When To Go Off-Shore

[CDMeyer]

I have a view questions about off-shore fishing, I am a bank beater but when the weather changes the get hard to catch on shore.  I was wonder when this happens should I move to off-shore and what should I throw.

My second question is there certain weather that makes off-shore your go to choise

[NathanW]

Some examples of when I got off shore.... For low current lakes.... After the spawing rituals are well over, I go off shore during the summer month usualy starting at around 9am or 10am depending on how hot it is. I always fish the bank in the mornings and evenings unless a major cold front comes in, then I may start off shore.

 

For river/higher current bodies of water. Current means channels, channels mean well defined grassline. I will fish the inside grassline in the morning and then go offshore to the outside grassline after the sun gets up. If I am really desperate for big fish I may stay on that inside grassline longer but typically the outside grassline will produce much better quantities of smaller fish.

 

Another example of when I go off shore on a body of water like this is when the current shuts down considerably. This is a great time to go fish those offshore humps, rockpiles and vertical structure that are close-to or in the channel. This is stuff that does not hold fish or is difficult to fish during normal current.

 

I moved to a location where I was forced to fish offshore because there is virtually no shore bite during much of the year. This is helped me tremedeously on other lakes and rivers when the shore bite slows on hot days.

[fish365]

I start offshore in the winter with a silver buddy sometimes, but normally all times of year i start near bank and work out as day progresses mostly in hotter weather. Like to throw a big football head or big mop jig with a "ginormous" trailer. Usually 1/2, 3/4 and 1oz for me.

[bigbill]

After heavy rains the bacteria stirrs up from the bottom. This can drastically change the waters PH.

In the hotter weather I fish deeper with Carolina rigs as the sun comes up.