Shore Fishing Tactics For Natural Lakes And Ponds

Stuck on shore and wondering how to catch more fish?

Fishing from the bank doesn’t have to be a handicap. In fact, some of the best fishing in North America takes place near shore in natural lakes and ponds.

Natural lakes and ponds have some common threads. These waters are usually fed by springs, rivers, or streams. If a body of water has water flowing into or out of it, these areas are always a good place to start the search for fish.

Flowing water carries plankton and other food important to minnows, small fish, and invertebrates. The delta or flats formed where a river or creek flows into a lake becomes a major feeding shelf for a wide variety of fish species. Never pass up an opportunity to fish river mouths.

The same is true of river outlets. Rivers or creeks flow out of lakes at the lowest land point. These areas usually have mud flats, heavy weed growth, and shallow water. Warmwater fish species such as bass, catfish, and carp are most likely to live in these areas.

Docks

Not only do docks provide valuable fish cover, they also offer anglers access to water they might not otherwise been able to reach from shore. But be sure to ask for fishing permission before taking that first cast.

The trick in dock fishing is to first carefully fish all the available cover before you step out onto its surface and spook the fish that live in its shade.

Not all docks are created equal. Docks made from wood attract the largest numbers and species of fish. The closer the dock is to the water surface the better. If a dock happens to be located near some natural structure or cover, it is certain to attract fish.

In areas where docks jet out into the water every few yards along the shore, fish are likely to be spread out. In this situation it may be necessary to fish several docks during the day to determine which docks are the best fish producers.

Docks can also tell us which areas support the best fishing. Pay close attention to the docks that have rod holders mounted on them. There’s a lesson to be learned there. If the owner spends enough time fishing his dock to justify mounting rod holders, there is probably pretty good fishing to be had. Find an area where all the dock owners have rod holders and you’ve found a fishing paradise!

Natural Cover and Structure

All species of panfish and game fish prefer to live near natural cover or structure. Where fish will be located in any given lake or pond depends on the amount and type of cover or structure available to them.

Where weeds are present they often become the primary cover used by a wide variety of fish species. Take a closer look into aquatic weeds and you’ll see why this natural cover attracts fish like flowers attract bees.

Weed growth provides shade and a place to hide from predators. This same cover also gives off oxygen, during the natural process of photosynthesis. Aquatic plants also tend to grow on fertile bottoms that support a wealth of insect life important in the food chain. Aquatic plants provide cover, oxygen, and a rich supply of food–what more could a fish want?

Unfortunately, all aquatic plants aren’t created equal. Some of the most attractive plants to fish are the various forms of broadleaf cabbage, pencil reeds, lily pads, and cattails. Dense mats of aquatic growth such as milfoil or coontail can choke a lake and leave little habitat for fish.

Second only to aquatic plants, submerged wood is prime fish cover. In natural lakes and ponds wood gets into the water many ways. Trees and branches toppled into the water by the wind or beavers are excellent places to search for fish.

Downed timber is always worth a look, but if this cover is located along a shallow, gradually sloping shoreline, chances are it will attract few fish. Search for areas where wood lays in the water adjacent to deep water or other structure. The combination of cover and the security of deep water will lure in fish ranging from perch to northern pike.

Beaver lodges and the cache of branches they drag into the water as a winter food source can also be excellent places to fish. When beaver have worked an area for a long time, they tend to form paths that lead from food sources to the lodge. These shallow depressions in the bottom are like a road map that leads bass, walleye, pike, and panfish into this excellent cover.

Wood can also be placed in the water by anglers working to provide fish cover where none otherwise was available. Brush piles made up of Christmas trees or hardwood limbs sunk to the bottom with cement blocks are common on natural lakes and ponds. In some areas anglers even go to the trouble of building cribs from scrap lumber and sinking them in popular fishing areas.

Some of these fishing hot spots may be marked on fishing maps, but many can only be found by asking the right questions at bait shops and when visiting with other anglers.

Rocks and gravel are the third and least productive type of natural cover. When other more desirable cover isn’t available fish are often forced to forage among rocks and along gravel-strewn bottoms. These hard-bottom areas simply don’t provide much in the way of cover, but if the lake contains a good population of crayfish, a wide variety of fish species will abandon other cover types to dine on these crustaceans.

Smallmouth bass are especially fond of crayfish, but largemouth bass, walleye, pike, and many other species of fish are also quick to snack on these miniature lobsters. Wherever crayfish are abundant, game fish are sure to be found close by.

Natural Points

Most natural lakes have at least a couple points that jut out into the water. Some points are excellent places to fish, while others attract little in the way of fish life.

The best points are those that protrude from shore and taper off into deep water. Points that gradually wander out into sprawling flats are rarely attractive to fish. If the top of the point features some weed, wood, or rock cover it is more likely to hold fish.

When fishing a point, cover all the water near shore first, then wade out from shore to reach more distant areas. It’s always a good idea to wear a flotation vest when wading. One wrong step is all it takes to get in trouble.

The fishing on points is often best when waves are crashing into them, stirring up the water and providing an environment ideal for fish to slip in and grab a quick snack. Think of points as a funnel that directs game fish towards shore. Excellent places to fish, points can be a bank fisherman’s best bet.

Access

Gaining access to the water when fishing natural lakes can be as simple as asking at the nearest house or it may require a little bit of investigating to determine who owns the surrounding land.

Without access to the water, bank fishing is out of the question. Public access sites provided by your Department of Natural Resources are a good place to start. Also look for waterfront campgrounds, parks, flood control dikes, beneath roadway bridges, and marinas. Most maps will clearly indicate these public access sites.

Determining who owns the land is the first step in gaining access on private property. Most counties and townships publish map booklets that indicate property boundaries and list names and addresses of land owners. Visit a local library to study these maps and determine who to contact for permission to fish.

Wading

Once you’ve reached the area to be fished, a pair of waders is an invaluable aid. If the water is shallow, a pair of hip boots is more comfortable to move about in, especially if the weather is warm. In deeper water a pair of chest high waders will be necessary.

When wading always wear of flotation vest. There are vests on the market that look and wear like an ordinary fishing vest, but if you stumble into deep water they can be converted into a flotation device with the tug of a string. A replaceable CO-2 cartridge inflates the vest in the event of an emergency, otherwise the vest is simply a convenient way to carry tackle, fishing accessories, or your lunch.

Before you take your first step into the water, analyze the fishing situation. Is there a submerged or overhanging tree, a drop-off, weeds, rocks, or other cover that could be holding fish close to shore? When fish turn up in shallow water chances are they’re looking for one thing–food!

Shallow fish are aggressive fish and easily caught. Take the time to fish the shallows before wading out to fish waters less accessible from shore.

Points are a common area where anglers in their haste to fish the tip of the point miss fish that are holding in the cup formed where the point meets the shoreline or on top of the point. Start fishing a point from the bank and eventually wade out to reach new water as necessary.

Shallow-diving crankbaits are hard-to-beat lures for this style of fishing. They can be cast and retrieved quickly, making it easy to cover water efficiently and without wasting precious fishing time.

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