilton.

Both anglers said their favorite lures are square-billed crankbaits. Short is known for his prowess with crankbaits, but that was a surprise from Cochran. He is best known for using jigs, plastic worms and spinnerbaits.

In an earlier interview Monday, Short shared some observations from his years as a pro. One of the most important factors that many anglers ignore is maintaining their physical conditioning.

Even though he’s nearly 53, Short is one of the most physically fit anglers in the Elite Series. He’s thin and trim. He eats responsibly and snacks on trail mix. He takes care of himself, but he said he’s starting to develop shoulder and joint problems. If he could go back in time, he said he would exercise better.

You don’t have to work out every day, Short said, but it’s important to have a consistent routine to train and tone your body to the repetitive motions endemic to fishing.

For example, Short said that, depending on the situation, he might make as many as 400 casts per hour. A tournament day is about eight hours. An Elite Series tournament lasts a minimum of two days, and four days if you make the final cut. Factor in practice days, days fishing smaller circuits and recreational fishing days. It takes a toll on a body.

Before television became an integral part of professional bass fishing, anglers worried only about fishing. Savvy ones developed public speaking skills to draw more crowds when they did shows and seminars for their sponsors.

Now, they compete for a limited and highly coveted amount of TV time. Short said it’s essential for anglers to be telegenic and engaging. He said he tries to explain in simple terms how he’s fishing and why he’s fishing a certain way and in certain places. He explains how to rig baits and tries to make viewers feel as if they are in the boat with him.

Since bass fishing fans can follow their favorite anglers online in real time, there are no secrets anymore. Short said the days of being evasive are over, so he might as well give them a show.