Tips on Shore Bass Fishing

Use a Bobber

Often times when fishing for bass from the shore, using a bobber which only allows the line to hang a certain distance below the surface is a good idea, so that the hook cannot get caught on anything lying in the shallows along the bottom of the area in which you are fishing. While bobbers may effect the way some lures move through the water and won't be able to be used with certain lures, they will keep most of your hooks from getting stuck on underwater foliage, felled tree trunks or other obstacles beneath the surface that you don't know are there. These bobbers can also be darkly colored, so as to blend into the water and not frighten the bass from striking.

Hide Hooks in Bait

When using bait like minnows or worms to catch bass, the hooks should be hidden within the bait itself so that they won't hook on anything when they are being reeled-in beneath the surface of the water. The hooks should also be hidden so that they don't stand out to the fish before they strike, as certain things which look unnatural can dissuade a bass from eating it. When using live bait, it should be checked regularly between casts, to ensure the minnows are still alive or at least look natural when being pulled along through the water. With worms, make sure they haven't begun to fall apart due to the water or nibbles fish have taken off of them.

Places to Fish

For places to fish from the shore, look for areas where bass would hide and wait for smaller fish to swim by to strike. These places consist of dark, cool areas where smaller fish may feel safe feeding, like felled tree trunks in a lake or river, slower or still areas of water where there are lily pads or large rocks, or lagoons where there are tall reeds where the water doesn't move. Lures or bait should be run by these areas when reeling them in, so that the bass will notice them and strike out of the shadows.