The blueback herring/shad spawn is on at my local lake and you can catch bass on just about any point or *shoal* you pull up on. This is my favorite time of year and I love chasing the bait and fish because its a new puzzle every hour honestly. Here's my question for ya'll...

 

How do you fish or approach shoals?

 

Some of you up north or other parts of the country may not have them. (I've just never heard of other people talking about them outside of SC/GA/NC) What I'm referring to is basically a mini island or hump that is slightly below or above the water (many people lose their props to them. LOL). I fish them from time to time but I feel like my approach is off. Such as my positioning, what I'm casting to, etc. What's the best way to fish a shoal? 

Up north shoals are called reefs, south humps, west underwater islands. Common structure element everywhere.

Tom

I fish offshore reefs in the spring for prespawn smallmouth. The lake I fish has several underwater islands that top off at 3 to 5 feet deep. These "reefs" are the first place the smallies show up as the water begins to warm. I fish the edges of theses with jerkbaits. As the water warms, the fish move toward their spawning areas. After the spawn, they''l go back off shore but deeper.

You want shoals, come up here to Georgian Bay. There are literally thousands and thousands of them, and yes, many have eaten a lower unit or two over the years ( mine included?). Once the smallmouth get out on them after they spawn, and throughout the summer and into fall, you can catch them until your arms are sore on good days. Usually start with topwaters or a spinnerbait or jerkbait ripped fast around the edges and over top, and if they’re off the edge a bit then a drop shot or tube dragged along the edge into deeper water gets them. Deeper shoals tend to get more attention when it’s calm and sunny, and the shallower ones often have biters on the top when the wind is frothing the shallows. 

love ‘em. there always seems to be fish somewhere on them and many times you’ll have them all to yourself! especially when it’s windy. i like to start by positioning my boat in deep water, casting shallow and into the wind when possible. i will cruise the “top” and fan cast if that’s working. i will also anchor and fish with the wind if it’s blowing too hard. 

These are the only “shoals” we have . But there’s hundreds of miles of them, all far out of bass boat range 

Thanks for all the help guys! I guess I had just never heard much about shoals up north. Spotted bass are similar to smallmouth in my little experience so the mentioned situations are relevant to me. Lo n slo, I see you are from NC and your approach is what I picture myself doing every time but the wind always blows me too shallow and I feel like I've gotten too close to the shoal at that point. Definitely want to fish shoals more often because I've seen some big fish come off of them.

On 4/18/2019 at 4:32 PM, blongfishing said:

Some of you up north or other parts of the country may not have them. (I've just never heard of other people talking about them outside of SC/GA/NC) 

I have fished in the Chipola river in Northern Florida and this river has many shoals in it.

On 4/18/2019 at 4:32 PM, blongfishing said:

What's the best way to fish a shoal? 

There are many ways you can fish a shoal but the most important factor is the river water level and how long the water has been at a favorable level. Try fishing with jigs, jerkbaits, crank baits, and topwaters.