Fishing for Bass on Man-made Structure

Fishing along man-made features like riprap banks and roadbeds is little different than working natural features such as shoreline breaks and weedlines. Bass may scatter over a long distance, so you must keep moving until you find them.

But when fishing around man-made features like docks and bridge pilings, you know exactly where to look. To catch bass holding tight to these features, cast beyond the spot where the fish are likely to be. Then retrieve the lure so it passes only inches away. When fishing a straight-edged feature like a house foundation, chances are that bass will be lined up near the base of the wall along the shady side. Many fishermen make the mistake of casting at right angles to the wall, then pulling the lure away. With this technique, the lure is in the strike zone for only an instant, so it would take dozens of casts to cover the wall completely. Instead, position your boat so you can cast parallel to the edge. Your lure will stay in the strike zone for most of the retrieve, enabling you to cover the edge quickly and thoroughly. This method also works well for fishing around natural structure and cover.

To work a specific spot like a bridge piling, jig vertically around the perimeter while working different depths. Some anglers intentionally mis-tune a crankbait so it veers toward hard-to-reach locations like the spaces between dock posts.