Originally posted in the "western region" section.

Have searched but can't find answers about my bank/shore fishing and hoping for any type of help, thanks.

 

---------------------------

 

 

Hey BR community!

 

It's been almost a year since I started bass fishing again.  I primarily fish Lake Perris and I don't have a boat, so I'm bankfishing from rocky points on the "north" side of the lake, and these points have more areas with bushes "blocking" you than open areas where you can cast, so they're not ideal points (unless you're on a boat).  And, you're pretty much casting into rocky areas.  It's a 30-40yd descent through rocks of all sizes to the shore, so once you're at the shore, it's inconvenient to move around to other parts of the point.

 

I'm more into dropshotting, and I use Robo worms and BPS worms, and just started trying Zoom worms with chartreuse tips, which I don't think work too well.  I've got junebug, watermelon, green pumpkin, margarita mutilator, other purple ones, pink ones, red ones, etc.

 

The problem I'm having is I'll catch 0-2 fish every time.  My best day was landing four fish on five bites.  Second best was three fish in 10hrs ( with a rental boat at Diamond Valley).  Both were last summer. 

 

Last weekend, caught two in two hours, then 15 minutes later, BAM; felt a BIG bite!  After fighting for a while, it finally came up from below and was visible at about seven feet away.  Then, it dove below towards some rocks to the right of me and ended up snapping my line.  Not sure if the rocks had anything to do with it, or if it was just the sheer power/torque of the fish.  It was easily 6+lbs, when my best is 3lbs, which was caught my first day this year, five weeks ago.  It's my fault for thinking I can land fatties with an UL rod and 6# line, and, my drag wasn't set properly, though I thought it was (and was immediately loosened!).  I was EXTREMELY heartbroken!!  I blame the youtube vid of the guy (at Lake Perris) catching a 10.6lber on 2# line.  Of course, he was fishing for bluegill.

 

I'm not saying it was a 6lb fish because it snapped my 6# line, but when I saw it, my jaw dropped, remembering a 6lber someone else caught last summer, which was the biggest largemouth I've ever seen, until I saw the fish I lost.  After losing it, it was another two-fish day; the two I caught before.  Nothing after.  Not sure if my being delated after losing that fatty had anything to do with no more catches for the day.  The next day, skunked; not even a bite.  I went again yesterday, and caught two.  I've had days where I catch on my second or third cast, but then nothing for hours or the rest of the day.  Sometimes I'll go hours before I get my first.  Of course, there's sometimes the "day of zero"! 

 

Other fisherman have told me stories of them catching 7-10+ fish in just a few hours or for the entire day, and they too were bankfishing.  I would LOVE a day like that!

 

What am I doing wrong?  Or are these numbers typical of fishing from a (rocky) point (into rocky terrain)?  I'll catch fish at one part of the point, then after hours of nothing, move to another part of the same point, and hopefully get a second.  Are the fish spooked after I catch the first?  Though on my best (four-fish) day, I caught three in a span of 45 minutes from another point at the same lake, in 102 degree weather, with boats/seadoos galore, creating lots of waves. 
 

Is that another problem; too many waves from so many high speed boats/seadoos?  As the weather gets warmer and warmer, it means more people on the water, hauling it.  Since I don't have a boat, my only option of avoiding constant big waves is to fish the cove where the marina's at, since the docks eliminate the waves, but that area gets too much pressure.  Have avoided the marina/cove this year; last five weeks.

 

I'm not sure what the water temp has been, but the weather's usually been in the high 70s-high 80s in the day and high 40s-low/mid 50s at night.  Last Sunday's zero catch day was on an unusually cloudy/really windy day.  Not sure that had an affect on the fish. 

 

Regarding other factors, I wear grey/tan clothing to blend in with the rocks and bushes.  I'm not making loud noises or stepping hard, or trying not to.  Is my problem that I'm pretty much only dropshotting?  I've used other lures but have had little success, so I end up dropshotting and end up catching one or two.  Last Sunday, I did try a crankbait, but nothing.  Maybe it was just a slow day for everyone on that cloudy/windy day, regardless of the lure.

 

I know this post is super long, but thought I'd be detailed, to give a better understanding of what I'm doing.  Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.  If it helps, I can post a topo map of the lake. 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

1. You didn't discrbe your outfit other than 6 lb line; what rod model and reel model and specific line, hook sie amd make?

2. Peris has a big bass population that is still in the late spawn cycle, so you should be able to see bass on beds!

3. Your tackle isn't suited for shore fishing in deep rocky structure areas with brush. If nothing else go up to 10 lb FC or a hybrid like FluroClear.

4. With your tackle being medium spinning? Suggest add the slip shot rig to your presentations; 3/16 oz mojo sliding weight, Carolina keeper for the weight stop, Owner #5133 size 1 or size 1/0 depending on worn diameter. The Roboworms are good, Iovino worms are also good and Uptom's Customs are very good.

Stick with the basics; oxblood light red flake, cinnamon blue neon, MM11, Aaron's magic, in 6" curl and straight tails.

Tom

I was a bank fisherman for the majority of my childhood, and so I know your frusterations. You do not have the option of going to the fish you have to wait till they come to you. that being said, the guys who talk about their great days off the bank are probabily talking abou the day that the stars aligned properly and they caught them like crazy on this one magic lure. well if you bank fish long enough you will probabily have that day, but they are few and far between. this is the reason people buy boats for the ability to quickly and efficiently change locations. with this in mind I think you need to understand a realistic average day for you at your lake is just a few fish with the posibility of a large one. if you want to catch more fish save some money buy a smaller used boat. this will take your fishing to a whole new level and probabily your enjoyment of the sport as well. by the way a dropshot is a great tool for your aplication, but the angles of the bank with rock will make the bait far less effective than if you were casting up to the bank and bring in it back over to the deep water.

 

Mitch

1. You didn't discrbe your outfit other than 6 lb line; what rod model and reel model and specific line, hook sie amd make?

2. Peris has a big bass population that is still in the late spawn cycle, so you should be able to see bass on beds!

3. Your tackle isn't suited for shore fishing in deep rocky structure areas with brush. If nothing else go up to 10 lb FC or a hybrid like FluroClear.

4. With your tackle being medium spinning? Suggest add the slip shot rig to your presentations; 3/16 oz mojo sliding weight, Carolina keeper for the weight stop, Owner #5133 size 1 or size 1/0 depending on worn diameter. The Roboworms are good, Iovino worms are also good and Uptom's Customs are very good.

Stick with the basics; oxblood light red flake, cinnamon blue neon, MM11, Aaron's magic, in 6" curl and straight tails.

Tom

1. I've got a 5' ultralight Ugly Stik Lite with a Pflueger 4725GX (spinning) reel.  The spool has BPS 6# line and the extra spool has their 4# line.  I've got a 7' medium heavy Ugly Stik Lite with a Pflueger 6935 (spinning) reel, which has BPS 10# line, and I never use that setup.  Since the middle of last summer, I've been using the smaller setup. 

Also, I have Berkley flurocarbon line, which I've never used.  Although I bought it, I've never used it.  On my first visit to BPS last summer, the rep told me I should buy it so I did.  I figured he was just selling me stuff,which I didn't have to buy, but did since he knows more than me, and thought I'd eventually return it, but never did, even when I went back a few times.  That place is evil in that I could be in there for hours!

For hooks, I mainly use Gamakatsu optopus hooks, size 1 (and the BPS equivalent).  I've also got 2/0 BPS O'Shaughnessy worm hooks and 2/0 BPS offset round bend hooks, and size 2 octopus hooks (which that BPS rep recommended) but I never use any of those three; size 2 octopus hooks are too small, though I didn't know that at the time I bought them; 25 hook pack lol.  Only bought those bigger hooks because of all the youtube vids I saw about T-rigging, but have always stuck with nosehooking my worms.

For weights, I just use 1/2oz BPS dropshot weights.

I just have basic equipment; nothing fancy.  When I was getting into it last year, wanted to start off with decent cheap equipment.  After getting so used to my ultralight setup, and then using the 7' med/heavy setup for the first time two weekends ago, and feeling how insensitive that thing is, I do prefer my ultralight setup.

 

2. I have no idea where these beds are.  I've learned a lot in less than a year, but as you can see, I've got a long way to go.

 

3. I guess I'll stop using my smaller setup for bass fishing.

 

I'm going to look into all those suggestions, thanks.  In regards to worms, I do have some Roboworms with ribbon tails, but mostly have the straight tails, and have never heard of Lovino or Uptom's.  I most definitely SHOULD'VE already tried Aaron's magic, but never have, am probably going to get all those colors.

 

Thank you Tom, for taking the time to read my post and offering your help. 

 

Gene

I was a bank fisherman for the majority of my childhood, and so I know your frusterations. You do not have the option of going to the fish you have to wait till they come to you. that being said, the guys who talk about their great days off the bank are probabily talking abou the day that the stars aligned properly and they caught them like crazy on this one magic lure. well if you bank fish long enough you will probabily have that day, but they are few and far between. this is the reason people buy boats for the ability to quickly and efficiently change locations. with this in mind I think you need to understand a realistic average day for you at your lake is just a few fish with the posibility of a large one. if you want to catch more fish save some money buy a smaller used boat. this will take your fishing to a whole new level and probabily your enjoyment of the sport as well. by the way a dropshot is a great tool for your aplication, but the angles of the bank with rock will make the bait far less effective than if you were casting up to the bank and bring in it back over to the deep water.

 

Mitch

 

Thanks Mitch, for taking the time to read my post and commenting on it.  I would love to own a boat, but can't right now.  When I'm done with my car payments, perhaps, but then again, I'd have to sell my car and get a truck.  Too bad I got the car BEFORE I started bass fishing, hehe.  Before last year, it had been 15yrs since I last fished. 

 

Back to the boat, yes, I wish I had one to access various parts of the lake within minutes, but for now. bankfishing and the occasional rental are my current options.  I guess I shouldn't expect much in terms of a higher quantity day.  I do love being out there on the lake, whether by myself or with a friend or friends.  I guess I should look at it as "catching a fish is a bonus on top of enjoying the lake".  Though, there is no enjoying the lake on a cold windy day like last weekend, hehe.  

 

I just really love that initial bite/jerk/tug, pulling up, then feeling that fish go!  I know we all do.  The fight is awesome, and pulling that fish up (and taking pics and weighing it) is the icing, but I just really love that initial engagement, and I wish I could get that a couple/few more times when I go, while accepting days where I get nothing.  I do love it!

 

Thanks again,

Gene

If you are looking for a more inexpensive way to get off the bank give kayaks a thought....relatively inexpensive and the only limitation is how far you are willing to paddle.

you should probably use bigger line in the rocks. your pfluegers and ugly stiks will handle the fish just fine. ive got two different pflueger/ugly stik combos i paired up myself. ive caught a lot of fish on them. over those rocks, you should try fishing a plastic craw like a rage tail, summer craw color works great for me. i fish the baby rage craws weightless on a small 1/0 ewg hook, sometimes i fish them on the bottom and slowly drag them, sometimes i just give it a jerk and let it rise of the bottom and slowly fall back down, sometimes i swim them at any depth in the water column, and theyre also killer fished as top water baits too. i throw this on my 5'6 Light ugly stik lite-pro rod with pflueger trion 4730GX spinning reel, i was using trilene XT 8lb for fishing in a rocky part of a river, but now i have 6lb sufix siege on it. i never tried them on a drop shot, but you should probably work to expand your arsenal and learn some more techniques. perhaps you could wacky rig your drop shot worms instead of just nose hooking them. also, you might be surprised how good those small octopus hooks work sometimes...

Use your 7' medium outfit with the 10 lb for now. You can get a package of small black swivels and make up a finesse C-rig using the 6 lb line as a leader if the water is clear, Perris is usually a little off color this time of year and you are fishing in some brushy areas that tend to hide the line somewhat.

The leader length with either slip shot or finesse slip shot should be about 24' long to start with and can be longer depending how you are able to cast...30" would be about max length.

The Palomar knot works good with mono line. You want to skin hook the worm weedless similar a Texas rigged worm using the Owner 5133 down shot hook, this hook is extremely sharp and light weight.

The presentation is casting as far as you feel like, let the weight hit bottom, the drag the weight about 2', then stop reel in the slack and repeat all the way back to shore.

Try to make a fan casting pattern to cover as much as the water in front of you as possible.

Bites are often a rubber band like slight pulling resistance called a pressure bite. This is because the worm is floating free behind the weight and you can't feel the worm only the weight. To hook set reel faster and make a hard rod sweep at the same time.

Give Don Iovino a call 818/848.6180" tell Don where you are fishing and ask him what colors are working ar Perrris.

Tom

PS, the 1/2 oz weight is too heavy for both your spinning outfits, drop shot a 1/4 oz, slip shot a 1/8 or 3/16 mojo weight, both will go through rocks a lot better, less snags.

Josh Upton makes good worms, his purple thunder should work at Perris, google Uptom's Customs, he is near Perris.

Rig a 5" Senko in Watermelon weightless with a size 2 or 3 ewg hook cast out let it simk then pull up to 12 oclock very slowly and let it sink again and repeat this process...throw shallow and parralell to the shore

The key to the senko is the curling tails on the fall its a deadly bait for finicky bass

i also like a Junebug color lizard or Red Magic by zoom i like the 8" magnum lizard in dirty or stained water and the go to the 6" in clear use a size 4 or 5 hook with the 8" lizard and do the same as the senko you can pop and twitch the lizard but not the Senko

REMEMBER FISH VERY SLOW

Rig a 5" Senko in Watermelon weightless with a size 2 or 3 ewg hook cast out let it simk then pull up to 12 oclock very slowly and let it sink again and repeat this process...throw shallow and parralell to the shore

The key to the senko is the curling tails on the fall its a deadly bait for finicky bass

i also like a Junebug color lizard or Red Magic by zoom i like the 8" magnum lizard in dirty or stained water and the go to the 6" in clear use a size 4 or 5 hook with the 8" lizard and do the same as the senko you can pop and twitch the lizard but not the Senko

REMEMBER FISH VERY SLOW

PS, the 1/2 oz weight is too heavy for both your spinning outfits

 

Is not, i have two similar set-ups to the OP and i often dropshot using a 1oz weight...

If you are looking for a more inexpensive way to get off the bank give kayaks a thought....relatively inexpensive and the only limitation is how far you are willing to paddle.

Very true, and I have thought about it.  Thanks!

you should probably use bigger line in the rocks. your pfluegers and ugly stiks will handle the fish just fine. ive got two different pflueger/ugly stik combos i paired up myself. ive caught a lot of fish on them. over those rocks, you should try fishing a plastic craw like a rage tail, summer craw color works great for me. i fish the baby rage craws weightless on a small 1/0 ewg hook, sometimes i fish them on the bottom and slowly drag them, sometimes i just give it a jerk and let it rise of the bottom and slowly fall back down, sometimes i swim them at any depth in the water column, and theyre also killer fished as top water baits too. i throw this on my 5'6 Light ugly stik lite-pro rod with pflueger trion 4730GX spinning reel, i was using trilene XT 8lb for fishing in a rocky part of a river, but now i have 6lb sufix siege on it. i never tried them on a drop shot, but you should probably work to expand your arsenal and learn some more techniques. perhaps you could wacky rig your drop shot worms instead of just nose hooking them. also, you might be surprised how good those small octopus hooks work sometimes...

My friend loves Rage tails/craw tails in watermelon, and has caught 3+ pound (but under 4lb) fish.  I tried it weightless like him, and it just messed up my line when I cast, so I quit after one time, and that was after fresh line was added to the spool at the sporting goods store.  My friend uses baitcasters and I use spinning reels.  Not sure if that is the difference.  Since I gave up fishing weightless, I have a whole package of BPS crack craws just adding weight to my backpack, hehe.  Anyway, he would cast and let it fall, then bam!  You're right, I do need to try other stuff.  It's just that when I do, nothing will happen and I'll just end up resorting back to dropshotting.  I do know that I won't get better without practice, but after a few hours of nothing and getting desperate, I'll just go back to dropshotting.  And along those lines, I should give wacky rigging worms another shot.  I will try the smaller octopus hooks this weekend. 

 

Thanks for the tips Red Earth!

Rig a 5" Senko in Watermelon weightless with a size 2 or 3 ewg hook cast out let it simk then pull up to 12 oclock very slowly and let it sink again and repeat this process...throw shallow and parralell to the shore

The key to the senko is the curling tails on the fall its a deadly bait for finicky bass

i also like a Junebug color lizard or Red Magic by zoom i like the 8" magnum lizard in dirty or stained water and the go to the 6" in clear use a size 4 or 5 hook with the 8" lizard and do the same as the senko you can pop and twitch the lizard but not the Senko

REMEMBER FISH VERY SLOW

My friend hated Senkos at first, but is now starting to like them, especially after landing his personal best with one a couple weeks ago.  I never paid much attention to them, even when so many people recommended them.  I mean, they're just worms right?  And I have plenty of Roboworms and BPS worms. 

 

Now that you mentioned that the action of the worm falling when whacky rigged is what entices bass, you've got me interested.  I just always looked at them as regular fat worms that are priced a bit higher than I've ever paid for plastic worms.

 

When I dropshot, I just let it sit there and shake it, stop, then shake a little bit, stop, shake, then raise the rod, tighten the line, then repeat the process.  I think I'm fishing slow, but maybe I'm not.  Maybe I should just let it sit for a good 10-20 seconds in-between shakes?  Maybe a bass will just look at the motionless worm, then strike when I shake it? 

 

I think I'm going to get a package of Senkos for this weekend.  I'll whacky rig them and see what happens.  Also, I'll retry my BPS crack craws in green pumpkin/violet flakes that I haven't used in almost a year.  They're not the same as the lizards you're talking about, but I'll give it a try.

 

Thanks for reading and helping!

Use your 7' medium outfit with the 10 lb for now. You can get a package of small black swivels and make up a finesse C-rig using the 6 lb line as a leader if the water is clear, Perris is usually a little off color this time of year and you are fishing in some brushy areas that tend to hide the line somewhat.

The leader length with either slip shot or finesse slip shot should be about 24' long to start with and can be longer depending how you are able to cast...30" would be about max length.

The Palomar knot works good with mono line. You want to skin hook the worm weedless similar a Texas rigged worm using the Owner 5133 down shot hook, this hook is extremely sharp and light weight.

The presentation is casting as far as you feel like, let the weight hit bottom, the drag the weight about 2', then stop reel in the slack and repeat all the way back to shore.

Try to make a fan casting pattern to cover as much as the water in front of you as possible.

Bites are often a rubber band like slight pulling resistance called a pressure bite. This is because the worm is floating free behind the weight and you can't feel the worm only the weight. To hook set reel faster and make a hard rod sweep at the same time.

Give Don Iovino a call 818/848.6180" tell Don where you are fishing and ask him what colors are working ar Perrris.

Tom

PS, the 1/2 oz weight is too heavy for both your spinning outfits, drop shot a 1/4 oz, slip shot a 1/8 or 3/16 mojo weight, both will go through rocks a lot better, less snags.

Josh Upton makes good worms, his purple thunder should work at Perris, google Uptom's Customs, he is near Perris.

Thanks for all the help!  I've never tried C-rigging, and after reading your comment about how you can barely tell a bite because the worm is behind the weight, it definitely sounds more challenging.

About the weight, I did see a dropshot video where Aaron Martens says he preferred 1/4oz weights.  Went to BPS because I needed more weights.  I asked a rep if I should get 1/4 or 1/2 and he said I was fine with 1/2, but yeah, I do lose quite a few weights.  I will pick up some 1/4oz weights this Friday. 

And I will look into worms made by Don and Tom. 

Thanks again for taking the time!

My friend hated Senkos at first, but is now starting to like them, especially after landing his personal best with one a couple weeks ago.  I never paid much attention to them, even when so many people recommended them.  I mean, they're just worms right?  And I have plenty of Roboworms and BPS worms. 

 

Now that you mentioned that the action of the worm falling when whacky rigged is what entices bass, you've got me interested.  I just always looked at them as regular fat worms that are priced a bit higher than I've ever paid for plastic worms.

 

When I dropshot, I just let it sit there and shake it, stop, then shake a little bit, stop, shake, then raise the rod, tighten the line, then repeat the process.  I think I'm fishing slow, but maybe I'm not.  Maybe I should just let it sit for a good 10-20 seconds in-between shakes?  Maybe a bass will just look at the motionless worm, then strike when I shake it? 

 

I think I'm going to get a package of Senkos for this weekend.  I'll whacky rig them and see what happens.  Also, I'll retry my BPS crack craws in green pumpkin/violet flakes that I haven't used in almost a year.  They're not the same as the lizards you're talking about, but I'll give it a try.

 

Thanks for reading and helping!

Texas rig will get you about 2 fish per worm and wacky usually gets demolished by even the little guys so texas rig still gets the light circle motion as it falls but wacky just makes both sides flutter better but the key to this bait is SLOW SLOW SLOW pull up

I always say to myself "i am relying on the fall"

Also use monofilament or braid so your line sits on top of the water because you have to fish them weightless for the falling action so you will become a "line watcher" as they call it and dont worry the senkos are heavy enough to cast a mile

look for twitchs and unusual movement of the line on top of the water closest to the bait

Also Google Gary Yamamoto how to fish a senko and BAM BOOM the creator of the bait himself shares the best tips ive ever heard for this bait It will work if your patient and of course No Weight and SLOW

I was a bank fisherman for the majority of my childhood, and so I know your frusterations. You do not have the option of going to the fish you have to wait till they come to you. that being said, the guys who talk about their great days off the bank are probabily talking abou the day that the stars aligned properly and they caught them like crazy on this one magic lure. well if you bank fish long enough you will probabily have that day, but they are few and far between. this is the reason people buy boats for the ability to quickly and efficiently change locations. with this in mind I think you need to understand a realistic average day for you at your lake is just a few fish with the posibility of a large one. if you want to catch more fish save some money buy a smaller used boat. this will take your fishing to a whole new level and probabily your enjoyment of the sport as well. by the way a dropshot is a great tool for your aplication, but the angles of the bank with rock will make the bait far less effective than if you were casting up to the bank and bring in it back over to the deep water.

 

Mitch

 

Well said Mitch.  There will be days where the stars align for you if you keep putting in time on the water... Sometimes people are just at the right place at the right time.. enjoy it when it happens!

 

If you can't afford a boat another alternative is a float tube.  It's much more portable, can get you into spots boats can't, and cheap.

 

Another advice is try to find a lake that is smaller.  It'll make it easier for you to figure out the lake and gives you the ability to get to most spots from bank.

First off bank fishing is tough, ESPECIALLY in socal... Most of the public lakes are highly pressured so keep that in mind.  Mitch also posted a fairly accurate picture of bank fishing.

 

What am I doing wrong?  Or are these numbers typical of fishing from a (rocky) point (into rocky terrain)?  I'll catch fish at one part of the point, then after hours of nothing, move to another part of the same point, and hopefully get a second.  

 

Happens to me all the time at my favorite lake especially big ones.  But you seem to be on the right track... except don't stick around to an are for "hours of nothing".  Give it maybe 20minutes if you are fishing slow and move to a new spot... you gotta find the fish they aint gonna find you

 

Are the fish spooked after I catch the first?  Though on my best (four-fish) day, I caught three in a span of 45 minutes from another point at the same lake, in 102 degree weather, with boats/seadoos galore, creating lots of waves. 

 

From my experience, no they don't get spooked unless they see you up close.  Boats creating lots of waves from where?  near shore?  Usually they are speeding through at the deeper end of the lake (unless the lake is shallow overall).

 

Is my problem that I'm pretty much only dropshotting?

 

No man lol.  Drop shot is a very good technique and works year round.  But you gotta understand it doesn't mean all bass will take it... other techniques are maybe better then drop shot given the time of year, conditions of lake, presentation, etc.  Be confident in what you are using... and just build up on experience... time on the water..

Texas rig will get you about 2 fish per worm and wacky usually gets demolished by even the little guys so texas rig still gets the light circle motion as it falls but wacky just makes both sides flutter better but the key to this bait is SLOW SLOW SLOW pull up

I always say to myself "i am relying on the fall"

Also use monofilament or braid so your line sits on top of the water because you have to fish them weightless for the falling action so you will become a "line watcher" as they call it and dont worry the senkos are heavy enough to cast a mile

look for twitchs and unusual movement of the line on top of the water closest to the bait

Also Google Gary Yamamoto how to fish a senko and BAM BOOM the creator of the bait himself shares the best tips ive ever heard for this bait It will work if your patient and of course No Weight and SLOW

Thanks for the extra tips!  I finally put a fluoro leader on my bigger setup.  Bought that fluoro last July and am now giving it a shot, hehe.  I'll see what happens.  Thanks again.

Well said Mitch.  There will be days where the stars align for you if you keep putting in time on the water... Sometimes people are just at the right place at the right time.. enjoy it when it happens!

 

If you can't afford a boat another alternative is a float tube.  It's much more portable, can get you into spots boats can't, and cheap.

 

Another advice is try to find a lake that is smaller.  It'll make it easier for you to figure out the lake and gives you the ability to get to most spots from bank.

My friend got a float tube and I've been thinking about getting one.  I do plan to get a boat, some day. 

 

In regards to smaller lakes, have you ever fished or know someone that has fished Fisherman's Retreat, on the other side of the 60 freeway?  If so, how is it there?

 

Thanks for your help!

First off bank fishing is tough, ESPECIALLY in socal... Most of the public lakes are highly pressured so keep that in mind.  Mitch also posted a fairly accurate picture of bank fishing.

 

What am I doing wrong?  Or are these numbers typical of fishing from a (rocky) point (into rocky terrain)?  I'll catch fish at one part of the point, then after hours of nothing, move to another part of the same point, and hopefully get a second.  

 

Happens to me all the time at my favorite lake especially big ones.  But you seem to be on the right track... except don't stick around to an are for "hours of nothing".  Give it maybe 20minutes if you are fishing slow and move to a new spot... you gotta find the fish they aint gonna find you

 

Are the fish spooked after I catch the first?  Though on my best (four-fish) day, I caught three in a span of 45 minutes from another point at the same lake, in 102 degree weather, with boats/seadoos galore, creating lots of waves. 

 

From my experience, no they don't get spooked unless they see you up close.  Boats creating lots of waves from where?  near shore?  Usually they are speeding through at the deeper end of the lake (unless the lake is shallow overall).

 

Is my problem that I'm pretty much only dropshotting?

 

No man lol.  Drop shot is a very good technique and works year round.  But you gotta understand it doesn't mean all bass will take it... other techniques are maybe better then drop shot given the time of year, conditions of lake, presentation, etc.  Be confident in what you are using... and just build up on experience... time on the water..

1. The reason I stick around is because I'll get it in my head that I'm fishing too fast or two slow, or I'm using the wrong size worm, or wrong color, so I'll start changing combos until I "get it right", thinking then, I'll get the unimpressed fish. 

 

I use darker colors when it's cloudy and brighter colors (or watermelon/green pumpkin) when the sun comes out.  Sometimes I think, "since they're not biting, switch that".  Or, I'll go through different sizes. 

 

All the changing will keep me in one area for hours. I'll think that once I get the size, color, and cadence right, THEN all those fish in the area will bite. 

 

After what you said, I'll move more often.  I just hate the thought of thinking, "if I stuck around an extra half hour or hour +, and got the presentation right, I would've gotten more/bigger fish".  That's what keeps me there. 

 

2. About the boats, if I'm fishing the points by the marina, I can see all the boaters going in their counter clockwise position.  In that regard, all the points are bad, but especially the point between the marina and the launch ramps, I'm in middle of all the traffic.

 

3. Since I'm dropshotting in rocky structure, do you think I should increase my leader length?  For some reason, I've been using a foot.  Last year, it was always 1.5' or longer, but I started in late June last year, and because of all the grass, I kept the leader length long.  This past month, there is no grass, which I love, so I started using a one foot leader (or less), but am now wondering if I should increase the length because of all the rocks.  Maybe that would help?

 

Thanks for taking the time to help.  Your answered those bolded questions *thumbs up*

you should probably use bigger line in the rocks.

 

Last year, in late June-September, and because of tall grass (along with the rocks/boulders), I kept the leader length, at the shortest,1.5 feet.  Most of the time, it was longer. 

 

The past five weeks, there's been no grass, so I've been going shorter,  Do you think I should go longer than a foot?  The only difference between now and last year is that there is currently no grass, but there's still the rocks/boulders.  Maybe I never should have gone shorter?  Maybe it's better if the bait floats/suspends a little higher above the rocks/boulders?

 

Thanks!