Parallel Cranking Riprap
Steve R. Smith
The
purpose of this article is to discuss a technique that I use frequently on
Rivers and man-made reservoirs here in Ohio.
Riprap or chunk rock walls are used to battle erosion and can be a great
place to put together a limit of fish.
Whether you are out for fun, or fishing a tournament, riprap is an
excellent place to fish during your fishing day.
The following article will focus on the key elements
that can make this type of man-made structure a big part of your fishing
day. The key elements are the
following:
This technique can be used during any type of weather from
spring to late fall. One strong factor
in your favor is a breeze or wind blowing into, or parallel to the bank that
you plan on fishing. The depth of the
water along the bank is very important to consider when fishing clearer
water. I prefer to fish slightly
stained water if depth is less than 5 feet unless there is a good breeze.
What is a good riprap bank?
The textbook bank to look for is a stretch of bank created by
assorted sized chunk boulders and rocks with depths anywhere from 3 to 20
feet. The bank will extend out into the
lake or river at a steep angle. Low
water periods are a great time to get a good look at these banks just to see
why Bass will relate to them. The holes
and pockets formed by the stacked rocks provide excellent points of ambush for
Bass.
Because the wind is an important component to this technique,
Boat control is a major factor in its success.
If you have no desire to ding your prop or rub the bank, make sure you
are being careful. Here is how to fish
the bank effectively and keep your bait the only possession that is careening
off the rocks. If fishing with the
breeze or wind, you are actually performing a controlled “drift”. If the wind is strong and you are an Erie
fisherman, throw out your drift anchor if you want to slow down. (In rivers, use the current as you would the
wind) Turn your outboard so it is steering the back of the boat away from the
bank. This will allow you to focus on
controlling the front of the boat.
Select your position off the bank based on the depth of the
water and where the fish might be holding.
Fishing with the wind at your back is an excellent way to cover some
water quickly if that is your desire. If you turn around and decide to fish
into the wind, adjust the outboard accordingly and use your trolling motor to
move back along the bank. An important
enough point to put in the this section is; If you catch a fish, STOP THE BOAT,
hold that position, and throw back along the same path a few more times.
The best
way to get the most out of a pass down or up the bank is to throw a bait that
will get down to a variety of depths and will skip, bounce, or careen off of
the submerged rock. Since most depths
that I fish range from 3 to 14 feet, I throw a 300 or 400 series Bandit or the
equivalent. This way, in three casts
during the drift I can cover 3 different depth levels along the bank:
1) Right up against the bank/water edge.
2) Mid-range depth
3) The outer deeper edge of the riprap (on deep
sloping banks).
A crank bait
with high buoyancy will hit cover and not hang up as much as a heavier one with
less buoyancy will. Throw the lightest
line you are comfortable with to assure you are getting the best depth out of
your chosen bait. Long Casts are also a
benefit because more water is covered.
Color choices can range from shad colored to craw. Any forage that may be found around the
rocks is fair game.
Base the speed you fish on what you feel the conditions dictate. If you are looking for a quick keeper or two, fish quickly and cover as much of the area as you can. If you believe the bank holds good numbers, Slow down and hit each depth level mentioned above a number of times.
This is a technique is a big part of my arsenal in the bodies of water that have this type of man made structure. Like any other technique there is a time and a place where it will work best. Hopefully, I have provided you with a blue-print to start with if you choose try it on your favorite lake.
Good Luck!