Shore Fishing Techniques & Tips

[martyweil]

I'm going to be fishing a relatively small lake from shore this summer, and I'm looking for tips, strategies, and techniques particular to shore fishing for bass. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

This should help:

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

8-)

[ZeNoob]

crank baits that float!  

[bassmedic46]

Thank you for that thread, I'm going to try it next time out. Was skunked last year, trying not to be this year. Thought maybe it was because I'm fishing from shore.

[islandbass]

I fish from the shore 100% of the time. All techniques that work on a boat can work from the shore. You have to kick out of your mind that because you're on the shore the fishing will be different technique wise. The fish won't know if your fishing from the shore or a boat.

It can take some extra effort to search and reach certain spots, but it can be done.  Good luck! 8-)

[roadwarrior]

I fish from the shore 100% of the time. All techniques that work on a boat can work from the shore. You have to kick out of your mind that because you're on the shore the fishing will be different technique wise. The fish won't know if your fishing from the shore or a boat.

It can take some extra effort to search and reach certain spots, but it can be done. Good luck! 8-)

Not if you value your lures. My ponds are "open" with a little

structure and very little cover. I still manage to lose a

few jigs and/or soft plastics on every outing! Lures that run

shallow or float are (usually) fine, but anything with depth may

be lost.

In a boat, lure retrievers are useful, but not so from the bank.

If you fish from the shore, be prepared to lose your stuff. Note:

In my opinion, if you're not getting hung-up occasionally, you're

not fishing in the right spots. So, plan your lure selection accordingly.

8-)

[Bankbeater]

I fish from the bank about 75% of the time and I will go along with what every one else is saying. Throw shallow running cranks or topwaters. I use light Texas rigged plastics and 1/8 ounce jigs unless I have already fished the lake and know what the bottom is like.

[SirSnookalot]

I shore fish 100% of the time as well and I agree RW.  If you don't lose lures you're not fishing.  Not only lures but a lot of line as well, always getting hung up.  I don't care how much I lose, it's replaceable.

I've been fishing a lot of spoons( single hook), spinner baits and I use saltwater jerk shads (D.O.A.) on jig heads.  The only thing I fish weedless is a horny toad.

The secret under rated weapon is the rooster tail, fewer hangups, can fish it the shallowest of water and thru the weeds, it catches fish too.

[Marty]

Lots of good advice here. If I were to limit myself to one suggestion, it would be to move around and cover as much water as possible until you know the lake well enough to concentrate on the best spots. There may very well be excellent spots that you'd never figure out otherwise.

I'd also repeat what's already been said, don't rule out any lure types just because you're on the shore.

[moloch16]

Don't be afraid to get wet.  You may need to wade fish the pond to get to some of the juicy spots.

[Paul Roberts]

There should be fish to be found somewhere from shore on your lake. But, some waters offer more shallow, or shoreline oriented, fish than others. If you cannot find fish (during prime conditions), a new horizon might just change your "luck".

[lineslinger]

Seconds on the Rooster Tails!  They are one of the best fish finders available!  When the water gets a little muddy I've learned to use the Vibrax models that seem to induce vicous strikes.  What's really fun for me is using ultralight rod and reel and 10-20# braid.  "Horsing" a fish in on a limber stick really gets the adrenaline flowing!

[umahunter]

do yourself a favor and get a belly boat and some scuba fins not belly boat fins the scubas have more kick before i got a boat i used to bank fish then i got a belly boat man what a difference and its a great way to keep cool in the summer

[5151]

I fish jigs 90% from shore, I can crawl em, hop em and swim em. Easy to keep a pocket full and differnt trailers for the situations. I do make my own now as RW suggested you will lose a few and i just love fishing jigs.

Now depending on where you live be careful with the wading and belly boats. Here in the low country of SC we have large gators and snakes.

[islandbass]

I fish from the shore 100% of the time. All techniques that work on a boat can work from the shore. You have to kick out of your mind that because you're on the shore the fishing will be different technique wise. The fish won't know if your fishing from the shore or a boat.

It can take some extra effort to search and reach certain spots, but it can be done. Good luck! 8-)

Not if you value your lures. My ponds are "open" with a little

structure and very little cover. I still manage to lose a

few jigs and/or soft plastics on every outing! Lures that run

shallow or float are (usually) fine, but anything with depth may

be lost.

In a boat, lure retrievers are useful, but not so from the bank.

If you fish from the shore, be prepared to lose your stuff. Note:

In my opinion, if you're not getting hung-up occasionally, you're

not fishing in the right spots. So, plan your lure selection accordingly.

8-)

I agree with you and I know full well about the risk of losing lures and accept that as part of the game and I did think to mention that initially.

My point was that the same techniques fished from a boat can also work from the shore. The potential for loss of lures is most likely higher, no doubt, but on the other side of the coin, nothing ventured, nothing gained as you said with other words.

I can and have lost 10 ds weights and hooks and lures in less than an hour's time. I most certainly dislike such losses but it comes with the territory. When I fish from the shore I have to be willing to risk those losses.

Techiques I have successfully employed from the shore:

Cranks, Jerks, Senkos, Drop Shot, Inline Spinners, Spoons, Topwaters, and T-rigs. Shamefully I concede that I am a spinnerbait, buzzbait and jig virgin. I just haven't had the chance to give those lures some quality learning time yet. ;D

[martyweil]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the great advice. It's much appreciated. I'll be sure to try many of these ideas.

[little_stephen]

im going to kinda go basic here to start with.

i tought myself to fish from shore then graduated to canoe fishing. which alot of time is very similar....   but heres what i learned very much by trial and error.

-Cast as parrallel to the shore as possible unless youre targeting a specific piece of structure.

-find any points on the lakes shoreline and fish them! (again. if you can work the point from any diff angles then do!

-Lilly pads are great shore fishing options if theyre in ur lake!

-Dont carry too many lures.  (I carry two planos worth of lures, and three little boxes with hooks, jigs, and terminal tackle. also two or three spools of diff lines. a parka, pliers, kinfe, and wire cutters. some sort of spike it, and a lure retriever in a book bag)   its a pain, they tend to bogg u down!

and usually (from my findings) you can just keep tying on the same lure if its working in an area.

-two rods is ussually enough for me. one with braid, one with floro.

-have lures ready to cover water quickly- topwater, subsurface, medium, deep/bottom at hand so you can quickly cover an area to see if theres bass.

So, now that ive spewed my basic rules.....

heres what ive found that works well for me from shore (in my northern muddly lakes)

-HORNY TOADS!   cant go wrong around lilly pads!

-buzz baits

-light texas rigs & Carolina Rigs.

-football & fliping jigs.

-rattle traps

-swim baits (great because they can be used at all sorts of depths)

-grubs

-poppers and propbaits

I dont use alot of cranks. ive found they hangup too much for me. i shore fish quickly but still saturate an area. cranks for me are a very targeted lure. but they work!

[Hammer 4]

X 2...I fish from unless we rent a boat..so the advice below is really good...one thing I always do, and this depends on the lake/pond, the water and if any structure or cover...Senco's and finesse worms. I find when nothing else works, a Senco rigged wacky and weightless usually gets em everytime..oh, and I  always take to rigs, just incase....Good luck!

Lots of good advice here. If I were to limit myself to one suggestion, it would be to move around and cover as much water as possible until you know the lake well enough to concentrate on the best spots. There may very well be excellent spots that you'd never figure out otherwise.

I'd also repeat what's already been said, don't rule out any lure types just because you're on the shore.