Fishing on the rocks?

[Missouribassman95]

Now that the weekend is looking nice, I think I'm going to be able to hit my local lake. One side of the lake is covered with big rocks. I wanted to fish that side mainly because rocks warm up the fastest, but I'm not sure completely of what to fish. I was thinking of using lipless crankbaits, and t-rigged chigger craws. Is that a good plan?

P.S. I'll be fishing from shore.

[SausageFingers23]

Not bad choices.  A football jig rigged with a rage baby craw would be a decent option as well.

[gotarheelz14]

Whenever I have a lot of rocks present, I'm always thinking square bill or even regular crankbait. I have found that by its design the squre bill knocks off a lot harder off the rocks.

Rapala makes my favorite square bills. They make a cranking rap 3ft, 5ft and even a 7ft Glass Shad rap (I think...?). They all work very well for this purpose.

[Alpster]

Try bouncing a spinnerbait across the rocks. You will likely sacrifice a couple of baits due to snags, but this can be very productive.

Ronnie

[Missouribassman95]

Whenever I have a lot of rocks present, I'm always thinking square bill or even regular crankbait. I have found that by its design the squre bill knocks off a lot harder off the rocks.

Rapala makes my favorite square bills. They make a cranking rap 3ft, 5ft and even a 7ft Glass Shad rap (I think...?). They all work very well for this purpose.

Would a Bandit 200 series work?

[Missouribassman95]

Try bouncing a spinnerbait across the rocks. You will likely sacrifice a couple of baits due to snags, but this can be very productive.

Ronnie

Okay thanks, I'll use them for sure!

[NorcalBassin]

All good ideas... may also want to give a wacky Senko a shot.

[gotarheelz14]

Hell yeah a bandit would work! As a matter of fact, I have a small 200 series bandit square, craw dad brown with chartreuse color that has caught more fish than any other squre bill i've ever owned. I've banged it so hard off rocks and stumps that the bill is cracked and it will soon break.

Those things are beasts, especially for the price!

From my experience, It's been really great overall but especially when you are in some really really really thick hardcover. Because they have such a slim profile, they sneak in through all the small spaces. Great little baits.

[crankbait2009]

i second the square bill cranks to bounce off rocks.

i mainly use Bomber Square A's as well as Bass Pro Shop's "The Egg" series!!!!!

catches everytime!!

[Missouribassman95]

Hell yeah a bandit would work! As a matter of fact, I have a small 200 series bandit square, craw dad brown with chartreuse color that has caught more fish than any other squre bill i've ever owned. I've banged it so hard off rocks and stumps that the bill is cracked and it will soon break.

Those things are beasts, especially for the price!

From my experience, It's been really great overall but especially when you are in some really really really thick hardcover. Because they have such a slim profile, they sneak in through all the small spaces. Great little baits.

Sound awesome! I can't wait to get out and try them now!! 

[JigMe]

Rule 1 about fishing the rock: you will loss lots of bait. I probably average out 4-5 cranks each time I go to fish the rock plus few Jigs... :'(

[WRB]

Rocks do not warm up any faster than other lake bottom elements. Water depth is a far more important; shallow water warms faster regardless of the bottom materials.

Fishing from shore reduces the lures you can fish effectively because you are fishing up hill.

I would stay with soft plastics like worms, creatures or soft jerk baits and fan cast the area. Also try a buzzer to see if any very active bass are feeding.

Tom

[senile1]

Are you fishing Concordia lake (Edwin A Pape Lake)?  I fished a 55 acre lake last weekend about 40 miles north of KC and surface water temperatures were 39 - 43.  Concordia Lake is 240 - 250 acres if I remember correctly.  I suspect you will be fishing similar temperatures though we are supposed to have about three warm days between now and then.  If you don't find them up shallow you may need to make some long casts to reach the deeper drop-offs with some slower presentations like jigs and jerkbaits.

[CWB]

Rule 1 about fishing the rock: you will loss lots of bait. I probably average out 4-5 cranks each time I go to fish the rock plus few Jigs... :'(

Some popular lure retrievers:

http://www.frabill.com/accessories/9865.html

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_37104_100011005_100000000_100011000?hvarAID=shopping_googlebase&om_mmc=shopping_googlebase

http://www.***.com/descpage-JBHDLR.html

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewgogetit.html

[Rangerphil]

Rocks may not warm up any faster than other material, but they do hold heat longer!

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

I would try a texas rigged lizard or worm, or a tube. If the water is still cold, remember to fish slow

[WRB]

Rocks may not warm up any faster than other material, but they do hold heat longer!

2 factors to consider; thermal conductivity verses thermal resistivity. The density of the rock affects both; porous lava rock heats and cools quickly, dense granite heats and cools slowly.

However submerged rocks are insulated by the water and absorb heat from the water. If the rocks are above the water, then air and sunlight will heat or cool them much faster than water.

The attraction for bass with rocks is the rocks are great hiding places for prey like crawdads.

[Missouribassman95]

Are you fishing Concordia lake (Edwin A Pape Lake)? I fished a 55 acre lake last weekend about 40 miles north of KC and surface water temperatures were 39 - 43. Concordia Lake is 240 - 250 acres if I remember correctly. I suspect you will be fishing similar temperatures though we are supposed to have about three warm days between now and then. If you don't find them up shallow you may need to make some long casts to reach the deeper drop-offs with some slower presentations like jigs and jerkbaits.

Yupp that's where I'll be fishing. Tomorrow and thursday are supossed to be around 70 so I really hope that warms the water up a few degrees.