Best presentation tactics from shore...

[leahcim_dahc]

Hi all-

Been doing some thinking on my presentation tactics. I am shore bound and I have a couple questions regarding the best methods to entice the fish.

In my limited experience, I understand from a boat you would fish structures, weed lines, etc., etc. by tossing the bait to the before mentioned items and working towards deeper water. Being stuck on land, I cannot quite accomplish that same presentation. However, I am wondering about tossing the bait under docks I am fishing from or when I am fishing around lily pads, weeds, etc. to work my bait, jigs, whatever perpendicular to the weeds, lily pads and structures. Has that method produced anything remotely reliable?

I have read a bit about the "strike zone". Leave the bait in the strike zone as long as possible. What exactly is the strike zone? Is it an area directly in front of the fish, above the fish? Not sure. The only thing that makes sense to me is running perpendicular to a structure or weed line...the bait would be nearer where the fish possibly are hanging out for a longer period of time vs. tossing it to the weed line then working out to deeper water or tossing the bait out to deeper water and working it towards shore. Does that make any sense? Anyrate...any information or links greatly appreciated.


Chad

[danielt]

As far as the strike zone goes. You are correct...if you are fishing the edge of some lily pads then you want to keep that bait next to the pads as long as possible.

The bass will hold up in there as an ambush point and wait for bait fish to come by. If you were in a boat then you would want to drag your bait on a drop off rather than just casting over it and bringing it back to the boat. If you skip your bait under a dock, the whole dock is the strike zone. So basically where the bass are or where you think they are is the strike zone.

No matter if its visible structure or under water keeping your bait around that target area is the strike zone.

[mallard83]

Basically if you are fishing for bass from the shore, you can work your lure "backwards" from the boat fisherman, as long as you keep it along the already mentioned structure.

And the "Strike Zone" you mention is the fishes' frontal and perifrial vision (or however that is spelled). Some people may disagree with me on the "perifrial?" part, but if the bass can see it and he is willing he will take it. And sometimes the fish does not even have to be willing, he/she will take out of pure hunger/anger/convenience.

Hope this helps.

[the1fishingpro]

I would say that the best way to learn techniques off bank, is to test out all your possiblities and find what works best for you! Not every technique works the same for every fisherman. I would test out as many techniques as you can and then you will get better as you learn. My favorite Techniques are top waters such as Rapalas, poppers, and buzzbaits. Spinners such as Spinnerbaits and roostertails. Cranks and Jigs! Pitch jigs in as deep as spots as possible, most bass will be heading to deeper water this time of year. Also try cranks that dive 5+ feet and try retrieving slowly rather than fast. Try putting trailers on your spinnerbaits and retrieve those slowly as well.. I recommend only using top water lures only in extremely hot weather or early or late evenings. Remember that slower is better.

Idk, if my techniques will help you at all, but like I said previously! Try testing your own techniques and figure out what works best for you.

Good Luck and Tight lines!

[leahcim_dahc]

Thanks for the replies...

I have begun target specific species of fish...most of my past fishing experience has been throw my line in and wait it out. It's just not cutting it anymore...basically, never has...but what the heck.

Right now, I am figuring out exactly what fish I am wanting to target. Going to start working on some experimentation with Large Mouth Bass and see how it works out. I have been playing with drop shots...but doesn't seem to be that swell from shore. Particularly, when the rig is supposed to be presented vertically instead of nearly horizontal.

I bought a new rod I am going to practice jigs with. I found a photo of a jig in these forums which I have modeled mine after. Most the water I am looking at is a little murky looking, so I figure darker lures should work out fairly well. Or at least I hope.

Thanks for all the tips...I will have lots of questions, I am sure!


Chad

[danielt]

You can fish a drop shot from shore just make the leader twice as long since its not as vertical. I use a 6" leader so try to go with 12". No matter what you are still presenting a suspended bait and thats what the bass like most about it.

[leahcim_dahc]

You can fish a drop shot from shore just make the leader twice as long since its not as vertical. I use a 6" leader so try to go with 12". No matter what you are still presenting a suspended bait and thats what the bass like most about it.

Thanks for the tip. I have been running drop shots fairly close to that...the length I have been using is right around 18" or so. I will try them slightly shorter and see if results are any better. Most of the baits I run on drop shots have been roboworms, senkos, grubs, night crawlers and some various assorted Berkley minnow looking plastics. Toss them out, wait until they hit bottom then twitch a couple times...wait...twitch again...wait....twitch some more, then reel in a bit slowly, then repeat the process. Usually takes me anywhere from 10-15 minutes to work the bait back to shore. Especially if I am up against some heavier vegetation where I am fishing.

I plan on going out tom. morning, will report back on how things went. Thanks!


Chad

[Pain_in_the_bass]

The best luck i've had from the bank is a texas rigged senko, slow retrieval, and I mean SLOW

[leahcim_dahc]

Hi, all!

Thanks for all the tips! I headed out a little late this morning...didn't get to the fishing hole until 7:30. Fished from a decent floating dock in about 15' of murky water. Started off using a jig, working parallel to a lily pad field. Didn't get any hits from that after about an hour. Changed rigs to a dark grey almost black rooster tail and skipped it underneath the dock as far as I could and worked it parallel to it for about an hour or so. Got bites but nothing would take. Started working the lily pads again with the same rooster tail...was jaw jacking with my buddy and had one leap out of the water and grabbed my lure. Unfortunately, I lost it and never regained afterwards. Not sure how big it was...as I had my head in my @$$ not paying attention...don't think it was all that big, it's splash down wasn't all that indicative of any girth.

My buddy was hitting small crappie all morning so once I got tired of not getting anything, I switched to a crappie jig and goofed off with that for a while. Again...bites...but nothing would hook up. Caught one perch about 4 inches long...got made fun of by my buddy, took a nap on the dock for a bit while floating a worm, and called it a day around 1:00 pm.

So much for my "lucky" shirt...somehow, I have used up all the luck in that shirt...or the wife washed it, one or the other.

I'll try again, and see what happens. Thanks, guys!!


Chad

[T Dot]

my best tatics from shore are this:

:king:

- earlier you get on the lake are you best chances to hook into a large fish. all my larger fish have come when i was the first person at the spot.

- make a cast even before you approach the bank, fish know when you are around. just look at all the wakes the bait fish make as you approach the bank.

- come back before sun down, and you should get similar results.

[leahcim_dahc]

my best tatics from shore are this:

:king:

- earlier you get on the lake are you best chances to hook into a large fish. all my larger fish have come when i was the first person at the spot.

- make a cast even before you approach the bank, fish know when you are around. just look at all the wakes the bait fish make as you approach the bank.

- come back before sun down, and you should get similar results.

I usually make an effort to get to my spots before the sun comes up...but unfortunately slept in a bit this morning.

One thing that probably didn't help...I started working the lily pads, and an older gentleman and his son showed up. They both immediately started tossing various assorted lures in the same area I was working. And I mean, within inches of where I was casting. Basically tried to take over my spot from me. I guess looking back, that should have been a clue it wasn't going to work out in my favor. Tomorrow, I'll get up earlier and try again.


Thanks,
Chad

[cavdad45]

Carry a baseball bat and knock the snot out of them when they do that. Just kidding? Maybe.

Definitely stay back from the shoreline until you've made a few casts and start early.

I prefer to wait until an hour or so before sunset to go shore fishing and usually plan to stay until 10, 11, 12, or so. Starting before sunset allows you to get into position early and rig a couple extra rods. It also gives you enough visual light to make lure changes before slam dark. Another reason for the late afternoon start is that you aren't lighting up your path to the sweet spot.

[the1fishingpro]

What lake are you fishing at exactly? chad

[leahcim_dahc]

What lake are you fishing at exactly? chad

I decided to try the east end of Tanwax today. Read a few decent reports on it, and figured I would give it a whirl and see if I can drag anything out of it.

[leahcim_dahc]

Tried my hand out at Kapowsin Lake this morning. Despite the lost lures...I managed to bag my largest Large Mouth Bass to date. Not all that impressive, but was about 13" long and weighed a couple pounds. Decided to walk around the lake with just a couple lures and jigs...so I didn't have my camera, otherwise I'd have a couple photos.


Chad

[bpm2000]

youre on your way to big things - now the first thing to do other than carrying the camera with you is to get a scale!

[leahcim_dahc]

youre on your way to big things - now the first thing to do other than carrying the camera with you is to get a scale!

Yeah...I should have been carrying both. I decided to do some walking and only took a few lures and jigs with me. Didn't have scales with me...the weight I stated previously is just a guesstimate. Probably was 2 pounds or less.

I am going to pick up a waist pack type thing tonight on my way home from work so I can carry more stuff without taking all my gear.


Chad

[bassackwards]

Chad,
I second all of the above mentioned tips. My advise would be to "dead stick" your rod once you've cast out whatever it is you're using. Whether it be drop shot or spinners, let it sit there / sink for a few seconds before reeling it back in. This will give them time to see it and attack it.

REMEMBER: The more you fish....the more fish you get.

Good luck buddy!!

[danielt]

13" probably didnt even weight a pound. But might have been 1 and some change.

[leahcim_dahc]

13" probably didnt even weight a pound. But might have been 1 and some change.

Probably not...like I said, no scales...guesstimated weight using some weight calculator (length & girth) on another site.

That's ok...laugh and squabish my fish. Tomorrow is another day.


Chad