Bass Fishing From Shore

[bigbill]

Fishing from shore is only backwards fishing from a boat.

(Casting direction)

I fish ponds and small lakes. I look for run off streams from bigger lakes that were once used for water power over 100+ years ago. Most of these places have man-made dams with road beds. Since these places get the constant flowing of freshwater there good healthy eco systems. During the winter run off or heavy rains the fish get washed down stream from the larger body of water, get trapped and grow. Most of these places are still unfished.

Fisherman just drive by them. The man made dams are droppoffs. Using a cast out hummingbird fish finder it will tell you the layout of the place so we know how to fish it.

All of my larger lakes here have dams too. Fishing from shore isn't hard at the larger bodies of water too. There is a current with flowing water still there from when it was a river before it was dammed. If you locate the current. It will be a distance from shore. You will have a distance out of quiet water from the shoreline to the current. This is similar to fishing a river with a backwash only it's bigger. The fish gather on that quiet edge waiting for the current to bring the bait by. Or if the quiet water is large enough the baits are there too.

I also look for coves, inlets and dog legs to fish too.

You can actually see the current moving in front of the quiet water. These can also be droppoffs in certain areas too.

My point is if you fish from shore there are areas to look for. These man-made dams are what to look for even the small bodies of water can be great bass fishing.

For you youngsters what ever you learn fishing the pond in your neighborhood that knowledge will still apply at any body of water you fish in the future.

It's skill that catches fish not luck. Bill

[68camaro]

Very good info, thanks for sharing.

[Fishes in trees]

You make a couple of points here and there about bank fishing, HOWEVER - your statement that  "Fishing from shore is only backwards fishing from a boat."  simply isn't true.  There is more to it than that.

[bigbill]

I'm saying your fishing the same water and areas from shore as the guys in the boats do. Just casting in a different direction. Overall I'm trying to build up the skills of our shore fisherman. I'm not a pro, I'm not perfect. We can have success fishing from shore too.

If any shore or boat fisherman wants to chime in with advice please do so this is a open friendly forum. Let see everyone have success from shore.

[HoosierHawgs]

Well, when it comes to fishing from shore, more often than not, you end up casting parallel to the shore line. You do this from a boat as well, but much left often, because you may follow the fish around offshore structure, which simply often can't be targeted from the bank. Also, you often can't move around a lot from the bank. You can go around and hit different spots but you can't run and gun like you can in a boat. Those are the differences that are apparent to me. But yes, there are some similarities.

[bigbill]

You make a couple of points here and there about bank fishing, HOWEVER - your statement that  "Fishing from shore is only backwards fishing from a boat."  simply isn't true.  There is more to it than that.

Well what did I say that's not simply isn't true?

There's more to it?? What?

I like to feed info slowly so everyone can digest it. Like a thanksgiving dinner. We're on the first soup course right now. Location, location, location. We'll touch everything in time. With everyone's help too.

[bigbill]

Fishing from shore we are stuck with what it is. But it can be fished with success. These places with man-made dams can be very productive areas. These dams have drop offs. All along the drop offs can hold bass looking for an easy meal.

These drop offs can loop around the shoreline where we can easily cast parallel to the dam and main drop off. We can use our position on the shoreline to our advantage. I'm talking the smaller bodies of water.

Fish from both sides of the dam area if you can. The quiet water is on both sides of the dam. It funnels out from the dam.

Ok not every place has a dam it can be a large culvert pipe too that drains the excess water.

[bigbill]

Now most of the time there are points, submerged points, sand bars or transision areas between the drop offs as we move away from them. We find Deeper holes, flats, shallows.

Fishing points.

Fish up them parallel, skip fan cast them, fish across them,

Fish the quiet side or current side. With jigs, shallow crankbaits. Inline spinner, spinnerbaits. You can throw plastics too

[kcdinkerz]

Good info thanks!

[bigbill]

Sometimes the points are submerged. Look for the shoreline making an arc or a round radious corner. The point should go out from there. The point can go wider under the water too.

The smaller funnel shape starts at the shoreline and goes wider as it goes farther and deeper out. Sometimes next to these deeper holes on the sides can be found. Using a topwater bait popper or spook skip fan cast the whole funnel area as far as u can cast. Don't miss the action farther out on the radious.

If you use a hummingbird portable cast out fish finder make sure you use braided line. I would hate to lose the pod.

My point is I like to see everyone catch fish. And take advantage of the water that's in front of you.

[deep]

So, I guess we should fish points? And some other structures too, at different depths, speeds, and angles?

 

 

If you ramble a little less, it'd probably make more sense to your audience. (constructive- I hope- criticism)

[bigbill]

I won't bother sorry.

[WRB]

Your best info for any man made impoundment is US topographical maps of the reservior prior to being impounded. Casting a sonar transducer bobber out to map a area requires rod, reel and line stronge enough for 2-3 oz weight that cost anywhere from $100-$400. A map is less expensive and gives you a good idea what is below the waters surface.

From shore you can only fish angles you can cast to. From a boat there isn't any restrictions regarding how you approach structure or how far off the structure maybe from shore.

Tom

[bigbill]

Tom

There is no topography maps of the small bodies of water I fish. I use a $25 rod n reel setup with braid to cast out the fish finder pod. The pod is light.

My point was the good areas to cast a line we walk by sometimes not realizing it's there we don't see it. The shape of the points can vary.

I was hoping more would chime in here with your thoughts too. It's not just the Bill and Tom show.

[deep]

my mistake Bill. I apologize.

 

Well, here are my thoughts. Now look who's rambling.

 

If a structure is a distinguishable (it has a beginning and an end) part of the reservoir bottom, it's impossible to not fish structure. Unless I'm casting up in the trees.

 

Not all structures hold fish- at least, not all structures are high percentage. Also, a high percentage spring structure might not be a high percentage summer structure.

 

Find structure that's close (relative) to the deepest water in the area (either a channel, or a depression).

 

Find the breaks and breaklines on said structure. Edges of the dropoff (breaklines breaking in more than one direction are better) might be good. (You guys fish weed edges? There has to be a reason for the weeds to stop growing. If there are no abrupt depth changes/ hard breaklines, maybe there's a substrate change or some other kind of soft breakine).

 

Fish breaklines at different depths, with different speeds and at different angles. Unless you know the depth the fish are holding at.

 

Find the right structures, and then fish the spots on spot on those structures.

 

(And no, I'm not perfect either.)

[HoosierHawgs]

my mistake Bill. I apologize.

 

Well, here are my thoughts. Now look who's rambling.

 

If a structure is a distinguishable (it has a beginning and an end) part of the reservoir bottom, it's impossible to not fish structure. Unless I'm casting up in the trees.

 

Not all structures hold fish- at least, not all structures are high percentage. Also, a high percentage spring structure might not be a high percentage summer structure.

 

Find structure that's close (relative) to the deepest water in the area (either a channel, or a depression).

 

Find the breaks and breaklines on said structure. Edges of the dropoff (breaklines breaking in more than one direction are better) might be good. (You guys fish weed edges? There has to be a reason for the weeds to stop growing. If there are no abrupt depth changes/ hard breaklines, maybe there's a substrate change or some other kind of soft breakine).

 

Fish breaklines at different depths, with different speeds and at different angles. Unless you know the depth the fish are holding at.

 

Find the right structures, and then fish the spots on spot on those structures.

 

(And no, I'm not perfect either.)

Nice write up. Lot's of things here I use when I'm out fishing.

[WRB]

Bill, you start with a United States Geological Survey, Quadrangle map, USGS quad map of the regional area of interest. The Quad map will have elevation details and smaller map numbers within the quad area for 5' elevations. This can be done online or at your local County government office. It takes some time to research the more detailed older maps. The entire USA was surveyed.

Lake maps are a different issue, however your county offices will have a map of every lake prior to the dam being built, sometimes with over head photos, just takes some researching.

Tom

[blckshirt98]

A lot of shore fishing is just elbow grease and grunt work while you get familiar with the body of water you fish.  As a shore guy myself, pretty much every place I fish has limited shoreline access, it's not like I'm on a boat where I can access almost 100% of the fishable water.  Every lake you visit first is a mystery, but as you cast and and drag your lure along the bottom or run your crankbait, you'll start to make your own topo map of the fishable shore areas of the lake in your own head.  You'll be able to note the spots where you know you'll get a snag, where there's a big rock, drop offs, channels, rocky bottom, muddy bottom, etc.  if the water gets low take out your cell phone and take pictures of structure so when water levels go back up you know where to cast.  Fish a place from shore enough and each trip will add another piece to the puzzle where future trips will be more successful.

[monkeyman3dee]

A lot of shore fishing is just elbow grease and grunt work while you get familiar with the body of water you fish.  As a shore guy myself, pretty much every place I fish has limited shoreline access, it's not like I'm on a boat where I can access almost 100% of the fishable water.  Every lake you visit first is a mystery, but as you cast and and drag your lure along the bottom or run your crankbait, you'll start to make your own topo map of the fishable shore areas of the lake in your own head.  You'll be able to note the spots where you know you'll get a snag, where there's a big rock, drop offs, channels, rocky bottom, muddy bottom, etc.  if the water gets low take out your cell phone and take pictures of structure so when water levels go back up you know where to cast.  Fish a place from shore enough and each trip will add another piece to the puzzle where future trips will be more successful.

yES THIS IS TRUTH.

 

iT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIGURE THIS, i WOULD NORMALLY JUST CAST WILLY NILLY AND HOPE i GET A FISH. nOW i INTUITIVELY TRY MY BEST TO GAIN INFO FROM EVERY CAST, AND FIGURE WHAT SPOTS ARE THE MOST HIGH PERCENTAGE. This is all caps because I forgot to take it off. Now it is off, I do not want to rewrite so there.

 

Theres is a nice underwater cove I know is there from when my lakes water levels were below 5%, they are starting to drop down, so now I know for sure a nice area to pick through.

[soflabasser]

_{Thank you for posting this @Bigbill.Lots of good info here. Shore fishing can be just as productive if not more in certain situations. My most productive bass fishing trips have all been from the shore. I focus on spots that has structure on structure. An example is a area where there is a old fallen tree that is submerged in deep water with lots of vegetation around it for baitfish to hide in.Paying attention to water level, water temperature, wind direction and strength are factors I take into consideration when choosing a location and technique to use as well.}

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I fished from shore for 16 yrs farm ponds and streams.the first boat i owned was a bantam bass tracker with a 30lb thrust TM .now i use a kayak im comfy on shore and my yak i capitalise both depending on pond.i aint perfect but i sure can read a pond with a 5 minute glance if its gonna be easy or tough.

[smr_hga]

I've only ever fished on a boat once and that was on an offshore charter. All i caught was an 11in sea bass, 8in red snapper and a 6in grunt... The funny thing was all the noobs around who have never fished before were pulling up Amberjacks all day... Maybe i'm just ment to be stuck on land.

[DerekFisherofMenJones]

Use the Deeper Fish Finder sonar, from your IPhone or Smart phone. download the app from the Apple of Google play store. This device can be used from the bank, boat or kayak.

[massrob]

Lots of good info. Last year was my first fishing and I was on shore and I caught so many fish I thought I was a natural. This year I got a kayak and didn't really catch em good like the year before. I think it was because I lost my patience and fished too fast trying everything I had tied on. Next season I'm going to slow down and really try to figure out what my bait is doing. I'm just happy I have a place to come and learn about bass fishing from guys like Tom and bill that have so much knowledge and are willing to share so thanks guys.

[blckshirt98]

One thing about kayak fishing is unless you have a Power Pole micro or an anchor, how do you keep the kayak from drifting with the current and out of a good spot?  I think that's one advantage shore guys have is they can fish a specific spot over and over again without having to adjust/re-position.