Shore Fishing Banks Lake Advice Needed

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrne on June 12, 2014 at 3:20pm

There are lots of smallmouths around the rocks next to the road, I like to use a crankbait that bangs the rocks and hugs the bottom. A dropshot rig will work well also but if you hang up you may have to break off your dropshot weight, on the other hand you may also get a strike as soon as the bait is freed up! Be careful of snakes; don’t put your hand or feet anywhere you can’t see!

Permalink Reply by Abbottola on June 12, 2014 at 10:40pm

The south end on the west side has some great access for wading around. I really like to throw a really light Carolina rig when wading because it rarely snags. Small lizards and grubs work well this time of year or any for that matter on the c-rig.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Higgins on June 13, 2014 at 9:34am

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  Dropshot is planned for sure, I have plenty of weights too so breakoffs wont be too bad.  Pretty stoked, havent fished on Banks in ages.

Permalink Reply by Says L. on June 13, 2014 at 3:00pm

Try wacky style 4" senkos.  All along the road should produce fish.  I will be there on Sunday with a bunch of newbies myself. 

Permalink Reply by troy kelly on June 15, 2014 at 9:48am

Used to fish the little osborn side of the highway at dusk years back. Youll catch largies, smallies, and big crappie on topwaters.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Higgins on June 16, 2014 at 8:51am

Fished along the highway Saturday till the wind picked up around 2:30.  Managed 4 largies 1.5-3.5lbs and a few smallmouth dinks-1.5lbs.  Not a bad day.  Saw plenty of fish, just had a hard time getting them to commit.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on June 18, 2014 at 12:51pm

Ryan, when you say you had a hard time getting them to commit, how do you know that was the issue, could you see fish on beds that could see your presentation but wouldn't hit it? 

When fish won't commit my experience is they don't believe your presentation is something they should trust.  Try going down in size and colors that are more natural, they are less intimidated by small baits when they are hesitant, and of course baits that are the best possible representations of  the actual forage.

Then think in terms of speed of presentation, and try from dead stick to reaction, including popping the bait off the bottom to the fishes eye level.

So how did you catch the ones you caught?

Permalink Reply by Ryan Higgins on June 18, 2014 at 1:53pm

I saw quite a few fish along the shoreline and was able to watch them go after baits.  I saw most of the fish I caught take the lure.  I was also able to see fish in front of me chase after a bait that I had just casted further down the shoreline or out further from shore.  I didnt find any fish on beds, most were roaming the shoreline either singly or in packs.

I think my biggest problem was presentation.  I was having a hard time keeping a lure on the bottom without snagging every second since I was dragging it back up against the bank.  All but three of my fish took the bait on the bottom.  They would swim right up to it and just sit there watching it.  Most would just stay like that then swim away.  I found if I worked the bait like shakey head and lightly quivered it in place they would be more apt to strike it.  Unfortunately using a shakey head was close to impossible.  I actually had a wacky rigged senko snag on a rock and had a LM come up to inspect it while I was trying to free it.  The bait was moving in place from me trying to free it.  It actually sucked the bait backwards off the rock and I caught it.  Had a 2lb smallie take a wacky rig on the fall, but very lightly and only grabbed the very edge of the worm so when I set the hook it just popped right out.

The small fish were very aggressive and taking anything moving while the keeper fish wanted something slow and on the bottom.  Downsizing and changing colors ended up netting me more fish.  I tried a variety of colors and both natural and darker colors worked equally.  Bright colors only netted a quick glance.  I'm pretty sure they were orientated to craws so I worked what I could on the bottom like a craw, sliding and popping it, then twitching in place and managed fish.

I'll be back Saturday in a boat and able to run cranks, jigs, and t-rigs down the rip-rap easier with less snagging, should be the ticket.  I assume some of the fish that wouldnt commit could see me and that only added to their hesitation.  I did notice that repeated casting to the same area would attract fish from further down the bank for inspection.  I talked with a few guys in boats who fished by and they were having issues picking anything up, but most were fishing very fast and covering water as opposed to pounding key areas.

Also caught this smallie with this sore and a tumor looking protrusion from it's head.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Walters on June 19, 2014 at 9:33am

Hey Ryan, next time your coming out to shore fish let me know. I have some pretty good spots, specially if you dont mind getting wet. Shoot me a message and I will tell you how to get to them. 

Brian