I fish some pretty pressured lakes on Tennessee’s TVA lake system, where there is no shortage of off-shore structure. Everything from old road/RR beds to submerged cliff faces.

 

Looking to create a list of lures to put together a “box” for when the shallow bite isn’t working, and it’s time to try the ledges. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

My go-to rod has a lure rating of 3/8-1.5oz, baitcaster. But I also “borrow” a heavy action baitcaster, as well as medium and medium heavy action spinning rigs (don’t recall lure rating, but the spinners are 7-7’6” BPS Platinum and Extreme rods, respectively). In time I’ll buy my own rod for this purpose, one that I can hopefully use for another application as well (fishing thick summer grass techniques, perhaps).

Any of the same lures that work "not offshore" that you can effectively fish at the depth the fish are at.

My most effectie lure is the Rage Tail Thumper, T-rigged.

If  there is not a lot of snags , Red Eye Shads can smoke-em at times . I like the Tungsten Two Taps best .

Off shore doesn't always mean deeper, it means structure off shore.

1st things 1st is determine at what depth is the “life zone” where the baitfish are at and bass etc.  If the life zone is 20’ to 30’ then look for off shore structure the intersects that depth. Then select lures that are effective for you in the depth zone. Fishing too deep isn’t productive, fishing above the life zone isn’t always unproductive as bass tend to go up more then down to strike lures.

Your T-rigged w/ bullet weight and jigs work at any depth.

Carolina or Slip shot and drop shot rigs work good.

Structure spoons, Tail spins and under spins all work good

Scroungers work at any depth. A few deep diving crank baits work, sinking lipless lures and blade baits like Silver Buddy can be good.

Sonar is essential to determine the life zone and find off shore structure.....learn how to read it!!

Boat control is also essential and today’s spot lock TM’s are great.

Tom

 

 

I would throw a crankbait or lipless crank. Beware of the snags though! 

For those throwing jigs deep, what’s your favored weight, color, and trailer style? I know some colors stop showing up altogether below 10ft (maybe sooner?).

 

3/4oz? 1oz?

 

How about magnum worm colors?

2 hours ago, Drawdown said:

For those throwing jigs deep, what’s your favored weight, color, and trailer style? I know some colors stop showing up altogether below 10ft (maybe sooner?).

 

3/4oz? 1oz?

 

How about magnum worm colors?

So you know what colors bass can see?

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

So you know what colors bass can see?

Tom

Somewhere on this forum (I think) someone posted the results of a study at various water depths, at different levels of clarity of colors across the spectrum. 

Lot, lots and lots of controlled studies on the color spectrum bass can see based on eye cones and rods. None on how the bass brain interprets the color spectrum underwater where the bass evolved.

Human brain interprets wave length differently then birds for example.

Experience tells us we don’t know what bass actually see under low light , no light, bright light but it’s a different spectrum then out eye sight.

Tom

My “offshore fishin” is pretty much the same, if I’m casting in open water, if it’s 10 feet or 30. I’m fishing a jig, a t rig plastics, a tube and a soft swimbait!  That’s if I’m not fishing visible structures and cover. Blade bait if it’s winter! 

I lived on Guntersville for a while. A great offshore summer pattern on the main river is to throw frogs in the surface grass between the two channels. Just beware of the huge gar that live in there.

On 5/14/2022 at 3:55 PM, Drawdown said:

For those throwing jigs deep, what’s your favored weight, color, and trailer style? I know some colors stop showing up altogether below 10ft (maybe sooner?).

 

3/4oz? 1oz?

 

How about magnum worm colors?

Brown/purple combos are good for worms and jigs. In fact, I showed my brown worm with purple flake to a Guntersville native and he called it a "Guntersville Special". I had no idea. I was just using it because it's a confidence color for me around the country.

On 5/14/2022 at 6:55 PM, Drawdown said:

For those throwing jigs deep, what’s your favored weight, color, and trailer style? I know some colors stop showing up altogether below 10ft (maybe sooner?).

 

3/4oz? 1oz?

 

How about magnum worm colors?

When I throw a jig deep, its 1/2 ounce. I use natural colors, black, green pumpkin, watermelon and any variations of those.  I use craw trailers. Like the Rage craw, rage menace and Samatis crawmatis .  I’m fishing 10-20 feet fishing ledges. 

On 5/14/2022 at 10:14 AM, Drawdown said:

Looking to create a list of lures to put together a “box” for when the shallow bite isn’t working, and it’s time to try the ledges. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, day or night, shallow  or deep my lure selection doesn't change.

 

Jigs: 1/4-1 oz from bank shallow out to 40'. Yes I'll throw a 1/4 oz in 40' & a 1 oz in 10'.