Fishing the Breakline During a Drawdown

During the winter months, man-made lakes and impoundments are drained a few feet.

This is accomplished by opening spillways for locks to let water out. 

It’s done to eliminate grass buildup in the shallows.

Think of it kinda like a grass reset. All the grass along the shoreline is dried up and allowed to die.

It’s during this time that you can walk the entire shoreline without the hassle of shrubs and thorns. 

When bank fishing during a drawdown I always target the Break Line. 

During these low water conditions the real action happens about 10-12 feet out from the bank, where the first depth change occurs.

These underwater ledges, which I call "break lines," (I’m sure I didn’t invent that) are some of the most overlooked features by bank anglers, yet they're absolute gold mines for catching bass.

Think of break lines as nature's perfect fishing spot - those subtle stair-step changes in depth that most people walk right past.

I've spent countless hours studying these features, and I've found that even when attractive shoreline cover like grass beds is visible, the fish have usually moved out to these deeper edges with the receding water.

Here's a few reasons why bass are drawn to break lines:

• They provide perfect ambush points where bass can easily corral and trap baitfish moving between shallow and deeper water

• The deeper water along these edges offers natural protection from birds and other above-water predators, giving bass a sense of security while they hunt

• Break lines act as underwater highways, creating natural travel routes that bass use to move through their territory

If you want to find these productive spots?

Look for the old waterline marks on the bank - they're like a roadmap showing you where these break lines are forming in the lower water levels.

Once you start focusing your casts on these areas rather than the bank itself, you'll be amazed at how your catch rate improves.