Fishing boat ramps

[RealtreeByGod]

I've been trying to kayak fish on Chickamauga and it's been a struggle this time of year since I don't have electronics and my stretch of lake doesn't have much in the way of obvious structure. One place I could try that I haven't yet would be a relatively close boat ramp, specifically this one. 

What would be the strategy for something like this? Just drag a c-rig and creature up the hill? Is there any kind of etiquette I'd have to worry about in terms of not being in the way of people who are loading and offloading? 

[papajoe222]

Common courtesy. Those using the ramp to launch or load and those docking their craft should be given the opportunity to do so without having go navigate around you. They don't need 50yrds. to do so, but if you witness someone that's having difficulty, give them all the room they need. 

If there is a lot of traffic, I'd move up shore.  There's a lot of structure there. Use a jig or worm that is easy to count down and find areas like those underwater points or the saddles in between them. You can fish them whatever way you feel comfortable. If there are weeds, fish the edges and tops closest to deep water.

[Montanaro]

Active ramps are typically not good choice for fishing.  Too much chaos.  Quiet ramps can offer a couple fish sometimes. 

[LionHeart]

"Okay just 3 more casts" just before loading back up at the ramp has saved me from a surprising number of skunk days.

 

I'd try cranking and dragging that ledge to the northeast for certain.

[Bluebasser86]

One of the biggest smallmouth I ever caught was off the bottom of a boat ramp. Ramps have wash out holes from boats powering onto the trailer, which often leaves a clean bottom and a high spot at some point behind the ramp that is a good ambush point for fish. It also collects debris that small baitfish and craws will hid in and feed on. I've found that right after a boat powers on and blows up a silt cloud that makes it tough for those baitfish to see, I can often catch an active fish trying to take advantage of the situation. The loading docks are almost always good too. Obviously, stay out of the way of boats loading and unloading, but if there's a break in activity, ramps are a huge confidence area for me. 

[Todd2]

My best night spot after everyone clears out is a ramp. Almost guaranteed to catch fish. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Todd2 said:

My best night spot after everyone clears out is a ramp. Almost guaranteed to catch fish. 

 

Many camps on Toledo Bend have private ramps that are lighted at night.

[lo n slo]

i’ll throw at and around every boat ramp i come across (public or private) any time of the day, night, or season for alot of the reasons already listed above. hard bottoms, wash outs, abrupt drops (off the ends and sides), rip rap and gravel ramp edges, all hold forage, as well as, ambush points. in late winter and early spring, sunny bank ramps retain heat and tend to hold big bass. 

[Bass XL]

The ramps around here have boulders on either side of them all the way out into the water. I've caught many fish hopping a jig on the left or right side of the actual concrete. Seems like there's always fish hiding out waiting to ambush a craw fish or bluegill venturing out over the clean pavement. 

[WRB]

If you have ever read any of my launching the boat threads you should know my standard operating procedure is survey the marina area.

Some of the best bass fishing opportunities occur in and around marinas and this marina look to be very promising.

Tom

[CassLaw]

In Florida where our lakes, especially smaller ones, are shallow bowls the ramps are where I concentrate; especially if there’s a lot of grass and the ramp provides a nice hole with a hard bottom. Like said above, the ramp has saved me from being skunked more than once! Common courtesy, like common sense, just isn’t that common. If you have common courtesy I’d fish the ramp and just be mindful. 

[flatcreek]

Count me in the Ramp Camp. I'll drop a zoom trick worm on one in a heartbeat.

[Bankbeater]

When the ramp is empty I like to get on one side of it and cast across it dragging the bait back across the concrete.

[Brad in Texas]

Great observations and maybe someone already mentioned it. But, at least some bass/fish seem to be attracted to the commotion common around ramps. We had LMBs bubbling up all over Lake Athens, TX last year and boats launched and many of them never left the area. I was bank fishing one afternoon next to the ramp and several bass chasing bait fish almost beached themselves on the ramp.

 

Very cool idea not to overlook these!

 

Brad

[Squarebill79]

If the ramp isnt very busy I would fish it, but be mindful of boaters. As a boater and bank fisherman myself there is nothing more frustrating than launching the boat and a family of 4 has setup shop on the ramp complete with coolers, lawn chairs, and 8 rods in the water. If its busy I wouldnt recommend fishing there long, youll have some annoyed fisherman. I fish ramps sometimes when bank fishing but I always make sure its not busy and if someone comes Ill stop what im doing until they are gone. 

[scaleface]

One day I was fishing jigging spoons  off the end of a ramp and caught two wrist   watches , dip net and rod n reel combo .

[Choporoz]

Just in case there aren't enough reasons listed already.....

 

Big bass get released at ramps....tourny bass, and even just daily bags saved for stringer photos...lots of big bass get brought from all over the lake only to be released at the ramps.  Now, of course, they don't all stay right there, but some will be around....so, even if areas near a launch get relatively more pressure, that may well be offset by the likelihood of a higher concentration of big fish within a few cast lengths .