Admittedly, this is a tough bite to pattern. Because these groups of big bass are seemingly always on the move, they’re rarely in the same spot twice in one day; they’re simply covering water and looking for something to attack. Jordan has, however, figured out a few things to look for that will put the odds in your favor.
“I always look for pockets with flatter banks,” Jordan said. “I feel like those flatter banks make for much easier feeding opportunities. I’ve watched these wolf packs almost beach themselves trying to attack prey. They can’t really do that on steep banks. I also don’t look for them around fresh bluegill beds like many people do. They tend to seek out those smaller, two-finger bluegills instead. So keep a close eye out for them while you’re fishing in short pockets with flat, tapering banks.”
In addition to these flat banks, Jordan also pays attention to both bottom composition and the presence of cover.
“I think bottom composition has a lot to do with where you’ll find these wolf packs,” Jordan said. “Sandy or clay banks seem to produce the most, without a question. Gravel bottoms are big producers, too. But those soft, mucky bottoms don’t seem to attract them very much. I also prefer natural banks and pockets as opposed to over-developed pockets with a bunch of docks and what not. If there are a bunch of docks and structure in a pocket, that creates a lot more distraction for these fish. It gives them more places to stop and hide. It’s much more efficient to work down a featureless bank because there are much fewer hiding places for them. I do, however, like to find an isolated dock or laydown in the back of a pocket. This concentrates the fish and they’ll use it as home base throughout the day. They’ll go out an hunt, but they’ll come back to that one piece of cover to rest and regroup.”
It’s nearly impossible to overstate the importance of efficiency when you’re targeting these wolf packs. As we mentioned earlier, they’re always moving, so this isn’t something that allows you to develop a pattern. Speed is often the name of the game.
“We always want to find patterns as anglers,” Jordan said. “But a lot of this has to do with putting your trolling motor down and just going down the bank. Sometimes you’ll find ’em in the back of a pocket it and sometimes you’ll intercept them in the middle of a pocket. You absolutely have to keep an open mind and stay moving at all times.”
Stealth and strategy are also absolutely essential to this technique as well. When you unexpectedly see a bunch of giant bass swimming in front of your boat, it’s incredibly tempting to hastily lob whatever’s tied on towards them. No matter what, however, you have to resist the urge to act impulsively.
“If they see you first, you’re already behind the game,” Jordan said. “But if that happens, the best thing to do is to avoid throwing at them immediately. Give them a few minutes to regroup and hopefully forget about you. I’ll make a big circle around them and swing back around to them. But it’s so much easier when you don’t spook them. I’m a big duck hunter and I explain to my guide clients that it’s a lot like shooting a duck with a shotgun. You have to lead the wolf pack with your cast. Ideally, I want to get it at least 15 feet in front of them. If you land on top of them, it’s over. You might as well kiss them goodbye.”