But bass can also thrive in a dramatically different type of environment: highland reservoirs. They occur in hilly or mountainous regions nationwide; classic examples include Dale Hollow Lake, Tenn. and Lake Cumberland, Ky. Typified by a cavernous river channel, steep rock banks, clear water and a dearth of shallow weeds and wood, many highland reservoirs are subjected to a significant seasonal drawdown beginning in fall and lasting through midwinter. Their thermocline is often amazingly deep -- 45 feet is typical. Their almost total absence of shallow cover means largemouths, smallmouths and spotted bass living in these extreme impoundments use deep structures as shadowy sanctuaries. Here they hunt threadfin shad, alewives, even rainbow trout around humps, points, creek and river channel dropoffs.

Experienced highland bass anglers know that pounding the 1- to 10-foot zone can be a lesson in futility, especially in the fall, when bass may be deeper than at any time of year. How deep? Fifty feet is common now, 75 not unheard of. At Center Hill Lake, Tenn., anglers report catching spotted bass 100 feet deep in October!

At a highland reservoir, fall means frustration for most fishermen. Extreme clarity makes these lakes very slow to cool after a sizzling summer. Even when leaves on shoreline trees have turned red and gold, the lake is likely to remain surprisingly tepid, with a surface temperature 8 to 10 degrees warmer than that of a nearby flatland reservoir. Even when the air temp has plummeted and you're bundled up in your down jacket like the Michelin Tire man, highland reservoir bass can be extraordinarily deep.

For the bass angler used to pounding shallow cover in fall, super-deep bass may seem difficult to locate and nearly impossible to catch. But we know some ways to tap into these elusive fighters. Try these tactics for a fantastic fall outing!
     
Targeting Baitfish Concentrations
The first key to scoring big in a highland reservoir in fall is to locate large schools of baitfish. Here are some baitfish-intensive areas you should target:

Submerged islands and deep humps -- These should top out no shallower than 15 feet. Bass and baitfish will suspend above them in fall.

Deep rocky points -- These have a fast slope into deep water and may be intersected at the tip by a cavernous river or creek channel. Bass and baitfish will hang around them, both on the main lake and in the deepest tributaries, in autumn.

Hollows -- A "hollow" is a narrow, v-shaped structure located between two steep banks. Hollows often occur from halfway to two-thirds of the way into deep tributaries. In fall, they can pack solid with baitfish, and are among the most dependable places to catch large numbers of bass. 

Bluffs -- Craggy limestone or granite bluffs are structural trademarks of highland lakes. Bluffs normally coincide with a deep channel, which may have current flow and cooler water. Rock rubble at the base provides a hiding place for bass and good crayfish habitat. Schools of shad run bluffs in the fall, feeding on algae growing on their sheer walls.

45-degree banks -- These are typically composed of gravel and chunk limestone. Bass will gravitate to little pockets or protrusions located along these structures, and to areas where their composition shifts from one type of material to another (gravel to chunk rock, etc.)

Ledges -- Bass prowl these short outcroppings or "stairsteps" for crayfish, and hold on them when not actively feeding. Look for ledges on sloping rock banks.

Open water between opposing points -- In fall, the most powerful bass structure of all in a highland reservoir may be no structure at all. Bass are more likely to inhabit open water now than during any other season. They'll often wander the wide open spaces between opposing points at a tributary mouth, bird-dogging a big school of bait the same way stripers and hybrids do.

Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Blade Bait

Blade bait -- This thin, hard-throbbing metal bait is the #1 fall lure of many highland reservoir bass guides. Blades sink very quickly into the strike zone, and can be used to cover super-deep structures fairly quickly. Fishing the blade bait:

1. Cast the blade to the target, letting it fall on a tight line with the rod held steady at the 10 o'clock position.
2. Keeping the rod steady, turn the reel handle rapidly three to six times so the lure hops off bottom and vibrates frantically.
3. Repeat until the lure is directly under the boat.
4. Before reeling up the lure, pop the rod tip several times, jigging the blade in place.

Bass Pro Shops Tailspinners

1. Cast to the target, letting the tailspinner fall on a tight line with rod at the 10 o'clock position.
2. When lure hits bottom, lower the rod tip to 9 o'clock, then sweep it up to 11 o'clock, all while reeling rapidly. This hops the lure and makes its tiny spinner vibrate frantically.
3. Repeat until lure is under the boat; reel in and recast.

Spoon -- Spoons are your best bet when bass are suspending, a common scenario in autumn. Fish a spoon vertically, connecting it to your line with a snap swivel to reduce twist.

1. Bass Pro Shops Strata Spoon

   Move your boat directly over suspending bass, noting their depth on your graph.
2. Pull just enough line off the reel to reach the top of the bass school (avoid letting out too much line); presenting the spoon below the bass school seldom works.
3. Pop the rod tip sharply from 8 to 10 o'clock so the spoon hops and flashes.
4. Lower the rod tip back to 8 o'clock at about the same speed that the spoon is dropping. Lowering it too quickly will throw slack in the line which will tangle in the spoon's hooks. Lowering it too slowly will deaden the fluttering action of the spoon.
5. Keep a marking pen close at hand. When you get a strike, quickly mark the line at the rod tip before reeling up the fish. This will facilitate lowering the spoon to the exact same depth again and again.
        

Topwaters & Trolling
There are two more options you might consider for super-deep fall bass.

Topwater lures are surprisingly effective when water is in the 70 to 60 degree range. Bass pros know that a chrome or yellow stick bait can pull an entire school of deep, suspending smallmouths to the surface.

Downrigger trolling is a tremendous tactic for scoring trophy bass from highland reservoirs in autumn. Determine bass depth on your graph, then lower a lightweight aluminum trolling spoon into the fish zone. This approach has been tried very little on many reservoirs, and is virtually guaranteed to get your string stretched.