Bank fishing riprap tips

[TriStateBassin106]

What's some tips you guys could recommend for fishing riprap from the bank during pre spawn? What are some good lures to throw and any tips to avoid getting hung up frequently? 

 

(Pic is the type of riprap I will be fishing at my local reservoir from the bank.) 

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

That would be a crankbait for me 99 times out of 100.

[PotatoLake]

Balsa. 

[DitchPanda]

Squarebill territory there. Weightless fluke or senko as well.

[BigAngus752]

Squarebill, lipless crankbait and a football jig (if you catch in an area with a crankbait don't leave it until you've searched it with the jig also)  Walk toward your first spot but just get within casting distance.  Cast straight ahead and check that first area for fish.  After you've hit that spot thoroughly walk the rest of the way up to the water and start casting as parallel to the bank as your can working your way out to deeper water.  Then start walking in the direction you are casting and continue working from the bank out to deeper water.  Once you get to the other end make sure you turn around and work your way back!  I have caught fish on the way BACK that didn't hit it on the way down.  

 

I have had great success in the spring on several lakes working rip rap this way from the bank.  I do the exact same from my boat but I work my way from deep to shallow.  If you aren't getting bit in the shallows a fantastic spot is where the rock ends under the water.  Throw the jig out and start slowly dragging it back.  When you feel the rock just start casting to it with the jig and try dragging or hopping.  If the water is still too cold for them to want to come up to the shallows they will hang out right where the rock starts.  

[jimmyjoe]

   ^^^ I'm with this.  ^^^

  

   The only thing  I could add is a spinnerbait.  I throw them in riprap, pulling them right over the rocks. I have much better luck that way compared to a steady retrieve where I don't actually hit the rocks. Of course, I lose a lot of spinnerbaits that way, too.

   Ya gotta pay to play.  ?            jj

 

p.s. - there are 3 sizes of rocks in riprap; microwave, washing machine or refrigerator. For spinnerbaits, the bigger the rocks the better the results.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Cranks, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs are great.  Neko rigged craws do really well in rocks.  They dont snag as much as shakey heads and the line doesnt take as much of beating either.  

[scaleface]

I fish dams like that  from bank . About any lure can be fished shallow . Top waters , spinnerbaits , crankbaits... When it comes to deeper you will want a lure to follow the contour from deep to shallow and there will be hang ups . I use cheap jig and grubs , ""Beetle spins"" , pre rigged swimbaits.. . I cast out in deeper water then let the bait settle to the bottom . As soon as it touches down I lift it and begin my retrieve . The lure stays near the bottom,  in the strike zone , the entire retrieve . You will have to experiment with retrieval  speed to keep the lure just above the rocks . A lot of times I'll let the lure settle back down during the retrieve ,  then pop it up again just to make sure its near the bottom . Sinking lures are the key . Lipless cranks work well but I dont like the idea of losing several of those in a outing , so stick with ones I can afford to lose .

 

 Make a few cast to different depths , move a few feet then repeat . The goal is to figure out what depth they are assembling at .

[OkobojiEagle]

My very first consideration when trying to fish a rip-rap bank is... can I get down into or on the water in front of the bank.  Waders might be my first and easiest idea, followed by using my belly boat.  Either of these two options open better casting angles and more bait choices.

 

oe

[Mobasser]

I fish a spot on a small lake that looks like your rip rap area. You can try casting parallel to the shoreline, but if that doesn't work, fan cast out in front of you, and move slowly to cover the area. Somewhere there is probably a drop off within casting distance of the shoreline. That's where I've found fish, hanging on the dropoff. 

[TriStateBassin106]

Just now, Mobasser said:

I fish a spot on a small lake that looks like your rip rap area. You can try casting parallel to the shoreline, but if that doesn't work, fan cast out in front of you, and move slowly to cover the area. Somewhere there is probably a drop off within casting distance of the shoreline. That's where I've found fish, hanging on the dropoff. 

What would you recommend throwing bait wise for pre spawn? 

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

What would you recommend throwing bait wise for pre spawn? 

Choppy water, overcast days a lipless bait can be good, a spinnerbait also. On calm sunny days it's harder. A plastic worm or craw fished slowly can catch fish. You could also try a plastic grub, or small swimbait also