Shore Angler

[AustinHellickson]

Any tips for me as a shore angler? I carry 1 bait caster, few packs of soft plastics (8ish) 1 Plano box of crankbaits,  I have no idea what to look for in finding fish, and am pretty new to bass fishing. Thanks 

[AustinHellickson]

Any tips for me as a shore angler? I carry 1 bait caster, few packs of soft plastics (8ish) 1 Plano box of crankbaits,  I have no idea what to look for in finding fish, and am pretty new to bass fishing. Thanks 

[scaleface]

Ponds ,small  lakes with rip rap dams , vegetation... , rivers ... describe the water .

[roadwarrior]

Structure, cover, contour, transition and depth. Cast at a 45* angle, out 20 yards or so from the bank. This will keep your bait/ lure in a better strike zone longer. If there is a dam on the water you fish, start there. Outside grasslines are usually good. Anything your perceive as a point is another target. ALWAYS fish on all sides of timber or a bush. If you finds submerged rocks that is another prime target.

 

 

[Senko lover]

If you're looking to catch fish put you on a Ned Rig!

[WestBranch]

I've had the best luck when I look for spots where there's a lot of weeds or trees in the water. Then I cast as horizontal to the shoreline as possible working my way out to straight out into the river or lake 

[AustinHellickson]

51 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Ponds ,small  lakes with rip rap dams , vegetation... , rivers ... describe the water .

Water is murky and some spots not as murky water... Reservoir where I fish, Lake Tapps WA 

[soflabasser]

1 hour ago, AustinHellickson said:

Any tips for me as a shore angler? I carry 1 bait caster, few packs of soft plastics (8ish) 1 Plano box of crankbaits,  I have no idea what to look for in finding fish, and am pretty new to bass fishing. Thanks 

Here are a couple areas to look for that can be productive in almost any body of water;

drop offs close to the shore.

sunken trees,especially if the trees have been in the water for years.

areas where 2 or more bodies of water meet.

areas of heavy aquatic vegetation that are close to a area of little aquatic vegetation.

areas where there is a lot of baitfish. Bass tend to stay close to their prey.

areas where they are manmade structures, such as bridges, piers , docks , spillways or  similar structures.

 

Good lures to use from the bank are the following;

soft plastics such as swimbaits, senkos , flukes, worms, crawdads , other types of creature lures.

hard plastics such as topwaters, jerkbaits, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits.

Spinnerbaits , buzzbaits , hollow body frogs are great lures for a shore based bass fisherman as well.

 

[AustinHellickson]

34 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Here are a couple areas to look for that can be productive in almost any body of water;

drop offs close to the shore.

sunken trees,especially if the trees have been in the water for years.

areas where 2 or more bodies of water meet.

areas of heavy aquatic vegetation that are close to a area of little aquatic vegetation.

areas where there is a lot of baitfish. Bass tend to stay close to their prey.

areas where they are manmade structures, such as bridges, piers , docks , spillways or  similar structures.

 

Good lures to use from the bank are the following;

soft plastics such as swimbaits, senkos , flukes, worms, crawdads , other types of creature lures.

hard plastics such as topwaters, jerkbaits, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits.

Spinnerbaits , buzzbaits , hollow body frogs are great lures for a shore based bass fisherman as well.

 

Great advice thanks!

[etrout72]

When shore fishing, I always make my first couple of cast from about 10 ft back and cast close to the shoreline. Have you ever walked up on a spot and seen a big bass swim off?

[An Outdoor Guy]

I am in your boat to (no pun intended) I am stuck on the shore for now and I have learned the best place to start fishing is about 10 feet back like etrout said. that way you can catch the bass that are right there by the shore line. I like to start with docks or boat ramps then look for overhanging trees or trees in the water then if all else fails ill go and throw a football jig in places ive never fished before to get a feel for whats out there. Best of luck to you!

[AustinHellickson]

1 hour ago, etrout72 said:

When shore fishing, I always make my first couple of cast from about 10 ft back and cast close to the shoreline. Have you ever walked up on a spot and seen a big bass swim off?

No never seen bass go swim off.

45 minutes ago, An Outdoor Guy said:

I am in your boat to (no pun intended) I am stuck on the shore for now and I have learned the best place to start fishing is about 10 feet back like etrout said. that way you can catch the bass that are right there by the shore line. I like to start with docks or boat ramps then look for overhanging trees or trees in the water then if all else fails ill go and throw a football jig in places ive never fished before to get a feel for whats out there. Best of luck to you!

Thanks!

[YoTone]

12 hours ago, AustinHellickson said:

No never seen bass go swim off.

Thanks!

get some polarized sunglasses and you will.

 

[AustinHellickson]

1 hour ago, YoTone said:

get some polarized sunglasses and you will.

 

What are good cheap ones to buy?

[YoTone]

im no expert on anything but the main point is that you will spook a ton of bass if you continue to casually walk up to the bank. ive caught a few after recognizing this and correcting myself.

[Choporoz]

 

 

 

[Red Bear]

how big is the lake youre fishing? it can be hard to catch bass while on the bank in large lakes. maybe try and find a few smaller ponds with bass and get your confidence up and your technique down...

[nameiztaken]

You sound exactly like what I do, I bring a box of plastics, box of skirted baits, and box of hard baits with me along with one baitcaster, I like to throw things other anglers aren't throwing, in places that other anglers aren't fishing at, I have had good luck doing this.

[Derekbass02]

Try a wacky rigged senko style bait. I catch fish basically everywhere with it.

[scaleface]

   Reservoir , it should have a dam . The dam and rip rap banks are good places to fish .

 . I like to use sinking baits . They can be t-rigs , compact single blade spinnerbaits , lipless cranks , prerigged swim baits... I start out by casting right next to shore and reeling in . Next cast is a little farther out and deeper .  Next cast a little farther out and deeper yet ...  Let the bait sink to the bottom . Dont let the lures settle in the rocks . Watch your line as it is sinking . As soon as you see it slack up a little pop your rod to get the lure up and moving . When reeled in it will follow the contour of the slope from deep to shallow "  the strike zone" .  Move a few yards and repeat . I almost always catch fish like this . After a few fish you should start developing a pattern and can start fine tuning the process . 

 

   Silent  lipless cranks work real  well. My favorite is the old Bayou Boogie but the SK RedEyed Shads should work just as well . SK Rocket Shads spinners are good for this , as are the SK Mini Spins . With the Mini Spins take a 1'8th ounce rubber core sinker , remove the rubber and crimp the weight on the shank of the hook . That makes it cast better sink faster and stay close to the bottom easier .   Good luck .

[brybell]

3 hours ago, AustinHellickson said:

What are good cheap ones to buy?

I have seen polarized sunglasses at 711 for like $7.

[Torn Thumb]

Walmart has Ozark trails that work just fine for $5