I have done lots of shore
fishing, especially in the last little
while. When I'm bored at home, I always think "which is better? Watching
TV or fishing?". I think the answer is obvious. Even if there's no time
to get out in the boat or I'm just too tired, shore fishing is always
a great
alternative.
But how do you approach shore areas? Obviously you\'re limited as to
spots you can fish, so which spots should you go to and which ones should
you avoid?
Is
it still possible to cover water from shore? Are you able to get where
the fish are?? Well, maybe I can help.
The first thing I like
to do when approaching an
area, is to first get a feel for what the area has to offer. I look
at all the spots where I can get to the water, and decide what I
can cast, if I
can cast,
and where to cast. I then go look around with some good polarized sunglasses
(amber colored lenses allow you to see much better underwater) and
see what type of structure the area has to offer. If it is a place
you go to often
in a boat
or from shore, you can probably skip those steps because you know the
area. Some places can just be avoided or fished very lightly if they
have nothing
to offer
fish (i.e. the center of swimming beaches, shallow muddy areas, etc.).
Sometimes shore spots will even give you a better casting advantage,
and they will
often allow you to stay quieter than in a boat.
Now that you've found
some potential
hotspots, you must determine where the fish will be in them and how
active they are. Quite often from shore flippin' and pitchin'
are almost impossible,
so
you must find alternatives in order to catch fish. My favourite alternative
is a 3 or 4 inch texas rigged tube jig on spinning tackle. This will
allow you to
cast and skip the tube long ranges to get underneath cover. But you
will also need line to horse those fish out of the thick stuff.
This is where
20lb. Power
Pro braid comes in handy (has the diameter of 8lb mono). This is
TOUGH stuff and does not ruin your guides or reel like other braids,
and
also casts almost
exactly like mono. Some people prefer to use light tackle from shore.
I don\'t know why this is honestly, because fish will eat exactly
what they will eat
if you\'re in a boat, but if you must, you can get downsized versions
of anything. Terminator Tiny-T spinnerbaits are a good alternative
to spinnerbaits.
If you
CAN flip from shore, don't be afraid to do so. This is how I have
caught almost all of my biggest bass from shore. You still have
to decide where
bass will
be.
Where it is legal, sinking
brush or structure in otherwise empty or unproductive spots can sometimes
pay off big time for shore fishing.
I like to take a
christmas tree or two out during winter when the ice is thick enough
to walk on. I then
drill holes in the trunks of the trees and tie cinderblocks to
them with twine or rope. When the ice melts, SPLASH! Your trees will
be
in the water
and ready
to hold fish that season! Arranging your trees in huddled groups
or pyramids tends to produce bigger bass, while single trees spread
out can often produce
more small ones. Remember to ask first though before putting any
structure
in the water, and get permits if necessary.
Another option sometimes
when fishing from shore is wading. I love to wade into the
water where I can,
because I
can
walk right up and fish my spots. As long as I stay quiet, I can
usually
pull some nice bass out. The problem is that I can't carry
all my gear with me.
I just take one rod (usually a spinning reel with 20lb. Power
Pro) and put the
tackle I need into a backpack, so it doesn't get in the way.
A trout fisherman's vest can also come in very handy, because all
your
lures are right their
in the pockets. They're not just for trout anymore!
I should
also
stress the
importance
of narrowing down what you bring with you when shore fishing.
You can't carry 6 tackle boxes and 8 rods with you all the way
down the shoreline.
Well, you
could, but it certainly wouldn't be very convenient. I like
to
take a few sample lures from each box and fit them into one or
two Plano
tackle trays,
then just
take my spinnerbait box with me, and fit it all in a backpack.
This way you're prepared,
but aren't full to the brim with excessive
amounts of lures. A soft plastic bag is also an option if you're
planning of finessing the fish.
You
can usually get a small enough one to fit in a backpack.
For those of you who just like to relax and catch some fish after
a
hard day at work (hey
we've
all felt like that before!), live bait is a great alternative.
Now you can narrow
your tackle down to a box of hooks, sinkers and floats and
one ultra light or medium action spinning rod. I prefer an ultra
light
for this, because
chances are you're going to hook into a lot of bluegill or
perch in my area. In my
books,
you just can't beat a nightcrawler under a float. Keep your
worm off bottom and fish it near structure and get ready! Sometimes
even in a school of bluegill
a big bass will run out and grab that worm as if his life
depends on it! If you don't like worms, minnows are also a good bet.
Fish
them the same
as nightcrawlers,
or simply hook them onto a small weedless hook, weightless
and let them swim around near the cover. Bass can't resist a dieing
minnow! I also like crawfish
sometimes when I'm looking for bigger bass. I simply hook
them
with a fairly small hook through the tail end, and put a 1/8
oz. or so split shot about
2 feet
up the line from it. Cast it out near rocks or any other
bass cover, and just let him crawl around. I find cutting off the
claws
makes it even more
bite-worthy,
as it renders the crawfish defenseless against a hungry bass.
If he crawls into the rocks, just gently pull on him until
he gets free. It can also help
sometimes
to just reel him in slowly along the bottom, as if he were
swimming away from predators.
Well, I hope that this
article has helped you in some way
become
a better shore fisherman! Always remember to stay quiet
and fish areas thoroughly. You can't move around much on shore so
you'll
have to fish the areas you
have
until you're SURE there's no fish there. Look for docks,
shallow weeds, laydowns or stumps to attract fish. If you
find a point,
all the better!
Shore fishing
isn't really a disadvantage! I've known people who could
shore fish so well that if I were to go against them in
a tournament
in my boat while they
fished
from shore, they would whoop me a good one! Remember to
stay safe out there, avoid warnings and stay off private
property unless
you have permission.
And shore fishing is a great way to get kids fishing! Take
them with you! Good
luck out
there, and tight lines!
