In the past I've fished shallow water, to a fault. When summer gets here, I don't catch decent fish. 

 

I realize I need to learn to fish offshore. 

 

I have good fish finders, and generally know how to use them. Obviously I could improve and that will come by spending more time on them. 

 

My home lake is Old Hickory. When I try to learn ledge fishing, I just get discouraged. 

 

I identify ledges near where creeks cut odd the main channel. Often it's 4-5 ft dropping to 20-25ft. I'm looking for any sort of structure on these, any sort of signs that fish are there. I'm just not having any luck.

 

One of my biggest questions is should I be looking at the main river channel?  There are places with flats 4ft deep that drop off to 50ft.  Should I be looking on these?  Or is it too drastic of a ledge?

 

 

39 minutes ago, TNReb said:

In the past I've fished shallow water, to a fault. When summer gets here, I don't catch decent fish. 

 

I realize I need to learn to fish offshore. 

 

I have good fish finders, and generally know how to use them. Obviously I could improve and that will come by spending more time on them. 

 

My home lake is Old Hickory. When I try to learn ledge fishing, I just get discouraged. 

 

I identify ledges near where creeks cut odd the main channel. Often it's 4-5 ft dropping to 20-25ft. I'm looking for any sort of structure on these, any sort of signs that fish are there. I'm just not having any luck.

 

One of my biggest questions is should I be looking at the main river channel?  There are places with flats 4ft deep that drop off to 50ft.  Should I be looking on these?  Or is it too drastic of a ledge?

 

 

Couple thoughts...

 

First, you're looking for cover ("breaks") in most cases, and breaklines. You've already found the "structure."

 

Don't necessarily look for fish/bass. Yes, on some of the big TVA reservoirs you read about all the pros graphing and looking for schools, but that isn't always feasible, especially when fish are located shallow or in older reservoirs with smaller overall bass populations.

 

Definitely look along the main channel. No such thing as being next to water that is too deep. The bass will adjust and be happy at whatever depth along that drop that the conditions (water clarity, baitfish, vegetation, current, etc.) allow.

 

Spend more time fishing and a little less time looking. The only way to ultimately know if bass are living there and will bite is to actually catch them. That requires a lure in the water.

 

If you're not opposed to it, spend a lot of time trolling until you hit a fish, then slow down and pick that area apart trying to figure out why he was there. You'll start putting the puzzle pieces together pretty quick.

 

Finally, try and hook up with someone who is comfortable fishing ledges and can show you the basics, even if that means getting a guide for just half a day. It will be a huge shortcut to getting you on the right path quickly.

Its a tad early to fish ledges. Fish will linger shallow for a bit. Also with all the snazzy electronics, fishing deep shouldn't be a guessing game. Spend some time riding an edge at idle, drop a waypoint where you see fish, resist the temptation to stop and fish, then go back and try all the spots you find, practice, practice, practice...

I appreciate the tips!

Hmm old hickory. The guy that pours Baits for me has won a lot of tournaments on that lake. He could probably help you out tremendously, his name is Doug Richards and he lives in gallatin. He’s from the old school, probably can’t help you set up a 360 transducer but he can flat catch fish. I fish ledges all the time, basically because thats all there is by my house. A spoon can be a great lure for ledges, as well as a shakey head