Heron

Not much punching to be had around here. But for flipping, I use mostly the Ugly Otter. But, honorable mention also goes to the Sweet Beaver, Brush Hog, Rage Craw, Zoom Super Speed Craw, and Smokin Rooster.

Im gonna have to agree with you Joe. Certainly shore fisherman cannot always expect large returns like the guys in the boats do. Im also beginning to think that the shoreline must be getting slammed by other fisherman. Its taken me a while to consider this, because I never really encounter any other fisherman while Im out there, except on brief occassion. But, I do often see the crap they leave behind, whether it be beer cans, empty crawler containers, or discarded wads of line on the ground, in the trees, and in the water. I see new remnants of other anglers each time I go down there. Thankfully though. I have a lot of shoreline available to me to fish from, either by public access, or I trailblaze through the woods to get there. Often I get to be mobile by using my car to quickly drive from site to site, as I bop around the lake. So Im confident that Im not particularly SOL in that aspect.

Update: I recently went to a different lake in a different state, and caught 5 fish in 3 outings + a personal best. Now Im REALLY thinking there is something wrong this lake here. And I was able to do that with only a handful of select baits, and a temporary rod that Ive never used before. Not my preferred setup. So its not like I kicked butt by any means, but to fish a new lake, with some unproven gear, and still do better than how I do on my home waters...really says something to me.

Thanks Tom, but I certainly have that part covered. Much of my fishing is done at dusck/night as much as it is done in the morning. And this behavior has been encountered at all different hours. Thats just what fits into my schedule. Make plenty of efforts to approach my shoreline quietly, especially if on a dock. I pack light, I dont wear bright clothes. From that, Im not sure what else I can do to minimize my 'profile.' If it is true that the fish no longer want to eat it. Then it stands to reason, from what Ive been seeing, that something has turned the fish off from eating anything else after that. No matter what else I cast out with. One missed strike, and the bite goes dead.

Not much to say, I was tinkering around with the SK Smokin Rooster, and I recently discovered that it also looks really nice as a topwater presentation.

I'll have to concur with all of the above. Also, maybe try Tennessee Shad (Black & Gold), good for both clear and semi-clear waters. Nice shiner color.

Senko, Trick Worm, or a weightless Ugly Otter. If I still get nothing, then maybe I'll cast out a half-stick of dynamite.

I have a 10.5" worm that floats, but it is not a ribbon tail. I use an Excite Maximus worm. Its a big worm, and though it is not a ribbon tail, it floats very nicely for its size. It even looks fantastic when fished weightless. Another bait similar to that would be a Yum Mighty Worm.

Well, I shall continue my efforts, and Im sure I'll fine other means to improve my numbers, eventually. But, based on the responses here so far, Im becoming inclined to think that I might be on a crap lake. I have seen a couple different people do well from a boat, not from shore. I'll just have to press on.

I probably do this the most often. I change the baits a few times, and then relocate. But nonetheless, there has only been one instance, since last season, that I actually caught a second fish.

Thanks, but I have done that, but to no avail.

Piggy backing on my previous thread... Im finding two aspects of the fish's behavior in this lake to be somewhat odd. Or rather, Im just not accustomed to it. > Typically, when I catch one fish, the bite goes dead after that. Nothing else works, no other fish hit. > When fishing top-water, the fish strike and miss more often than not...but after that first missed strike, there are no other secondary strikes after that, from it or any other fish. The bite goes dead.

Im starting to wonder if there is something wrong with my lake here.. I fish from shore, my gear is solid, and Im confident that my baits & presentations are solid. This lake is one that restricts boaters to using electric motors ONLY, and no water recreation is permitted outside of kayaking and canoeing. So activity on the water is quite low. So, with that... > My average outing is about 3.5 hrs > My average number of fish caught, is only 1 for about every 3 to 5 outings....not hours --> outings. > so far this season, since May, Ive caught 6 fish on this lake. > last season, From July to October, I also caught 6 fish. I get the impression from others around there, that I may actually fair better than most. So, not sure what the problem could be. Whats funny about it though is, when you do catch a fish whilst in the presence of others, you become an instant rock star. And the people come, and gather around to look at your fish. I don't expect big numbers, but I should at the very least, be able to land 1 fish per each outing. I see no reason why this isn't happening.

Gentlemen, Im curious. How productive is your average outing? Meaning - For each time you go out on the water... What is the average number of hours you typically spend fishing? What is the average number of fish you typically catch during those hours?

NICE!...Im gonna have to try that. My neighbor has some of those in his pond

I typically use a 3 inch grub to catch Goliath Grouper

Foot patrol...I like that You are certainly at no loss by using only spinning gear. Or only baitcasting. It all just depends on what suffices best for your personal needs.

<----Shore angler also I walk the shoreline with both a baitcaster and spinning rig in my hand. I recommend this - the best time for a true-blue spinning rig fisherman to make the attempt to learn a baitcaster - would be during the off-season (if there is one), where no fishing is being had. That way, there would be no need to return to the confidence of your spinning rod. Besides, either way, you can still practice with the baitcaster in the yard, while continuing to use your spinning rods on the water.

Not knowing any better, it certainly didnt seem productive at the time, to be trying to catch bass near a large catfish carcass. So I relocated. Couldnt take the smell much anymore either.

Question... Was fishing along the shoreline this morning, and came upon the decaying carcass of a large catfish floating in the shallows. If it were alive, I would estimate its length to have been close to 30", if not a little over that. Soon after leaving it, I came upon the odor......blahhh....and that odor carried for some distance. So the question that occurred to me is this.. Does a large rotting carcass in the water, have any effect on the bass in that immediate area? Or rather, does it attract the bass, repel them, or are they relatively unaffected by it? thx.

My only preference for a buzzbait, is that it has a boat-keel shaped head. So then, I like any brand that makes a buzzbait with one of those. I typically fish it with both a skirt + 5" Fat curly grub.

Well, I suppose we all have varying experiences, but I'll just go ahead and say, that Ive never once encountered those particular problems with Z-man at all. But I certainly dont like the Elaztech trailer that comes with them.

1. Z-man, but looking to try others 2. So far, white has been working well. 3. My preferred trailer is a a 5" Mr. Twister Fat curly grub, in matching color.

Hahaha.

Anyone have any experience with this. Id like to know more about the action, but I cant find any video of it. I guess, firstly, how does it compare with other dog walkers?