I am mainly a bank fisherman, so I am always looking for new ponds and lakes to fish. However, some of the time, I end of fishing a more heavily pressured public lake. Does anyone have any suggestions for go-to baits and presentations when you are fishing a lake where the bass seem wary of most tactics?

I have fished at some highly fished lakes, and my go to bait would have to be the wacky worm. It always gets the job done

hmm I'd say try showing them something new, maybe a bait they've seen but on a different rig. For example, I think the jika rig still isn't all that popular.

Perhaps the solution is to go with something ultra finesse, like a ned rig.

Another option could be to try to trigger a reaction strike instead of appealing to their hunger.

Thanks! I will need to try out the jika!

I was fishing crowded places in the evenings. I switched to fishing early in the mornings when the place is calmed down. The bass got bigger in the mornings.

But I was catching bass in the evenings when no one else was. I was throwing bass lures. Live bait doesn't work like lures do.

In the evenings as dusk approaches the bass turn on. Fish topwater, inline spinners and crankbaits at this time. As it gets darker try brighter colored baits. When it's dark switch to darker colors. At about 10 p m the bass turn on again as things settle down.

Try a popper early am - at the crack of dawn. That'll get 'em. If not, then a wacky rigged Senko on a light spinning rig will seal the deal.