Ask any knowledgeable, experienced angler to name the universally preferred cover of both bass and bass fishermen, and the answer likely will be tree stumps.
Stumps provide prime habitat for all species of bass in both man-made reservoirs and natural lakes.
Most commonly found in impoundments, stumps are usually created when trees are clear-cut prior to an area being flooded. Although the timber is sold for a profit, the flat-topped remnants remain in place on the lake bottom for years.
Typically, stumps range in size from 1 to 3 feet in diameter and feature a squat section of trunk that gives way to a series of roots attached to the soil. The trunk provides plenty of cover for bass as soon as the impoundment is formed, while the root system usually offers ample room for shelter as the bottom gradually erodes, exposing the roots. And the top of the stump is often slick with algae, which attracts baitfish.