Fishing a Point, Boat Position

[LoomisLover]

When fishing a point, be it with crankbait, spinnerbait, T-Rig, C-Rig, or jig ... How far from the bank do you position the boat? I know this will vary depending on the point and timing, but generally speaking if you are fishing a fairly deep point in late sping/summer how do you approach it? A cast length away from the bank, 2 cast lengths, what? I know the fish hold on points a differnt depths, should the fish be the only determinent?

Thanks

[FlyLie]

When fishing a point, be it with crankbait, spinnerbait, T-Rig, C-Rig, or jig ... How far from the bank do you position the boat? I know this will vary depending on the point and timing, but generally speaking if you are fishing a fairly deep point in late sping/summer how do you approach it? A cast length away from the bank, 2 cast lengths, what? I know the fish hold on points a differnt depths, should the fish be the only determinent?

Thanks

No expert here, but unless you know the patten, then you need to find same, suggest starting out about 3 cast lengths working your way around the point, then MOVE in to 2 lengths and repeat, then one length and repeat! (In that way, you don't spook fish) If no fish then ???????, that's what's its all about is't it!!! Some call it fishing Takes a lot of will power...which I don't have much of...then just change lures and .....

[LoomisLover]

yea, thats a good way to go about it. sounds simple but I have never thought about it that way.

usually I judge from fish spotted on the depth finder, but find that even on points/banks I will catch fish in very particular spots and have trouble finding that zone again

[FlyLie]

yea, thats a good way to go about it. sounds simple but I have never thought about it that way.

usually I judge from fish spotted on the depth finder, but find that even on points/banks I will catch fish in very particular spots and have trouble finding that zone again

Think about this....If you run over them TO SPOT THEM ON YOUR FISH FINDER (SONAR), YOU MAY/MIGHT/MOST LIKELY "SPOOKED THEM". Suggestion, never run over a Point with your Sonar/trolling motor until you have fished it, and then only to confirm if fish are/or not there, in order to establish a pattern. Just my humble opinion.

[bassman_ky]

The way I have always found fish on a point or spot is run over it with my boat and graph fish before fishing it. If I see a school of arcs I will fish the spot, if no arcs then move on to the next point or spot. But a boat idling over a spot will not spook bass. I have done this numerous times and never had a problem spooking fish. They may not be active and bite but you know they are there. My marker bouy is my best friend when idling over a spot. Throw the bouy of to the side and fish the spot. If you get bit, find a line in front, behind and 90 degrees out to the side. If you dont have gps and you cant remember your line write it down with specific details. This should help you out.

[FlyLie]

The way I have always found fish on a point or spot is run over it with my boat and graph fish before fishing it. If I see a school of arcs I will fish the spot, if no arcs then move on to the next point or spot. But a boat idling over a spot will not spook bass. I have done this numerous times and never had a problem spooking fish. They may not be active and bite but you know they are there. My marker bouy is my best friend when idling over a spot. Throw the bouy of to the side and fish the spot. If you get bit, find a line in front, behind and 90 degrees out to the side. If you dont have gps and you cant remember your line write it down with specific details. This should help you out.

You could be right, maybe I'm TOO MUCH of a SM fisherman, OR Just to TIMID!!!

[dabassking]

I agree with everyone else. Work it like a laydown, from the outside in. Or in this case, from deep to shallow.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

Think about this....If you run over them TO SPOT THEM ON YOUR FISH FINDER (SONAR), YOU MAY/MIGHT/MOST LIKELY "SPOOKED THEM". Suggestion, never run over a Point with your Sonar/trolling motor until you have fished it, and then only to confirm if fish are/or not there, in order to establish a pattern. Just my humble opinion.

then you should not ever be able to catch fish on a jigging spoon.
once you catch fish at a particular depth say 12ft at any place on the lake,or if you see fish,holding at particular depth while you are running,position so you fish that depth as far away as you can cast,watch if you see fish as you fish the point,once you locate the depth they are holding,which usually will be consistent for you bigger fish,then notice if they are on top of the point,the tip end where it drop etc.it usually will hold true for the rest of the places.now if i pull on the first point of the day i will start on the very end and work up to the shallow.

[johnking82]

I agree deep to shallow, a lot of people will fish the bank leading up to the point and then make a few casts across the point neglecting the deeper portion of it and just focusing on the same depth they were fishing the banks at.

[bassman_ky]

Most of the time there is a sweet spot on a point. You can fish all around and try and find that spot but usually you can idle over the point and pretty much find the sweet spot. To me that saves a lot of time. In a tournament or not I want to spend my fishing time in productive water. If I can find a school on my graph I at least know I'm around them. Doesn't mean I can make them bite but at least give me confidence they are there. It is hard for me to fish my bait correctly if I'm just fan casting a point hoping to get a bite.

[Ritchie270]

Thanks for this thread and all the replies, this was very informative to me. I'm no where near an "expert", probably a low intermediate at best, but I try to do what bassman ky is saying when I fish points. What always frustrates me is when I see arches on my sonar that I'm 90% sure are bass by there position in relation to structure, baitfish etc and I still can't get a hit. That's the fun in fishing I guess

[walkeraviator]

This is super informative to me as the graph on my Dads rig is crap...so idling over to find fish is a waste of time, and using a crankbait or spinner to locate fish using the above deep to challow method seems like a logical way to find fish on a point...