Ahh...welcome to the wonderful world of shorefishing! Since your access is limited, naturally, so is your success. Look for structure items that might hold a fish(bushes, downed trees, rocks) and use something you can make your longest cast with. Most of my shorefishing success comes from being able to "reach out and touch 'em".

thank you

A long cast is not always the trick, but worth a try. Especially at this time of year, try casting parallel to the shore, working the shallow water. If the bass are there, it does work and this time of year is the best time to try this.

Posted By Pegsguy on 25 Apr 2012 10:34 PM
A long cast is not always the trick, but worth a try. Especially at this time of year, try casting parallel to the shore, working the shallow water. If the bass are there, it does work and this time of year is the best time to try this.

What I meant about the long cast was reaching the fish most guys miss. Most of my long casts are parallel to shore. I wasn't talking about casting as far as you can out into the middle of the lake...I was talking about reaching fish everyone else didn't get to. That's the key to shorefishing. If a dozen guys walk down to the end of the trail and make a 20yd. cast, then you show up and make a 30yd. cast, you're in uncharted territory!
                                         

Like 80% of the bass I catch from shore are from long casts out into the middle of the lake. For one thing that while standing on shore, it just seems that the fish are out further. While being on a boat, it just seems like the fish are all hugging the shoreline. LOL. Well a lot of things needs to be taken into factor. For one thing water clarity and depth. It just seems that I need to make that long cast in many scenarios. Sometimes it takes a 30 yd cast for the depth to get to like 10 feet or it's the drop off ledge that's out there. Sometimes the shorelines and everything close has been beaten by everybodyelse. So the fish will stage off in deeper water.

Hmm...slipperybob has an interesting take on the long cast. I can see it coming into play in deeper water. I thought of another tip Yotaman5989, sometimes with shorefishing, the time at which you fish can make a big difference too. I think the fish become wise to the "heavy traffic" time periods. If your schedule permits, try fishing while everyone else is sleeping. I have several places that produce results at five in the morning, but not a bite at ten. Also, try to use lures the fish haven't seen a thousand times. Go down to Walmart and look at their selection. If you see an item on clearance...because they never sold any of them...it might be worth a try! The fish have probably never seen the bargain bin bait, because everyone was throwing the big sellers.
                                                                                                            

Remember to cast accurately too! Accuracy is as important as distance. A lot of times fish will be on specific pieces of structure, or specific depth contours. If you don't come close to where they are chillin, your chances of getting bit greatly decrease.

Just to pipe in, last night I caught two LMs from the bank in 30 minutes after7PM. Had a strong 25-35 mph head wind I was facing into I was throwing a small spinnerbait (no trailer hook ). Don't remember the name/brand, but think of it like a Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait with a small willow (top) and Colorado (lower) blades on it. This is a neighborhood retention pond that is three tiered, and both hit on the break between the first (6"'-5') and second tier (10'-18').

Other than that I can't say much more than repeating what these guys have already suggested. Look for structure, look for depth changes (where I caught mine), look for rocks or stumps. The only recommendation I can offer because it works for me, and this depends on the depth of the pond you're fishing, use light weights or weight-less, and try different lures and presentations.

One of my best is a 4" Yum Dinger wacky hooked and lift and let it fall like a dying fish. If I'm really zoned in, I'll let it sit and it'll take a good +2 minutes to get it back to the bank.

Here's a different approach...look up your lake/pond in Google Earth. You should be able to see drop offs, channels and other structure from above. It's amazing what you can see from above. Study it for a few..You should be able to determine what looks like a good spot to fish and how far off the shore it is.

Armstrong.j,
   That Booyah Pond Magic is a great little spinnerbait...and priced nicely too. I have been modifying them to gain a little more "thump" and weight.(stock they are only 3/16 oz.) I replace that little willow blade with a larger Colorado and add a trailer hook. This bumps up the weight to over 1/4 oz. and makes those long casts a little easier. I have found when the bite gets tough, the small profile of the Pond Magic really helps.
                           

You can also wade out in the water but do be careful when you do this . were shoes and walk carefully. As mud, slippery algae covered rocks and drop offs can be problems .
I like shore fishing rivers and reservoirs the best, but you can do well in lakes too because A lot of folks skip over the inside weed line.
Docks are another great shore place . Never fish off a privet dock unless you have permission from the owner but if in the water you may cast towards the dock just be courteous and don't cast towards there boat . Some lakes have public fishing peers check with your state dnr .
Another tactic would be to beef up your gear and toss a weedless frog or Texas rigd lizard or 8 inch worm ,smack dab into the Lilly pads or other scum that has formed near shore .

RT is right about the wading...BE CAREFUL! I bought a pair of hip waders last year, with hopes of being able to parallel cast shorelines better. I soon found out that the mud bottom lakes I fish are not easily trekked. This brings about another tip: Use a long rod. you can hold it out and parallel a weedline easier(and safer) than stepping out in the waders.

i should of mentioned a weightless Texas rigd lizard or worm .

Thanks everybody for the advice... I'm using a 6'6 shimano rod and shimano reel, ive got big fish off them but out of a boat, i tried all of your suggestions and it all started producing, ive only been hitting 1-2 pounders but its a lot better than nothing lol, im sure with all this ill be able to put myself on the big fish... thanks again

Im not sure where youre from but up here in NE Ohio I normally fish from banks.  The fish have just started hitting top water.  Used a frog yesterday and got 10.  However, Ive been using a Firefly color spinner bait.  Quick retrieves have been working lately.  The fish here are up in the shallows and in the cat-tails. Ive caught most fish on the spinners but have been using a 5" grn pumpkin yamasenko also.  I bottom bounce both the spinner and the senko sometimes and thats usually when I catch the pigs.  I cast out as far as i can usually and let it sink a bit then give it 5 quick reels and let er hit the bottom.  Sit there for 2-3 seconds and give it a few more reels.  Do that all the way back to the bank for the spinner.  Give the senko a few extra seconds on the bottom.  Havent had much luck with anything else but I hope this helps you.

Yotaman, I am with ya as I to am stuck without a boat and do alot of bank/shore fishing - I have found to just as much research as possible if you can to where you are going to fish and bring a bunch of different lures - you need to just do a trial and error - i bring some senkos, worms, creature and crankbaits - I am in no way an advanced bass fisherman and only limited to the weekends and maybe some PTO days but that is my 2 cents