High Pressured Bass Spots - Be Different!

[Bartableman7]

I sat out in the middle of the lake watching three boats and 6 guys work down the same 100 yard rip rap shoreline. It had a steep weed filled shore where no one could ever stand and cast. They beat those rocks with spinnerbaits, cranks and jigs. I saw one small bass caught.  My turn.  I used my usual technique.  I put the boat right up againts the rip rap and worked slowly along that shore...fan casting with a football jig and fishing right under "their boat position".  5 bass later with a nice 5 pounder too.  Bigger bass are smart...they move out.  So you need to be different too.

[GRiver]

I’m usually the one watching somebody else catching them right behind me. Hahaha

[Bird]

A favored technique and to cover the most water for active fish is to position the boat tight to the bank and cast horizontal ?

[A-Jay]

Agreed ~

  Boat position – it is SUPER critical to learn why & how to use it to your advantage. 

Every cast I make, every bait I throw, they’re level of effectiveness is predicated on where & how my rig is positioned on the structure I am fishing.  There’s no way around it – that’s just how it is. 

These are the things I take into account when determining how & where to position my boat to fish anything.   The depth of water I’m planning to fish and the depth of water I need to be positioned in, water clarity, wind speed & direction, the position of the sun (where it is the sky as it relates to the structure and how high or low in the sky it is), The type of lure(s) I’m planning on using, as well as any boating traffic in the area including other anglers.  

 If I have the choice, I prefer to fish from shallow to deep – every spot - all year round – just how I like to do it – because it works.  Also because going deep to shallow, although easier I guess, often positions the boat on or directly over the bass and I may end up casting into dead water. Instead, I’ve had much more success sneaking over to the shallow side so as not to burn the spot and casting off to the front/sides of the point, for instance.   I commonly will use one of three ways or methods to hold/ position my boat – first is the common anchor & rope – total PIA but once you know how to do it – it works.  Did it for years – still do in the canoe and will continue to do so.  Then there’s ‘holding’ on a spot with the trolling motor – I do not like to do that but will when I have to.  The newest Ultrex with the spot-lock is sweeping the bass fishing world – I’m not ready to cash in the Fortrex just yet.  So my left foot will continue to get a workout until I am.   Then there are the shallow water anchors – for me, it’s the Talons – might be the best investment I ever made after the Lund itself – Love the Talons - Super effective.

A-Jay

[Basser2021]

Paralleling a bank is my favorite thing to do in high pressured lakes

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Bartableman7 said:

Bigger bass are smart...they move out.  So you need to be different too.

If they were smart, they wouldn't put a bent wire with a hunk of lead at one end and a chunk of plastic on the other in their mouth, no?

[WRB]

It’s all about “learned” survival. The bass that don’t learn get caught. I detailed how to do this tactic in my In-Fisherman article Horizontal Jigging In 1995....27 years ago.

Tom

 

[GreenPig]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Agreed ~

  Boat position – it is SUPER critical to learn why & how to use it to your advantage. 

Every cast I make, every bait I throw, they’re level of effectiveness is predicated on where & how my rig is positioned on the structure I am fishing.  There’s no way around it – that’s just how it is. 

These are the things I take into account when determining how & where to position my boat to fish anything.   The depth of water I’m planning to fish and the depth of water I need to be positioned in, water clarity, wind speed & direction, the position of the sun (where it is the sky as it relates to the structure and how high or low in the sky it is), The type of lure(s) I’m planning on using, as well as any boating traffic in the area including other anglers.  

 If I have the choice, I prefer to fish from shallow to deep – every spot - all year round – just how I like to do it – because it works.  Also because going deep to shallow, although easier I guess, often positions the boat on or directly over the bass and I may end up casting into dead water. Instead, I’ve had much more success sneaking over to the shallow side so as not to burn the spot and casting off to the front/sides of the point, for instance.   I commonly will use one of three ways or methods to hold/ position my boat – first is the common anchor & rope – total PIA but once you know how to do it – it works.  Did it for years – still do in the canoe and will continue to do so.  Then there’s ‘holding’ on a spot with the trolling motor – I do not like to do that but will when I have to.  The newest Ultrex with the spot-lock is sweeping the bass fishing world – I’m not ready to cash in the Fortrex just yet.  So my left foot will continue to get a workout until I am.   Then there are the shallow water anchors – for me, it’s the Talons – might be the best investment I ever made after the Lund itself – Love the Talons - Super effective.

A-Jay

If my Terrova with SpotLock breaks in the morning I'll order one tomorrow afternoon. 

[Trox]

One of my favorite ways to approach bass fishing is to spend some time in my day fishing the next seasonal pattern and see if I can't be the one of the firsts to catch the next bite. Like, everyone will be on deep structure in the summer time, but a month or so before anyone else really starts thinking about it, I'll try out a couple of fall patterns throughout the day... It's one way to get away from the current pressure, and when you end up catching the next bite early, a lot of times you will have it all to yourself for a week or so while everyone is still spot locked on brush piles.

I was rewarded this season by catching some late post spawn, bigger than average fish deep on main lake points while half of everyone else was still bed fishing... Those fish had spawned before anyone was ready, and were done by the time most people started sight fishing for em... Could fish all day without being anywhere near another boat, and the bite was HOT. Lasted about two weeks before everyone else started showing up to the party when of course, that bite began to die... I know fish are still heading out to the area, but so is everyone else now.

[soflabasser]

It is best to think outside the box, especially if your goal is to catch big bass in highly pressured public bodies of water. 

[Big Rick]

13 hours ago, A-Jay said:

The newest Ultrex with the spot-lock is sweeping the bass fishing world – I’m not ready to cash in the Fortrex just yet.

When you do, you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner. Fishing big waters like Menderchuck is where the Ultrex shines.  Especially if there's a breeze. 

 

It's well known that you do things to the fullest and use the best equipment you can to give you every advantage over those big brown bass. I believe you will find the Ultrex worth the investment. 

 

Also, you will recoup quite a bit of your investment when you sell the Fortrex. 

 

YMMV, but I love my Ultrex. 

[IcatchDinks]

All these guys talking about boats and I'm still casting from the bank... 

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

When you do, you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner. Fishing big waters like Menderchuck is where the Ultrex shines.  Especially if there's a breeze. 

 

It's well known that you do things to the fullest and use the best equipment you can to give you every advantage over those big brown bass. I believe you will find the Ultrex worth the investment. 

 

Also, you will recoup quite a bit of your investment when you sell the Fortrex. 

 

YMMV, but I love my Ultrex. 

@Big Rick Dude ! 

I know you're right.

And you know I know. 

The Boat Monkey has been riding me Hard for a while now. 

I have the original 360 which doesn't mount easily to the new motor 

so I'd need to address that as well  $$$$$$$

The way I see it I have at least three options.

Stand Pat.

Replace/Update the entire electronics package including the Trolling motor.

Or -

Go for the whole enchilada and trade this rig in for new.

Oh My.

Mrs. A-Jay (who is my financial advisor) might not be very keen on that last one right there.

Time will tell.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[gim]

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Stand Pat.

 

This is what I'd be doing too.  Upgrades are nice but when you start talking about upgrading an entire electronics system or a brand new rig, then it gets out of hand quickly.

 

You've got dual talons which work pretty good at holding a spot in shallower water too.  I've considered the Ultrex upgrade multiple times in recent years too, but I keep coming to the conclusion that what I'm currently using is still working pretty good, so there's no immediate rush to upgrade.

[Big Rick]

5 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

@Big Rick Dude ! 

I know you're right.

And you know I know. 

The Boat Monkey has been riding me Hard for a while now. 

I have the original 360 which doesn't mount easily to the new motor 

so I'd need to address that as well  $$$$$$$

The way I see it I have at least three options.

Stand Pat.

Replace/Update the entire electronics package including the Trolling motor.

Or -

Go for the whole enchilada and trade this rig in for new.

Oh My.

Mrs. A-Jay (who is my financial advisor) might not be very keen on that last one right there.

Time will tell.

A-Jay

 

 

 

I feel your pain. I really do. I want some shallow water anchors so bad I can taste it! I just can't make myself justify the costs because I know I won't be happy with just one. Who wants to go round and round the flag pole? It really takes two to hold steady. Again, justification on a large purchase that I know I'll thoroughly enjoy versus cash in the bank account with this current economy.....decisions. 

 

Sorry, OP for the thread hijack...

 

 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

This is what I'd be doing too.  Upgrades are nice but when you start talking about upgrading an entire electronics system or a brand new rig, then it gets out of hand quickly.

 

You've got dual talons which work pretty good at holding a spot in shallower water too.  I've considered the Ultrex upgrade multiple times in recent years too, but I keep coming to the conclusion that what I'm currently using is still working pretty good, so there's no immediate rush to upgrade.

Last Hi-Jack.

Thanks.

 Standing Pat is the plan - 

Have some $$$ spread out that will take at least a year to clear.

So all of this is waiting not so patiently

on 'the back burner' as they say.

A-Jay

[Bankbeater]

One of the best things I ever started doing was taking a look around the water before I start casting.  I look at where most of the anglers are fishing, and I try to see what baits they are fishing with.  After I do that I head to a part of the lake with no anglers, and either fish with a different bait, or different presentation.

10 hours ago, IcatchDinks said:

All these guys talking about boats and I'm still casting from the bank... 

I fish from a lot of pressured ponds that are too small for a boat.  I'm talking 3, 4, or 5 acres in size.  Most anglers won't want to walk far from the parking lot, so you will usually find me on the far side of the pond.

[LrgmouthShad]

On 6/6/2022 at 6:56 PM, Bird said:

A favored technique and to cover the most water for active fish is to position the boat tight to the bank and cast horizontal ?

right now my typical cast is paralleling banks at depths ranging from 6’ to 12ish’

[scaleface]

Sometimes different is not using everything new . I talked to another angler at a lake yesterday . He told me he never throws a buzzbait anymore , he throws a Whopper Plopper . I thought , "Hes not throwing it in the same place as I" . He said he never fishes a worm opting instead for a Baby Brush Hog . I'm thinking "You are doing a lot more phantom hooksets than I "' He also  never throws a spinnerbait instead a chatterbait or swimjig and I'm thinking "Youre kidding , right"

[Bassbum1016]

On 6/6/2022 at 7:39 PM, Basser2021 said:

Paralleling a bank is my favorite thing to do in high pressured lakes

you’re also keeping your bait in the strike zone longer, once you’ve  established their preferred depth 

On 6/7/2022 at 8:31 AM, IcatchDinks said:

All these guys talking about boats and I'm still casting from the bank... 

 

paralleling the bank works great from the shore too

especially at night ?

[Bird]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

Sometimes different is not using everything new . I talked to another angler at a lake yesterday . He told me he never throws a buzzbait anymore , he throws a Whopper Plopper . I thought , "Hes not throwing it in the same place as I" . He said he never fishes a worm opting instead for a Baby Brush Hog . I'm thinking "You are doing a lot more phantom hooksets than I "' He also  never throws a spinnerbait instead a chatterbait or swimjig and I'm thinking "Youre kidding , right"

And I'll keep throwing the stuff he's given up on. Lol

[IcatchDinks]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

Sometimes different is not using everything new . I talked to another angler at a lake yesterday . He told me he never throws a buzzbait anymore , he throws a Whopper Plopper . I thought , "Hes not throwing it in the same place as I" . He said he never fishes a worm opting instead for a Baby Brush Hog . I'm thinking "You are doing a lot more phantom hooksets than I "' He also  never throws a spinnerbait instead a chatterbait or swimjig and I'm thinking "Youre kidding , right"

I can't lie. I love the Whopper Plopper.

 

As far as the worm, I've got more fish on worms than all my other baits combined. I can't imagine abandoning it.

 

I can never get anything to hit my spinners. Ever. I know I must be doing something wrong, but when all my other baits work for me, it seems like a small problem that I have yet to remedy. 

[Bartableman7]

Just an image for clarity.  I knew NOT to parallel the shore because the others beat it to death.  Fish under their boats!

[IcatchDinks]

11 minutes ago, Bartableman7 said:

Just an image for clarity.  I knew NOT to parallel the shore because the others beat it to death.  Fish under their boats!

That's how I always do it...

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, Bartableman7 said:

Just an image for clarity.  I knew NOT to parallel the shore because the others beat it to death.  Fish under their boats!

Where were you getting your bites? You say directly under their boat? Or did you get some shallower as well?