How To Fish Structure Beneath Bridges

Where to fish is the most challenging problem anglers face. Not too many years ago, an angler could find quality fishing just about anywhere he wanted to wet a line. Today, the good spots are still out there, but it seems to be more difficult to find them.

Admittedly, I haven't learned all the good places to fish, but I do know if a lake has a few bridges. These areas can be phenomenal hotspots for bass. I've been fishing and catching bass from structure beneath bridges for years. While the tactics may appear simple, there's a lot more to this bass-fishing method than meets the eye.

To be honest, I began landing bass around bridges quite by accident. While running the boat across a lake, I passed beneath a bridge and my cap blew off. After I slowed and circled back to get it, I noticed my propeller wash was sloshing waves against one side of a pillar. I also saw a 3 1/2- to 4-pound largemouth busting shad. Within seconds, I spotted several more big, healthy largemouth chasing bait on the surface, so I knew that bridge support was holding bass.

I experimented with different fishing methods, lures and presentations and caught lots of fish. Over the years, I've learned that bridges on any lake are among the finest bass-holding structures.

Study a bridge and its structure in detail, and you'll find a wide variety of fish-holding hotspots in a small area. Bridges normally cross a creek or river channel, which means a flow of water underneath. Current, as many know, is attractive to both baitfish and bass. This extra flow during the hot summer may also help improve oxygen content in the water beneath a bridge.

Engineers often build bridges across one of the narrower expanses of a creek or river channel. As a result, water flowing under the bridge is funneled through a smaller passage, increasing the current's force. This attracts baitfish as it channels them in schools through the narrowing area, thereby giving bass a better chance for an easy meal.

Water under a bridge offers bass an easily accessible deep-water sanctuary as well as a shallow-water feeding ground. A bridge also provides shade from the sun, which is why midday fishing there is so productive.

The banks along a bridge are usually covered with riprap, thus providing a growing surface for algae that attracts baitfish. Baitfish hold in the area because they can find both food and refuge in the rocks. Bass also use the rocks as cover and ambush points to feed on baitfish.

In addition, traffic around a bridge is considerable, and potentially distracting, but wave action from boat wakes dislodges algae that grows on bridge pillars and riprap. This algae attracts baitfish, which in turn attract bass.

Also, the vibrations from vehicle traffic on the bridge shake bird droppings off bird nests that are invariably found underneath bridges. Small baitfish feed on this material, which is rich in nutrients.

When a lake is impounded and the water level raised, new bridges must be constructed to replace inundated ones. New bridges are often built over the old ones, which are simply knocked down. The demolished bridges serve as structure that holds bass.

Position your boat so the bow faces into current, whether it is natural, man-made or generated by the wind. Cast upcurrent and reel the lure with the flow.

Bass always face current. By fishing with the flow, anglers have better lure control and better boat control, and bass are able to see an offering quicker and longer.

When fishing a bridge's pillars, work the lure along the edges of each pillar. Cast upcurrent and work the lure back toward the boat, parallel to the long sides of each support. Fish each end of the pillar by casting slightly upstream across the pillar's end. Some say pillars closest to shore hold the biggest concentrations of bass, but don't forget to fish around each support. Short bridges usually are more productive than longer ones. The reason is that short bridges increase the funnel effect that concentrates both bass and baitfish.

The next time you go zipping under a bridge, stop and fish for awhile. I did one day, more than 25 years ago, and it turned out to be a fine lesson in big-bass fishing.