Got off work a bit early yesterday and fished over at Occoquan for about an hour. The tide was so low I could walk out about 20 feet further than usual. Lowest point of the day. Didn't expect much action until I saw the bass in the shallow 1-2 foot range right beyond the grass mats busting shad and minnows like crazy.

I tried a Spro frog over the mats for a good 20 minutes with only one pop, but no takers. Then I tried a buzzbait for another 20 or so and got no hits. Lastly I tied on a jig. That about did the trick.

I was using a Boo Yah A-Jig w/ a Large Yum Chunk trailer both in green pumpkin type colors. The first bass was finicky with it and kept tugging at the trailer until the third or fourth time when my line took off with it. I got him right in the corner of the mouth.

The second one just picked it up right off the edge of a mat in the deeper area (3-4 feet at this time) where the ground began to taper off. When I saw my line slowly moving I knew he was on and holding the bait, so I set the hook. He was a better chunk at 2lbs even.

I don't normally write up on small outings like this but I found it interesting that these bass were up so shallow busting bait. The only reason I can see for it is the location because there is a small drainage creek right beside the bar where minnows bunch up, this combined with the hydrilla around the shoreline edge (first 2 -3 feet really thick) makes for a nice spot.

There was one bass boat working the edge of the bar that was out about 50 - 75 yards from shore, but I didn't see him pull anything up while he was there.

When I got home I pulled out my new FLW magazine and sure enough it had a great article on this how a lot of guys are afraid to cover water like this because they pound that deeper structure adjacent to current, points, cuts, so forth. While that is productive as it gets, don't forget that if you find the right spot fishing shallow for summer bass can still pay off.

Always important though... the right lure and the most accurate presentation will get you the fish. Also you have to be spot on as far as your pitches are concerned in most cases, ESPECIALLY in the clearer water as the fish spook easier in these types of conditions. Cast beyond the feeding and or adjacent, but not INTO the particular hole. Be in the fishes "world" so to speak, but don't cast right on top of them. Bring it in slowly.

Just a reminder for all you bank fishermen out there tossing to the middle of your pond or casting like hercules to reach the deep depths at your home lake.

I'll have pics of the chunk tommorrow morning.

Good job Jay catching those LMBs with the jig in the shallows.  You are going to have to show me the spot where you were fishing.

Was this in the shade? I've been catching lots of bass shallow but usually in the shade. If I do catch them shallow and in the sun, they're usually not keeper size.

No shade whatsoever... I know, I was kinda surprised too. Actually the glare from the sun on the water was actually worse than midday as the sun was going down.

If other things are in place aside from normal summer patterns the fish will be there. This was just one of those cases.