Fishing in Shallow Water
During this time of year, bass can be found lurking around shallow water. This happens when bass move to the shallows to chase shad, which like to spawn in the coves. Additionally, shallow water is much warmer throughout the day making it a prime place to hunt prey.

In these conditions, bass anglers enjoy throwing shallow-running crankbaits, huge texas-rigged plastic worms, or some sort of flipping jig. But if you’re looking to mix things up a bit, try using a drop shot or a wacky rig to fish these shallow waters. Some anglers believe that drop-shot rigs are strictly meant for deep-water fishing, which is not true. By adjusting the distance between the hook and weight you can land fish in the shallowest of waters.

For your drop shot rig, I would recommend using a 7’’ medium-action spinning setup combined with 8lbs fluorocarbon line. Fluorocarbon is almost invisible underwater and creates less drag on whatever bait you are fishing. Be sure to use a wide-gap hook that is 8’-10’ above your ¼ oz. drop weight.

As far as baits go, I have found that using some sort of 6’-8’ finesse worm in green pumpkin works best. On your retrieve, be sure to bounce or drag that lure into areas where bass are likely to ambush your bait. These areas can include places such as structures, weedlines, or pockets of grass that bass can hide. Try shaking the tip of your rod during your retrieve to make that bait look as alive and as natural as possible.

The other method for fishing shallow waters is to use the wacky rig setup. What is great about the wacky rig is that it keeps the bait in the strike zone longer thus leading to more action. To setup a wacky rig, try using a 7’’ spinning rod with about 8-10lbs fluorocarbon line. I would recommend using a wacky rig hook, which is a short-shank, wide-gap hook with round bends. Simply take that hook and run it through the thickest portion of your bait.

Well, we hope these tips help the next time you find yourself fishing shallow waters. We would love to hear how these tips have helped you land more fish. Feel free to join us on Facebook where you can view tips, tricks, and post pictures of your latest catch. Until next time, take care and tight lines!