Hey I have been fishing a few lakes that have no grass by the banks.  It seems to be pretty clear of weeds and brushes, so how would i fish this lake?  What could i use to increase my chances?

P.S. Even though there's not grass, there seems to be some baitfish at the banks.

This is similar to a lot of ponds I fish.

I primarily start off with casts parallel to the bank with spinnerbaits and swimbaits.

Then I look for dropoffs or any structure further out and start throwing plastics.

Its pretty hard to fish water where ther is no structure because it seems that the bass are a lot more spread out.

Also look for differences in the bottom of the lake, such as rocks.

A lot of fish are caught off of rocky bottoms in the ponds that I fish without structure.

Mud or rock/gravel bottom?

Since you're restricted to the bank if the bottom is mud I'd stick with cranks or spinnerbaits. If it's rock throw everything. Do you have a topo map or can you google earth a pic to find depths and structure? That might help you eliminate non productive water. 

Mud or rock/gravel bottom?

Since you're restricted to the bank if the bottom is mud I'd stick with cranks or spinnerbaits. If it's rock throw everything. Do you have a topo map or can you google earth a pic to find depths and structure? That might help you eliminate non productive water.

Extremely good advice here. Search and destroy!

Hey I think its a mud bottom, it's pretty clear.  I've had no luck lately and I cant really find any structure or depth.  I've tried throwing some stuff along the bank, but no luck.  I've got one on crankbait, anything else you could recommend?

a shakeyhead will catch anything...

If you are talking about Herb Parsons.  It gets HEAVY pressure.  Try lighter line and finesse baits. 

if theres any docks or piers that would be a great place to look for bass esp if theres little other cover

if theres any docks or piers that would be a great place to look for bass esp if theres little other cover

Duck blinds, fallen timber and isolated cover near springs (e.g. running water)

Create your own structue. Throw a bunch of 5-10lb or so rocks out into an area. Take a big ole' stump or a nice chunk of a tree and throw that out. Cinderblocks, bricks, old tires. Just watch what you throw, don't put anything toxic in there and watch when you throw it. If you're smart about how you do it, it's harmless. Instead it will help solidify the ecosystem on your pond!

If you want to go really nuts... Wait until the lake is well frozen and place the structure on the ice...

Besides that, try to look along the shorelines or listen along for food sources. Do you see or hear any rodents, frogs, lizards? Are there a lot of aquatic insects? (I've caught 3LB bass with spiders smaller than a dime in the gullet). Sometimes those shallow pond bass can be really fussy. Keep your eyes and ears open. Keep your options open! Good luck!

Thanks for the tips everyone. Went for around 45 min this time caught one on a trick worm, and lost a big one on a crankbait. They seem to follow the crank to the shore and run away, what should I do to make them take it?  Somebody a while back also told me a good craw population is there.

Oh and there is no pier or docks or anything like that.  Its not a bad size lake, people have put in some structures but lack of rain, have made them useless.  But its starting to rain again so good news.

Throw in some short pauses and sharp rips on the crank bait so its not just a steady retrieve.

I feel your pain.

I used to live on Lake Walk-In-Water which is not only void of submergent vegetation

but is nearly void of bottom contour. Bass have a love affair with weeds,

but they can cut a living in lakes without any weeds.

If I were you, there are 4 things I'd focus on:

1) If it's an impoundment and not a natural lake, look for "woody cover" (stumps, stickups, pilings)

2) Find the best "drop-offs" in the lake (pinpoint spots with the most rapid depth change)

3) Find the nearest shoreline "emergents" like bulrushes, cattails, maidencane, ~~

4) Look for places where "bottom composition" changes (admittedly hard to find).

Once you're able to figure out 'Where' & 'When',

lures and presentation gets real easy

Roger