Shore Bass Fishing Techniques

Fishing for Largemouth Bass from shore can be a challenging but rewarding experience. The first key thing you need to do is select a good spot. There are many things you need to look for when selecting a location. The first obvious factor is that the spot must hold Largemouth Bass. I have a pond in my area that holds only catfish and bluegills. I am amazed to see anglers casting bass lures into the pond, assuming all bodies of water have bass. Research the areas you will be fishing to make sure they hold the species you seek in the proper numbers to make the trip worthwhile.

The second factor to consider is accessibility. The best spots to fish are the ones that arte hard to get to. When you drive to a local pond you do not want to fish on the shore that is easy access to where you have parked the car. You will not catch fish of any large size in these areas. Take the time to walk the perimeter of the pond and your results will be much better. Remember the old adage that 95% of the fish occupy 5% of the water. This is very true in most cases. By taking the time to thoroughly examine the body of water you are fishing you will learn to instantly identify the prime spots that hold fish.

Two hours of fishing in a prime spot will be much better than two and a half hours in a spot that is not so good.

When looking for a spot to fish you want a spot that is at least three foot deep with a couple steps of the shore. If this spot has access to deeper water it is even better. It is beneficial and perhaps imperative to have some form of cover. Largemouth Bass relate to many different kinds of cover. For shore fishing however I like to fish near wood. Fallen trees or standing timber work best in these situations. In the absence of wood I would select a weedy section of the lake that offers the opportunity to cast into pockets.

Your equipment should be kept light, especially your line. Largemouth Bass that live in close proximity to frequently fished shorelines are often more wary than normal. I never use line that is heavier than six pound test in these areas.

This will also help with your casting distance. When fishing from shore you will often need to cast greater distances than you would in a boat with better mobility. I like to use a long high quality casting rod and small spinning reel when shore fishing for bass.

When selecting a bait keep your offerings small. Fish that tend to live near shore often eat much smaller morsels than deeper water fish. They will feed on insects and small minnows rather than bluegills or other larger fish. When live bait fishing I like to use portions of nitecrawlers and small fathead minnows.

Some of the more popular artificial lure selections include small spinner baits, inline spinners and my favorite for this situation the brightly colored jig head.