any tips on fishing from shore?

[snapper G]

any tips on fishing from shore?

Don't got a boat, so gotta fish from the bank!

[J Francho]

Put together a set of shore spots and learn what spots are better during different times of the year.  Do not just park at one spot waiting for the fish to come.  If the bottom is hard enough, wade, if you can.  Keep moving until you find fish.

[Stasher1]

Try to find out of the way lakes and/or private ponds. If you can get to the lake easily, so can everybody else.

[Marty]

Keep moving until you find fish.

That would be my #1 suggestion. Go as often as you can so you can learn what makes that place tick. Be there at higher percentage times, such as lower light periods. Don't rule out any lures. Almost all that are used from boats can be used from shore.

Shore fishing can be rewarding and maddening. But based on my definition of a big fish, I've caught more from shore than boats. There are some nice fish in some unlikely looking small waters.

[CRFisher]

For the summer, try some heavier baits so you can reach deeper water.  The best (not largest) bass I caught all year was on a Kastmaster spoon, no other lure I own could reach where I threw this thing.  Side by side, the bass is probably going to bite a fluke, senko or a rapala over it, but I couldn't get those out to the bass.  

[GonzoFishing]

In the So.Florida area you have a lot of small lakes and canals you can hit. Keep moving and test out different lures and dont be afraid to throw your lure into the weeds, pads or reeds that usually line the bank. I've been having a blast fishing a small lake in Miami from shore.

[roadwarrior]

Yep, I do have a suggestion:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

8-)

[Sam]

First rule of shore fishing....be quiet and out of sight.

When approaching the bank walk very quietly and try not to throw your shadow on the water.

When walking from place to place be at least 50 feet from the shore so you do not make any noise or spook any fish.

Second rule....if you can see them then they can see you.

Otherwise, look for dropoffs, wood, brush, grass, pads and anything the fish will hold to for their ambush or safety points.

Fish the shoreline right in front of you.  Drop your wacky rigged Senko or finesse worm in the water to the left, front and left of where you will want to stand, if possible, before you get too close to the bank. You never know if that big one is hanging out in front of you in shallow water.

Use a pumpkinseed with black flake Senko rigged wacky or if the water is clear go with a watermealon.  Do the same with your finesse worms.

Use weedless hooks if there is structure or cover you want to fish.

Pitch and flip into fallen trees and by the drain near the dam.

Deepest part of ponds will be by the dam which is adjacent to the drain.  Fish the drain area. but get ready for some snags.

Throw Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and your plastics.  Sometimes a black and blue Chatterbait can be productive.

For topwaters, go with a pink or white unweighted trick worm or a Pop-R type bait.  Buzzbaits are dynamite, too.  In fact, buzzbaits can be your #1 producer this time of the year or in early AM or late PM during the summer. Throw a Cavitron.

When the water gets low you need to outline on a map the pond or the shore area where you fish and note the underwater stumps, rocks, wood, etc. that you can fish when the water level rises.

Watch out for critters in the trees, rocks and grass that you will have to walk over or under.  I was fishing a dock on a pond and watched a small copperhead take his time and move down the bank from my left to right on the shoreline in front of the dock.

Just be quiet; have your rigs ready to go; carry a sissors and pliers with you; and have fun.  

[Tsuprum]

A little Buzzbait trick when fishing from shore. If you bend the wire you can get the Buzzbait to run parralle to the shoreline. Bend the wire about half way up were it comes out from the head.

I always like to FAN or HALF CIRCLE cast an area. Example would be start off casting to the right about a few feet from shore. Then keep making casts until you have made a fan/half circle

Hope this helps  

[FD.]

Watch out for the big lizards!!!!!!!

[skillet]

Might sound silly but if you are using something T-rigged or jig don't walk right up to the edge when coming to a new spot. Stand back and pitch the bait to the water near where you are headed. Have scared off nice fish . Doesn't work every time but enough to keep trying ...

                            As Ever,

                             skillet

[Paul Roberts]

Many mature bass do move "away from shore" and relate to main lake/pond areas by summer. But, there are water bodies, and areas of many water bodies, that will hold shoreline related bass all summer. Find these.

Keep moving until you find fish.

X2

Not all areas within a given water body are the same in holding fish. And some areas fit your own presentation strengths better than others.

Learn to recognize good habitat.

Talk with other anglers, read, and keep your eyes open as you fish. Don't be afraid to ask permission if you see a nice looking pond. Often, no one simply asks.

[Muddy]

One of the things I like to do with a new pond is to go to the highest point, where you can more of less view a portion of the pond , or the whole pond for that matter and WEAR POLARIZED SUN GLASSES>

 The geogrophy aabove the water frequently will lead to features underneath the water. So a point or a steep shore, might give you a clue to underwater structure, and the glasses will help you see cover on that structure. Pick out some logs,drop offs and rockpiles etc and then start moving and fishing each area.

[Paul Roberts]

One of the things I like to do with a new pond is to go to the highest point, where you can more of less view a portion of the pond , or the whole pond for that matter and WEAR POLARIZED SUN GLASSES>

Ditto! Excellent advice.

Often your most valuable time is spent walking and looking rather than blindly casting. Make use of a brilliantly sunny day by walking the shoreline, viewing from high spots, even climbing trees!

This can save you enormous amounts of unproductive casting time.

[Certified Public Angler]

I wear my nasty shoes and I don't think for a second they are coming home without mud on them.  

I usually wade out to my knees.  I also have set up a nice shore fishing bag.  It holds all my equipment and is worn like a backpack, that way I can keep moving spots without having to grab my gear.  I carry 2 rods around the shore.

[Andrew Coleman]

Might sound silly but if you are using something T-rigged or jig don't walk right up to the edge when coming to a new spot. Stand back and pitch the bait to the water near where you are headed. Have scared off nice fish . Doesn't work every time but enough to keep trying ...

                        As Ever,

                             skillet

that has happened to me too, also use a light weight, 1/16 oz, or a 3/16oz at the most.

[BirdNestBen]

I'm lucky enough to have found a few tanks here in Texas to fish in...

I'd certainly follow the comments you received so far they all look good....

I like to take 3 rods with me.......

A lot depends on the conditions.... fall is right around the corner and more active fish......

cloudy overcast- look to use topwater baits for bigger bass.....

sunny- plastic worm- texas rigged and dropshot

It's true a lot of the bass you may catch on a dropshot rig will be smaller, but sometimes you will get into some bigger fish.......

Use a spinning rod and a Zoom finesse worm

On my baitcaster I will Texas rig with a berkley 7" powerworm- really will catch a lot on this lure!!!!!!!!!

I will take a 3rd rod- spinning or baitcaster and fish a zoom fluke texas rigged weightless........ sometimes add a small split shot to sink it just a bit..... truth is I get more bites on this than anything else.....

and they will flat out hammer it........

good luck and if you see fish breaking the surface be sure and chunk a topwater plug or buzzbait