Going to do some bank fishing with this nice weather coming.

[catfishjunkie]

Haven't been able to do any fishing since early fall, so I told the old man we'd go out this weekend with this nice weather coming.

Plan is to target mainly channel cats, but but we'll pretty much settle for anything we can catch from the bank.

Can anyone recommend some places with public access to fish the lake? Last year we tried out hardy, oak grove, leesville dam (both sides) with not much luck. I plan on buying a boat this year to solve this problem, but with just having a baby last week. The ol lady says I have to wait till spring.

Also, any recommendations on places to cast net shad or alwives from the bank? Would love to have some good cut bait. Gonna set some traps in the creek today an try and get some minnows, but I'd much rather some size on my bait.

Thanks for any help fellas!

[catfishjunkie]

Nothing? Welp. I guess I'll figure it out and let you guys know how it goes. Thanks!

[mwardncsu]

Was hoping others might have some bank insight - not familiar with options where you can fish from the bank myself.

As to shad - it has been deep - wonder if some may be moving shallow this weekend with the warmer temps but don't know.


Congrats on the baby - get some sleep while your fishing

[Gator]

Jan 29, 2016 22:53:36 GMT -5 catfishjunkie said:

Nothing? Welp. I guess I'll figure it out and let you guys know how it goes. Thanks!

That's what we all do in the end. We figure it out and that's the fun part. SML is not a bank fishing friendly lake. Try the new fishing dock at the Scruggs ramp. good luck

[striperjohn]

Many years ago when my boat was in the shop myself and a buddy decided to try some bank fishing from the State Park. This was before they built the new section of the State Park on the west side with the fishing pier. We'd get out near turtle island on the east side and did real good on catfish, and caught a few stripers.
Just last year, I talked with a guy fishing that new pier on the west side. He had he hung his lantern off the side and then netted quite a few shad and alewives there just before daylight tossing a 6ft net. He had a couple nice stripers maybe 27-28 inches that he and his wife had caught. He was just about out of bait so my friend and I filled his bucket up with alewives (had no shad). But I see people fishing from that pier quite a bit. I have no idea how to drive in to it from that side of the lake however one of these guys on here can probably help. Hope this isn't too late.

[BentRod]

Scruggs Rd to Bluewater to get out to the new county park pier

[fly]

State Park
Usually can get by with fishing at some of the marina's as long as you keep quit and don't raise any hell.