Bank Fishing Any Good Right Now?

[walker04]

Was wondering if anyone has done any bank fishing, or know if it would be viable right now, at Stockton or any of the rivers running out/in of it. I live in Spfd and looking for a closer place to do some bank fishing and have a mediocre shot at success this weekend.

[straw hat]

I usually do a lot of bank fishing during the winter but this year I am laid up. I can tell you that usually I search for the deepest drop offs in the main lake and focus 20 to 40 feet deep depending on the species I am after. If you want to try the incoming tributaries then focus where they come into the lake and the water runs 20 to 25 feet deep. Fish the sunnier days around 10 20 feet deep on the steeper chunk banks. Areas around the CC bridge and High Point can yeild some fish if you are patient. Are you focusing on bass, crappie ....??

[walker04]

Are you focusing on bass, crappie ....??

im not real picky, just want to get out and catch something. Walleye/crappie would be nice, hooking a bass won't make me mad though, either. Im going Saturday, expecting some nice weather.

[walker04]

mind you, im fairly novice at MO fishing so far too....so bank fishing, lets say at highpoint, and trying toget in that deep water...how are you fishing it? i would thin from a boat jig or minnow over shrubs, but from bank....? (for crappie)

[straw hat]

I prefer using a slip bobber rig for crappie. You can set it to a specific depth once you find how deep the fish are running. This keeps the bait in front of the fish longer. Right now around High Point i would start out around 20 to 25 feet deep. Just a few feet short of the deepest part of the channel you can cast to. I can also tell you that if you run out of minnows they can be caught on jigs as well. I would start with blk/chart or red/chart. Think slow and then slow down some more. lol They won't hit it hard so if it feels even a little heavy set the hook. If it is one of those days were the crappie aren't hitting well, then shorten up your slip bobber to 15 to 20' for bass or walleye and keep trying. It sometimes takes an hour or two of trying various depths in order to find the right pattern but after that the pattern usually holds until the sun starts getting low in the sky, around 3 pm. In the dead of winter the best fishing is still around deep brush piles for crappie but when you are limited to bank fishing sometimes you just can't reach them fro shore. Nearly every crappie I catch this time of year will have its belly rubbing on the bottom. In the shallower parts of the tributary arms they try to go as deep as they can. Usually were the bottom of the channel just start to turn up towards the bank. Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions.

[Zac Seale]

My wife and I have been having pretty good luck under the 123 bridge near Aldrich. The lake is low enough you can fish pretty easily and catch quite a few fish. If you are just wanting to catch fish there are about a million little drum in there. But we have been catching decent numbers of crappie and walleye and white bass. Just an idea.

[walker04]

@Straw hat and ZSteale...Thanks for the ideas, I think I will try those suggestions. I will report back on my success....or lack thereof.

[Zac Seale]

I would take some 1/8 and 1/4 oz chartruese and white roadrunner or regular jigs with you. I like them with chartruese, white, or silver slidders or swimming minnows, or with about 1/2 a nightcrawler on them. That should catch you something anywhere on the lake, particularly walleye and crappie so you will have some dinner when you get home! Hope this helps!

Zac

[Thunderin' Gobbler]

I can't really add much here, but I've been seeing quite a few people bank fishing at CC as Straw Hat mentioned. On another note, does anyone know if the ramp at High Point is open? THe last time I was there my buddy said it was closed but launched his boat there anyway. I'm thinking about going tomorrow but don't want to get in trouble for launching if I'm not supposed to.

Jason

[walker04]

I would take some 1/8 and 1/4 oz chartruese and white roadrunner or regular jigs with you. I like them with chartruese, white, or silver slidders or swimming minnows, or with about 1/2 a nightcrawler on them. That should catch you something anywhere on the lake, particularly walleye and crappie so you will have some dinner when you get home! Hope this helps!

Zac

Already have the roadrunners in my bag! They are a go to for me almost any time. Chartruese and white seem to get the most bites and of multiple species. thanks for all the help guys, i will definitely report back tomorrow night!