Smallmouth bass feed heavily upon shiner minnows that live in water 2 to 3 feet deep over gravel bars. Apparently the bass are not comfortable in these shallows for extended periods in bright light. Their favorite ways to feed on these shiners are to charge onto the gravel bars at dusk and dawn and grab all of the shiners they can capture. They may feed for 5 minutes then move off the gravel bar only to return every 5 minutes until dark in this hit and run manner. This is manifested to us by seeing the minnows flee the bass. When you see this cast your streamer out in front of the minnows and strip it in front of the basses’ anticipated path and strip it in front of him……Very effective and wildly exciting.
