As long as this structure or cover is close to deep water, Schoenrock said, it doesn't matter whether it's in a bend of the river or on a straight run. Nor does current matter for the pattern to work. "You can find these places with a depthfinder," he explained, "but often I find them by keeping my eyes open. I've found many good fishing holes by watching for fish busting the surface."

According to Schoenrock, you find humps along the edge of the river channel covered with hydrilla or milfoil. These hold fish -- but it's better if the humps can't be seen to passing anglers. "Avoid visible cover," he cautioned. "By July, fish in visible cover have seen just about every bait imaginable. It's hard to do, but try to find places not fished by every passing angler."

Schoenrock's lures for fishing humps include DT-6 and DT-10 crankbaits by Rapala and 10-inch worms rigged Carolina- or Texas-style. All are fished on 12-pound-test monofilament. The Carolina rig has a 4-foot leader with a 1/2-ounce sinker, while the Texas rig has a 1/4-ounce pegged sinker.

"To trigger strikes, try to run the crankbait into the stumps," said Schoenrock. "And if the fish are suspended, the long leader on the Carolina rig often triggers a bite."

The Corps has seven public boat ramps on Gainesville. Schoenrock recommended Cochrane Recreation Area for the upper end, Vienna Access Area midlake, and Long's Landing on the lower end.

ALICEVILLE LAKE
Upriver from Gainesville, Aliceville Lake is the first reservoir in Alabama on the Tombigbee River as it enters the state. For the 15 miles from the Stennis Lock and Dam in Columbus, Miss., to Hairston Bend Cut-Off, the 8,300-acre lake is riverine. At that point, the reservoir rises beyond the riverbanks to create expansive grass flats with an abundance of wood cover. It then meanders another 13 miles before reaching the lock and dam at Pickensville. The lake's shoreline totals 148 miles.

Nearly 10 years have passed since largemouth bass virus swept through the state. According to Jay Haffner, District III fisheries biologist, LMBV hit Aliceville hard. Fortunately, the fishery recovered, and now ranks as one of the top five lakes in overall quality in the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries' Bass Anglers Information Team report.

"Aliceville has rebounded and has rebounded nicely," Haffner stated. "The reservoir has terrific habitat. Historically, it has always yielded some very big bass, and I think it will continue to do so."

This month, Shan Schoenrock's primary Aliceville pattern is exactly the same as the one he goes with at Gainesville. But early in the morning, he may fish a topwater lure. The early-morning bite is often critical to winning a summer tournament, he said. "By July, most of the aggressive fish are chasing shad around the river to places where they can surround them to feed," the angler explained.