Effectively Fishing Rip Rap

Effectively Fishing Rip Rap shoreline all looks about the same from a distance. So you have to get up close and fish it. Then you’ll start seeing the little irregularities in the rocks that hold bass. Rip rap fishing is a haven for bass on waterways lacking natural cover. It holds baitfish and usually has current running against the rocks. Therefore, bass use it as an ambush spot, making it crucial for your fishing strategy.

Rip rap is a universal form of cover for bass. No matter whether you are bass fishing natural lakes of the upper Midwest, highland reservoirs of the Ozarks, or muddy, tidal waters of the gulf coast – more than likely you will encounter riprap. Rip rap is extremely common because it is used to mark borders of man-made lakes. Furthermore, effectively fishing rip rap is essential because it helps to fortify the structure of natural lakes.

The strike zone for Rip Rap bass is usually within 2 to 3 feet

One thing I quickly learned about rip-rap on lakes and reservoirs was that there is more to fishing this cover than simply casting to those rocks. To be successful fishing current riprap, you have to concentrate
on more than just the bass. You need to be precise with boat positioning, and where to cast and how to retrieve your lure. You must also pay close attention to other factors such as the wind. Remember, effectively fishing rip rap comes involves watching the wind (not only when fishing riprap but in all your fishing). While the visible cover, a wall of rocks, often provides plenty of fishing action, what’s farther below may be even better. At the bottom of most riprap, there is a drop-off or small ledge where the riprap is piled on the bottom. Most riprap has about a 40-degree angle and may stair step to the bottom.

The strike zone for rip rap bass is usually within 2 to 3 feet of the shoreline. However, some hot spots exist in deeper water. You can locate these hidden treasures by keeping a vigil on your electronics. Effectively fishing rip rap allows you to find bass holding along the edge where a steep riprap bank flattens out on the bottom or on any sunken roadbeds that were originally used by dump trucks hauling rocks to the riprap.

Excerpts taken from Lee’s new book “Strategies for Bass“.