12–20 Foot Bass Fishing: How to Reach Deep Bass with Hard Baits
Aktie
This guide is part of our Water Depth series. For the complete depth breakdown across all zones, read: Best Bass Lures by Water Depth: The Complete Hard Bait Guide.
The 12 to 20 foot zone is where bass go when conditions push them off the mid-depth structure most anglers target. Post-front high pressure, extreme summer heat, cold winter water — all of these conditions move significant numbers of bass into this deeper zone. Most hard bait anglers never effectively target this depth because they assume hard baits can't reach it. They can, with the right approach.
When Bass Move to 12–20 Feet
Bass don't use the 12 to 20 foot zone as a primary residence — they move there when conditions make shallower water uncomfortable or unproductive. Understanding what drives bass into this zone tells you when to target it and what to expect when you get there.
Primary drivers into the deep zone:
- Post-front high pressure: Rapid pressure increases after a cold front push bass off mid-depth structure and into deeper, more stable water where pressure fluctuations are less pronounced.
- Summer thermocline: When surface temperatures exceed 85°F, bass drop below the thermocline into the 15 to 20 foot range where oxygen and temperature are more stable.
- Cold water below 45°F: Extreme cold pushes bass into the deepest available water where temperatures are most stable and metabolic demands are lowest.
- High fishing pressure: On heavily pressured lakes, the biggest bass often retreat to deep structure where angling pressure is lowest.
Hard Bait Strategy for 12–20 Feet
Fishing hard baits at 12 to 20 feet requires a fundamentally different approach than shallow or mid-depth presentations. The bait must reach the target depth before the retrieve begins, and the retrieve must keep it in the zone rather than pulling it back toward the surface.
Count Down to Depth
A sinking or suspending hard bait must be counted down to the target depth before beginning the retrieve. A lipless crankbait sinks at approximately 1 foot per second — reaching 15 feet requires a 15-second count. A jerkbait sinks more slowly and may require 20 to 30 seconds to reach 12 to 15 feet. Develop a feel for the sink rate of each bait and count consistently to hit the target depth zone.
Use Electronics
Fishing hard baits at 12 to 20 feet without electronics is largely guesswork. A fish finder that shows the depth where bass are holding — and the specific structure they're relating to — dramatically increases efficiency in the deep zone. Look for bass suspended at a specific depth or stacked on a defined piece of deep structure and fish directly to that location.
Make Long Casts
Long casts in the deep zone serve two purposes: they give the bait more time to sink to the target depth during the retrieve, and they keep the boat away from spooky deep fish that can detect boat vibration even at 15 to 20 feet.
Best Hard Baits for 12–20 Feet
Lipless Crankbait — Primary Choice
The lipless crankbait is the most effective hard bait for the 12 to 20 foot zone because its sinking design and high vibration output are specifically suited to deep presentations. Count it down to 12 to 18 feet on a slack line, then begin a steady retrieve that keeps it vibrating at depth. The tight vibration travels upward through the water column and attracts bass from above — fish that are holding on deep structure will rise to intercept a lipless crankbait that passes through their zone.
Deep zone lipless technique: long cast, count to target depth, steady retrieve with occasional lift-and-drop to change the depth of the bait and trigger reaction strikes from bass following at a specific level.
The Signature 90S Heavy Sinking VIB at 36g reaches depth quickly and maintains it efficiently on a steady retrieve. The weight is an advantage at 12 to 20 feet — lighter lipless crankbaits blow back toward the surface during the retrieve and can't be maintained at depth without constant adjustment.
Suspending Jerkbait — Slow Cold Water Option
In cold water conditions when bass are deep and inactive, a jerkbait counted down to 10 to 15 feet and worked very slowly — long pauses of 8 to 15 seconds — can produce bites from bass that won't respond to a moving lipless crankbait. This is a slow, methodical presentation for targeting specific pieces of deep structure where you know fish are holding.
The Signature 115SP Suspending Jerkbait reaches 12 to 15 feet on a count-down presentation and suspends at that depth during the pause. In cold water below 50°F, pauses of 10 to 15 seconds at this depth produce strikes from bass that are holding tight to deep structure.
Where to Fish at 12–20 Feet
Primary targets:
- Main lake humps at 15–18 feet: Submerged high spots that rise from 20+ feet to 12 to 15 feet concentrate deep bass. The top of the hump and its edges are the primary strike zones.
- Deep channel swings: The outside bends of the main creek or river channel in 15 to 20 feet hold post-front and summer bass. Work a lipless crankbait along the channel edge.
- Deep points dropping to 15+ feet: The deepest section of a main lake point, where it drops from 10 feet to 18 or 20 feet, holds fish that have moved off the mid-depth structure. Work the transition zone.
- Submerged timber at 12–18 feet: Old timber below the thermocline on reservoir lakes holds summer and cold water bass. Electronics are essential for locating this structure.
12–20 Feet Summary
| Variable | 12–20 Feet Approach |
|---|---|
| When to fish | Post-front, extreme heat, cold water below 45°F |
| Primary bait | Lipless crankbait — count down, steady retrieve |
| Cold water option | Suspending jerkbait — count down, long pauses |
| Essential tool | Electronics — find the exact depth fish are holding |
| Key technique | Count down to target depth before retrieve begins |
Most anglers never effectively fish hard baits at 12 to 20 feet. The ones who do consistently find bass that the rest of the field ignores. For the complete depth framework, read: Best Bass Lures by Water Depth: The Complete Hard Bait Guide.