There is a lake up here which is a tributary of a river system that forms a narrow lake. There has to be over 1000 suface acres, and it is highly polluted. Visible structure includes hundreds of tires, as well as shopping carts, rocks, and some timber/ wooded cover. Most of it is extremly shallow, so shallow, that you cant even run a spinnerbait in some places without breaking the surface. This lake is tidal and the water levels fluctuate. There is shoreline acess in many places.

Although it may seem unlikley, there are huge largemouth bass in this place. I caught one in a deeper area that had to have gone 7 +. The problem is, I cant find baits and spots  that work regularly. I know the fish are there, but what would you use and what would you look out for?

I don't know if I would fish there.  One of the main joys of fishing for me is communing with nature.  I would have a difficult time doing that in a polluted, trashed lake like the one you described.  However, to try to answer your question, I would make note of deep holes, ditches, and other structure when the water is low.  Then when the tide comes in I would fish the structure I had found.  

I don't know if I would fish there. One of the main joys of fishing for me is communing with nature. I would have a difficult time doing that in a polluted, trashed lake like the one you described. However, to try to answer your question, I would make note of deep holes, ditches, and other structure when the water is low. Then when the tide comes in I would fish the structure I had found.

I wouldn't even touch the water. Find something more suitable.... It will be more enjoyable.

I wouldn't even touch the water. Find something more suitable.... It will be more enjoyable.

If it's too shallow for spinnerbaits/cranks, throw a floating worm or a fluke.  Topwater might be good as well.

Hey John,

Anyone who watches "City Limit Fishing" with IKE knows that large bass are very adaptable and can live in polluted water. Do you want to fish there is the question?? We have a pond here in RI that is part of a chain of polluted ponds. It is fished alot (many T's there). It smells, literally, and I swear, your hands burn just touching the water. Last T a young guy caught a 7lber out of there. But to the question:

I would try a buzzbait or a small, light, spinnerbait like a SK Rocket Shad. A creature bait hopped along the deeper areas of the shallow pond might work with a light weight ahead of it.

PS Anywhere it's shallow, and there is a little cover, I would throw a frog or toad also.

Good luck!!!!!

AJR

Oh...I forgot.....a Mann's Minus 1 sounds like a MUST in this situation!!!

Oh...I forgot.....a Mann's Minus 1 sounds like a MUST in this situation!!!

The manns 1- minus is that little super shallow crankbait that wakes, right?

We just iced off up here, so I dont know how good the topwater bite would be right now. But when it gets warmer I will try some topwater baits here. The creature bait along the bottom sounds like a good idea.

Some baits have just failed for me here. I have never had a hit on a trap, a jig, or  senko, but they hit the spinnerbait. This is a place where you spend a few hours fishing and you come out with one or two very large fish.

Mann's makes the Minus series...from wake to -4 ft (4ft. and up) in the shallow crank series. I used them in the spring after ice out last year with great success.

ajr