Fishing Pressure Water from the Bank

[CouchTater]

This past Sunday I visited our local public fishing lake. The lake was very busy and PACKED!!! Let me give you a back story to this area.

This particular body of water is 120 acres with about 65% of the shore line fishable from the bank. The lake was drained, renovated and restocked between 2014 and 2016. The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (AWFF) has implemented the strictest bass length limits in the state for this lake and the results speak for themselves. Last October during an electro survey, two big bass were shocked up, an 8 and 9 lb and posted on Facebook. Richard Gene visited here a month or so ago and caught a couple big ones.

So with that said the popularity of this lake has exploded. I've fished this little lake since I was a kid and last year I caught my PB bass there from early march up until May. This year I haven't caught the first bass in five trips to the lake. I've tried different patterns and baits, even live nightcrawlers ala The Fishing Machine with no takers.

How do you deal with pressured fishing from the bank like this?

[BassmanRudy]

Has anything else changed- Grass die off or a lot more predators in cormorants/otters present?

Otherwise you'll need to try something "different" than others. Weightless senko, fishing deeper water, really slowing down around cover(using scent too!). Good luck!

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[CouchTater]

Weather has been a big factor, plus the small pockets of grass on the lake are still dormant right now but should start growing soon. The fishing pressure has increased two fold by boat and bank fishermen.

Sunday I tried a wide gamut of presentations: Square bill cranks, small swim baits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, t-rigged lizards, weightless senkos, weightless trick worm, shakey head, ned rig.

[Capt. BassinLou]

This past Sunday I visited our local public fishing lake. The lake was very busy and PACKED!!! Let me give you a back story to this area.

This particular body of water is 120 acres with about 65% of the shore line fishable from the bank. The lake was drained, renovated and restocked between 2014 and 2016. The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (AWFF) has implemented the strictest bass length limits in the state for this lake and the results speak for themselves. Last October during an electro survey, two big bass were shocked up, an 8 and 9 lb and posted on Facebook. Richard Gene visited here a month or so ago and caught a couple big ones.

So with that said the popularity of this lake has exploded. I've fished this little lake since I was a kid and last year I caught my PB bass there from early march up until May. This year I haven't caught the first bass in five trips to the lake. I've tried different patterns and baits, even live nightcrawlers ala The Fishing Machine with no takers.

How do you deal with pressured fishing from the bank like this?

Time to think outside of the box in this situation. I see you threw smaller baits, did you throw them on lighter line too? Like 10lb or less? Fishing with lighter lines has its advantages and disadvantages, especially if your fishing with light line from the bank in or around vegetation.  But, using much lighter line also gives baits a different presentation, increasing your chances of hooking up.

I throw spinning gear in these types of situations. Medium rod, with a softer tip, 15lb braid, with a long 10lb FC or Mono leader, 2/0-3/0 light wire hooks, no weight, but if I do I will use 1/32-1/16 max.  Be mindful of your hooksets, you can't lay into them.  My #1 bait in this scenario are Zoom centipedes.

Good luck out there!!