The only local lake I have access to is awful. It's overfished, crowded, small, shallow, really easy to get snagged, and bass are very hard to come by. But deadlining catfish is super easy.
So I got wondering if there's anything similar for bass? Something that you can cast way out and watch without having to constantly reel it in and cast back out. This place is also over crowded, so it's not at all easy to go walking around the whole lake looking for the fish.
I considered giving it a shot with minnows or maybe a bread ball with some of the smelly "bass attractant" stuff.
Has anyone tried this?
As for actual lures, I've tried everything. Crankbaits, lipless cranks, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, senkos, jigs, you name it. Most things don't work because the water is so shallow unless you can cast way, way out. Which I can't with these really light lures. Then once they're out there, they snag nonstop on the grass, logs, and rocks.
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by Deadpoolien
Ned rig or Texas rig might work. Today I was fishing somewhat clear water and nothing was getting bit except a ned rig. Even smaller fish and shad took a hit at it by the bank
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by SamuraiPineapple
I've been trying Texas rig for a while, too. Have never gotten a bite on it despite multiple different baits.
I'm kinda worried the baits are way too big. The bass in this lake don't seem like they top three pounds, if that.
Also, do you think it would work trying to deadline it or would it probably only work on retrieve?
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by Deadpoolien
Goldfish/bluegill on bottom alive. With a three way swivel. Give the hook leader about 2 foot of length and the weighted leader 1 foot. You might still catch catfish on this setup but if there are bass they will eat too. Pick a bait that is local to that body of water if goldfish or some kind of bluegill is not.
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by docfrayfray
Your best bet would be live minnows/bluegill/sunfish under a bobber or on 3 way swivel rig.
I fish for walleye in the spring with a carolina rig. I usually use 2 rods, but I can only work one at a time, so one is usually a dead line with a nightcrawler. My catch percentage is usually 70% walleye 30% bass by just slowly dragging the crawler back to me. This sounds like its not an option for you with the snags.
My dead line almost never gets hit, and if it does it is a walleye. The only time it has ever been hit by a bass was when I was using live bluegill.
If i was determined to use bait here, I'd probably try a minnow under a slip bobber.
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by Mudsnail
Top water buzz bait may work for a dead line. Has weight to it so it will cast out a ways for tomorrow. Once out there you can leave it. Twitch it occasionally. Let the natural water movement work it for you
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