My in-laws live on a small lake and this past Sunday, while my wife and I were visiting, I noticed the water was very low. Most of the laydowns were out of the water and all of the bank grass was high and dry on the shoreline. This got me thinking about how tough a drought, or a fall drawdown, can make bass fishing. When water levels are super low and everything is out of the water, where in the world are you supposed to start?

In short, I strongly suggest targeting what I call “secondary cover”. Essentially, this is the cover you can’t always see that sits off the bank. Whether it’s a hidden stump row, a shallower brush pile or a small underwater island, these areas can help you get on a strong pattern while most other anglers struggle.

Here’s what I’ve learned about this approach over the years.