There are a lot of deep water lakes in the states. In fact, most lakes I fish have depths over 20 feet. Look at some of the lakes in the northeast and you will see water ranging up to and over 75 feet. However, there are tons of lakes that are shallow.

Take Lake Okeechobee in Florida. The average depth of this lake is under 10 feet and it is one of the largest on the East Coast. I grew up on Long Island, NY. The deepest lake we had was Lake Ronkonkoma, and it was only 50 plus, but it was the anomaly as virtually every other lake on the island averaged well under 25 feet at its deepest point.

I am not going to say which is easier, finding bass in shallow lakes or deep, as both have their own attributes, but for this piece let's focus on how to find bass in shallow lakes, and also how to catch them.This feisty smallmouth bass was caught by fishing a point in less than 4 feet of water.

Bass Cover in Shallow Water

To me, finding bass in any lake, whether it is deep or shallow, is some form of cover. For shallow lakes, cover can be anything that directly blocks the sun, or gives a bass an ambush point.

Finding bass in shallow water lakes can be easy as they offer ample cover and ambush points.

Grass and More Grass

Grass is no doubt one of the best places to search for bass in shallow water lakes. Grass holds a variety of small plankton, baitfish and larger baitfish. The larger baitfish is what a bass is looking for.

Grass comes in a lot of varieties like coontail, hydrilla, milfoil and eel grass, all of which have their own differences, but all will hold what a bass is looking for. Grass can be easily spotted from a boat's electronics or just by scanning the surface. From the shore, look for darker patches in the water as this will more than likely indicate grass.

To fish the grass, anglers can throw a variety of lures from worms, crankbaits, swimbaits, blade baits and topwater frogs. For shallow water fishing however, I prefer either to fish slower creature and worm baits fished slowly and dragged through the cover or small swimbaits rigged weedless and swam through the cover slowly.

Lily Pad Fields

Lily pad fields abound throughout the United States and come into full bloom from spring through the entire year. In fact, some southern states will have lily pad fields year round. Lily pad fields are always in shallow water as they thrive best in waters under 5 feet in depth.

You will always find bass in these areas, but that does not mean it is easy. If you look at a lily pad field, pick out holes in the pads, and that is your best bet. These holes were made by a bass blowing through the field. These holes are short lived as they will close back up, so any hole you see probably indicates there is a bass close by.

The best way to fish lily pad fields for bass is with weedless frogs. Weedless frogs can be hopped, swam, jerked, or allowed to lie motionless. As I said above, holes are the key.

When I fish a weedless frog, for the most part, I am searching holes. I will make a cast, then slowly hop, jerk or swim slowly until I get to a hole. Once the frog is in the hole, I will allow it sit, just like a live frog would do in the opening. A slight twitch or two could be all it takes for a giant to blow up.When looking for bass in shallow water lakes, lily pads and frogs will have them jumping in the boat.

Fishing structure in Shallow Water

"What the heck is the structure" you might ask. To me, structure is anything in the water that is submerged in depths of 5 feet or less for the most part. Look, we all know the lakes we fish are not always the pristine perfect bodies of water.

Many anglers I know, including myself, fish small kettle holes, overflow ponds and manmade ones that sometimes see debris. structure comes in two forms, natural and manmade. Natural structure would be blown down trees and dying grass, while manmade could be concrete, construction debris that somehow made its way to the lakes bottom.

Heck, I caught a 5 pound bass on Long Island several years ago by dropping a jig in front of one of those orange hazard cones. The bass was lying inside it.

To fish the structure, jigs are the key in shallow water. I use 3/8 or 1/2 ounce jigs in blue with a blue trailer, green with green pumpkin trailer or some form of bluegill pattern and trailer.

Allow the jig to settle several feet away from the structure, then work it towards it. Hop it slightly, or swim it slowly for best results.There is no better way to find bass in a shallow lake then by casting parallel to the shoreline.

Fishing Shallow Lakes at Night

The last option for finding bass in shallow waters is by fishing the dark side, after dark. As the sun sets and the waters cool, bass will filter towards shore in search of easy pickings.

If you can find a shoreline that has some semblance of light, whether it be a dock, street lights or residential lights that shine on the water, you are home free. Lights will bring small baitfish, which in turn will bring in the bass.

When fishing after dark, there are several options that will yield good results. The first is a black Jitterbug, while the second is a black or dark colored Slug-Go soft plastic fished weedless.

For the Jitterbug, cast parallel to shore and just slowly reel in, making sure to come within several feet of the lighted area or the shoreline. For the Slug-Go, fish it slow and methodical along the shore or skip it under docks and overhangs.

FAQ: Shallow Water Fishing for Bass

What Lures Work Best for Bass?

For shallow water bass, topwater lures like frogs, poppers, and buzzbaits are highly effective. These lures create surface commotion that mimics fleeing prey, triggering explosive strikes from ambushing bass in grass, lily pads, and near shoreline cover.

How to Locate Fish?

Focus on natural cover and ambush points such as grass beds, lily pad fields, submerged logs, and shoreline structures. Look for dark patches or holes in lily pads, which indicate recent bass activity. Casting near these areas often produces bites.

When is the Best Time to Catch Bass?

Early morning and late afternoon are prime times in shallow lakes. Bass move toward cover to hunt baitfish during low-light conditions, and fishing near docks or illuminated shorelines in the evening can be especially productive.

What Line Should I Use?

For shallow water bass, braided line is recommended because it provides excellent strength and sensitivity while cutting through grass and vegetation. Pair it with a fluorocarbon leader in clear water for added invisibility and abrasion resistance.

Finding bass in shallow lakes is not that difficult. Follow these guidelines and hit the water with your favorite KastKing rod and reel combos.

To learn more bass fishing how-to tips, click here：

How to Fish Bass During the Winter Season?

How To Fish a Chatterbait for Bass Fishing

How to Rig a Drop Shot for Bass

Bass Fishing Techniques: Flipping, Pitching, Punching, and Skipping