Panfishing In and Around Riprap

[cst]

Panfishing In and Around Riprap by Chris Tutunjian

Fishing rip rap is really fun and very productive. A really good lake to fish riprap is the Castaic Lagoon, this is where I do most of my fishing and I don’t think I have ever got skunked when fishing the riprap for panfish.
WHERE TO FISH
Fishing riprap is best done off shore, though a boat or a float tube would work too. There are two general areas you could fish when your targeting the riprap, you could be casting in the gaps between each rock or casting out to were the riprap meets the sand bottom, in Castaic Lagoon this is anywhere from 5-15 feet deep.
IN: Lots of fish hide in between the rocks, which, to them, are the Beverly Hills of lakes. The rocks soak in all the sun and during winter, right after a hot day, this is usually the warmest part of the lake and holds the more active fish. These rocks provide great hiding places and ambush points too and fish won't give them up without a fight.
AROUND: If you find a riprap bank that leads to a sandy bottom with scattered structure and weeds like cabbage, you can have some productive fishing as well. An interesting note about fishing these areas is that most of the fish are bluegill and there aren’t as many Redears or Green Sunfish.
HOW TO CATCH
Rods and Reels: I like using ultra light rods with matching reels. You can use 2-6 pound test and I recommend the 4 pound test P-Line. This rod and reel will work for both baits and lures so there is no need to bring more then one rod.
Bait: Pretty much any type of worm will work. I like using a third or even a fourth of a nightcrawler or half of an Alabama Jumper, but meal worms, wax worms, red worms, earth worms, etc will all work too.
Rigging: There are 3 ways I rig the worms. You can rig with a split shot about 4 – 6 inches above your hook, a jig head from 1/80 to 1/32 of an ounce, or fly lining nightcrawler chunks.
Bait Fishing Tips: Either cast the fly lined nightcrawler chunks into a group of bluegill and let the nightcrawler drift and do its thing or get your split shot or jig and worm and drop them in between the gaps that the rocks make. When fishing with the split shot you will only feel one VERY small tap so wait 2 seconds after that and gently set the hook.
Lures: My favorite category is trout worms. Crème Trout Worms, Power Bait Trout Worms, Trout Magnets, and Lip Ripperz (haven’t tried these but others have had success with them) in colors like natural, pink, orange and black all work, though I think the natural catches more fish.
Rigging: I like wacky rigging half of a Crème Trout Worm or a whole Power Bait Trout Worm and just fly lining them or putting half to three fourths Power Bait Trout Worm or a trout magnet on 1/80th to 1/64th jig head.
Lure Fishing Tips: When your wacky rigging the worm, just cast it and let it get drifted by the current, if you don’t get bit after a while of drifting just jerk it and reel in slowly. As for the jig heads, cast them as far as you can and reel in slowly while moving your rod up and down slowly or just place it in the gaps. The sunfish, especially the green sunfish are very territorial and will almost always bite anything that is placed in their hole.
CONCLUSION
Fishing the riprap is fun, productive and relaxing so if your just fishing for the sake I suggest you try it, and remember try to practice catch and release.


Had a while to waste so i decided I'd write this for anyone who cares, hope you guys enjoy it.

[Wahoo!]

Great article cst! Very good information. Thanks for sharing!