Drop-off

A drop-off is an edge, and fish relate to edges. It lets a fish sit in deep water and move up to feed in shallow water without travelling far, which is exactly the arrangement a predator wants. The first significant drop outside a spawning flat holds fish for a large part of the year.

They range from a gradual slope to a vertical ledge along an old river channel. Sharper is generally better, because it concentrates fish into a narrower band.

In post-spawn, larger fish pull out to the first drop-off. In summer, the drop that intersects the thermocline is the one to fish.

From a bank you can find them without electronics. Cast a jig or a bullet weight out, let it hit bottom, and count the drop on each cast as you fan across the area. Where the count suddenly jumps, that is the break.