Catching Fish Off Shore Without Forward Facing Sonar

[FishTank]

If you ever wonder how to catch fish off shore using mapping, side scan and 2D, this video shows one of the best ways to do it.

 

I have been catching fish the past few years this way. It doesn't always work but its just like cruising the bank up close. I have found some high percentage spots on a few of the lakes I fish and have pulled some nice fish from these spots all year round.  The nice thing is once you mark the them, you can go back and hit them anytime.  I'm not always using a jig though, sometimes it's a deep crank that I know hits the correct depth I want. I also use small swimbaits. 

 

I always enjoy the looks I get when I pull a big one from 20 feet deep and 300+ feet shore. It's like I just pulled off a magic trick or something. 

 

 

[gim]

Kinda ironic, but I have seen so many boats loaded with graphs and technology head offshore nowadays and there's significantly less pressure on the banks, docks, and shallow habitat because of it.  Funny how it used to be the opposite and the offshore realm had minimal pressure.

[FishTank]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Kinda ironic, but I have seen so many boats loaded with graphs and technology head offshore nowadays and there's significantly less pressure on the banks, docks, and shallow habitat because of it.  Funny how it used to be the opposite and the offshore realm had minimal pressure.

 

The lakes I fish not many guys use FFS for off shore deep fishing.  They usually are 150 or so feet from the bank just cruising a long. If they see something,  they move in on it. Most guys though are still beating the bank year round.  

 

The area where it has really changed is crappie fishing.  You see guys just sitting in the middle of the lake all over the place with multiple deep rigs. This has hit the crappie population hard on my lakes, especially the ones with motor restrictions. 

[Bankc]

Deep water bass fishing is a lot harder in my lakes because of the limited visibility.  So you really have to be accurate with your casts.  And without something above the water to show you exactly where it is that you want to cast, it can be hard to get close enough.  Add to that all of the wind we have here, and it's just a really difficult proposition. 

 

But, difficult doesn't mean impossible.  And I generally prefer a spoon or deep diving crankbait in these situations.  Something that covers a lot of water and gets down to depth quickly, because I'll have to make a ton a casts to get one good one. 

 

The real downside is, half the time I set the hook, I pull up a white bass or channel cat.  The white bass I can tolerate.  But I hate handling slimy catfish. 

[TnRiver46]

I do it without mapping or 2D 😂. I deal with enough electricity at work 

 

you can tell where the drop offs are using a spoon and the channel marker red/green buoys