This is something new for me, Fishing a hump or what I think is a hump. I don't really know how to go about it because the bottom is covered in snot grass, so that pretty much throws jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastics out the window.

Background info: Alright, the lake I'm fishing is in RI it's got an average depth of about 9' with a maximum of 40'. The water clarity is good, and the lake is by no means muddy.

The hump: About 200 yds offshore, the bottom comes up to about 6 1/2 ft. Directly on top of the hump and facing North is a stream, the hump drops down to 8' and then gradually the bottom comes back up shallow to the shoreline where stream is. Facing South, the bottom gradually drops until you eventually hit the middle of the lake and 40' of water, but that's a long ways away. Facing East and West is where it gets interesting both sides drop off dramatically till about 15' of H20. The drop is not vertical, but its definitely not a gradual slope. Once it hits 15-17' the bottom levels off for some distance.

Basically I'm just looking for some help on learning how to fish structure like this  eg. What to use, does this even hold fish, boat position, different ways to use electronics, marker placement, anything that you guys think will help, Opinions, etc.

I've had some luck, on it with Rat l Trap type lures and weightless plastics, I found this place at the end of summer so i haven't had much of a chance to fish it. I have the feeling it will be a good prespawn spot because directly NE of the hump is a shallow sandy flat where spawning usually takes place and to the NW is a rocky point.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you guys think. Thanks MW

 

Look for irregularities in the bottom such as small drops or rises on the hump itself.

Look for points on the hump

Look for stumps, logs/laydowns, brush piles, rocks, & changes in density of the grass

Look for breaks & break lines connecting the suspected spawning area with the hump

Lures:

Continue using lipless cranks in a variety of sizes & colors

Continue using weightless plastics in a variety of sizes & colors

Add hard jerk baits

Drop shot.

The perfect solution for bottom clutter.

Another is baits/ lures that don't accumulate

much gunk. Try a GYCB Kreature in place of

a jig. T-rig the Kreature, skirt forward, with

a 1/8- 1/4 oz barrel weight and a 4/0 Gamakatsu

Offset Worm Hook. Drop it to the bottom, then

retrieve like a spinnerbait: steady retrieve with

an occasional jerk.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1180909581

8-)

Not all humps are created equal. To determine which is which, start by using your sonar to cover various depths from top to bottom and all the way around it. What you are looking for is BAIT.....not fish. If you find baitfish consistently using any kind of bottom structure, that's where you should be fishing.

The drop shot rules - normally - in this kind of situation. However, another option you may want to consider is the Senko, wacky rigged and suspended under a slip bobber. A little surface chop is ideal in this situation. To stay on your spot, you may have to anchor, as even the best of bass fisherman can't control a boat as it needs to be, in some situations, especially when dealing with wind.

Either of these presentations will catch fish for you. Both are designed so that you can specifically target the proper depths at which the bass position themselves on those structures. In any case, you are wasting your time if you do not find bait on those structures. Your sonar is you friend when fishing off-shore.

drop shot agreed.

also a carolina rig with a good 3 ft. leader will let you comb that hump and get a real idea of what is down there.

you can do that with a drop shot too but i personally prefer the c-rig for searching.

besides... you can throw a 10in anaconda on the crig and people wont look at you funny

I would say dropshot also. A weightless plastic that wouldn't dig in or could be fished above it would be my next choice. Third choice would be a to fish lures on a three way swivel like a rapala that will stay up with a weight dragging in the snot grass. It would be like using a bottom bouncer for walleye just make sure you keep tention on your line to keep the swivel up.