The Skeleton Crew

Bass ambush baitfish by knowing where to position, and they know where to position based on their understanding of the route baitfish will take. Pay attention bass anglers: That same strategy will often help direct your search. Specifically, master the routes fish follow into and out of shallow areas and dial in the intercept zones.

“It’s our starting point, the skeleton of how we break down pattern fishing,” said Bassmaster Elite Series standout Chris Zaldain. “As professional fishermen, we’re going [all over the country], and that skeleton helps us know where the fish will move to and from in different seasons and conditions.

“The backbone is your main-river channels and your main-creek channels, but then it’s the migration routes. Where they spend winter and summer, which is kind of similar, and then where they go for spring and fall, those are going to be the outer edges of that skeleton.”

Spawning migrations come to mind first, but along with this vital spring season we also find fish coming and going with the daily