Suggestions For Shallow Lake

[Trickerie]

Hey all,

I was looking for some suggestions on fishing an extremely shallow lake with a ton of debris on the bottom. I don't know how shallow it is for sure, but at its deepest i estimate 6-8 feet, if that.

Just yesterday I lost 2 texas rigged 1/4oz worms, and a carolina rigged worm to rocks/other objects. I even caught a 3 foot deep squarebill on something and nearly lost that as well!!

Any suggestions?

FYI, its not the hooks getting stuck on weeds from a shotty rig job, but instead the sinkers getting lodged between objects.

Thanks,

Mark

[Greed]

With the information that you provided and it being winter time I would suggest a shallow running jerkbait or even a floating minnow plug. I would also take note on where you are getting snagged up at and work the edges of said snags. I'm sure there are some areas in you body of water that are free of cover that you might lose a lure to.

[BasskingKeith]

Yeah, a jerkbait and probably a weightless worm of some sort. You could maybe even bang a crankbait into some of that stuff, especially if you're on a boat.

[Bluebasser86]

Put heavy line on your cranking rod, 15-20 pound test, and then slowly and carefully pull a squarebill through the cover. Dragging a jig or T-rig should work well also but it seems if you try to keep your casts shorter from the bank it will help to prevent snags because you can lift up and out of snags more than you can on a long cast. I wouldn't suggest casting a C-rig into heavy cover, that's just asking for trouble. Slow rolling a single or double colorado bladed spinnerbait through the cover would be another option you might try. A jerkbait might not be a bad idea but they hang up easy if they contact wood cover so I don't think I'd be pulling any megabass or pointers through that mess unless you're willing to lose them.

[Jigfishn10]

Bluebasser86 is on point, IMHO. C-Rigs is not a great option for this type of lake or the area of the lake your trying to fish. I like the colorado spinnerbait idea and if your into a rocky area, maybe try a football head jig. T-Rigs should get you thru, but in areas where you've lost baits prior, try finessing the bait thru. The worst thing you can do is try and rip a bait thru a known bait eating area.

Good luck.

[Trickerie]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been fishing some shallow crankbait since yesterday and caught a decent sized bass.

I'll give the other stuff a whirl and see how it goes

[A-Rob]

I could picture myself approaching this like by pitching a jig as I kept the trolling motor hot.

As for the snags, although fishing fast be gentle with the jig so you don't snag it on wood, developing that touch will be helpful.

As for rocks jigs come thru decent...if not troll the boat to the other side and the jig should come out (if there's a way in there's a way out haha). If the bank is in the way then a plug knocker or slingshot it out...and if that fails just buy another jig haha

[Hammer 4]

Another point for shallow water with a bunch of junk on the bottom...keep your rod tip high, when you feel a possible snag, Lightly lift your rod w/o cranking, once you have cleared the object, then slowly crank. I find I can't work through some bad areas by doing this, even with baits that would norally get stuck. This isn't a 100% fool proof, but you will lose way less baits.

[hookset on 3]

Shallow, debris filled bottom lake you say ,in winter? A weightless soft plastic jerkbait is my go to. The bait falls in a horizontal position,so it has less of a tendency to nosedive into rock crevices.

My fav. are Slug-Gos, because this generation of bass really has not grown up looking at them all day.

[LAO162]

I fish the shallow part of a quarry that has has a rocky, bait eating bottom. Baits constantly get wedged inbetween rocks and there is too much brush on the banks for me to change my angle to try and pull free.

I use 10lb copoly on spinning gear and 12/14lb line on casting gear. Having extra strenth allows me to pull hard and pull a few baits free. Even so, I plan on losing at least a couple baits per hour.

I use mostly:

• shallow cranks: 1 foot, 1-3 ft, waking
  
• topwaters
  
• weightless, t-rigged plastics
  
• floating worms
  

Occassionally, the bow and arrow technique will free a bait from inbetween the rocks.

Leon

[bman310]

Mark, I normally fish a lake that sounds like the lake u explained. I've had good luck using a drop shot. I've also had luck using texas rigged creatures and or worms making sure I'm keeping contact with the bottom.

-b

[roadwarrior]

Smokin' Rooster, keel weighted hook, weedless:

http://www.ragetail.com/SmokinRooster.html

[Lund Explorer]

Sounds like it's time for the "Float -n- Fly".