Rip-Rap & Rock

[Cortez Tackle]

Rip-Rap & Rock (aka: 0-5-20)

Pattern:The first key element of this pattern is finding shoreline that transitions from 0-5’ then transitions into 20’ or more. The second key element is that the shore area you are targeting is rocky, whether it is rip-rap or larger rocks. The third and crucial element is that there be structure in both transition zones, this can be in the form of grass patches, brush pockets, boulders, etc. These areas can be found on main lake shorelines, in coves, on points, around islands, etc… It’s not dependent on the area of the lake, rather the specific shoreline and type of structure in the area.

Structure:Once you find the rocky shoreline, the structure you want to be targeting is grass patches, brush pockets, boulders, etc. You want there to be structure in both of the transition zones. This type of structure provides what I call shadow pockets. The shadow pockets are ambush sites for bass, and when you employ this technique you will be dropping your lure right into the ambush site.

Time of year:This technique/pattern is very versatile, and can be used virtually any time of year. It has been used it with great success, on Lake Mead in July, Apache Lake in November, Lake Roosevelt in January, and Lake Havasu in March.

Technique:The technique is pretty straight forward, once you’ve located areas with the above mentioned key elements, you will want to target ALL spots that create shade, or shadow pockets, you will want to cast onto the shore right at the waters edge, next drag the lure into the water crawling it over the rocks, and drop into the 1st zone shadow pockets.
- Keep your line taught, stay in contact with your line, and watch your line.
- The bite can be a good thump, or a soft pick up, and sometimes they will swim off with it.
If you don’t get a bite on the first drop, then slow crawl your lure until it drops into the next zone it may free fall for a while but just stay in contact with and watch your line. Retrieve your lure and keep repeating the process all the down the shoreline

Lure:
- Cortez Tackle – Deadly Venom Jig - 1/2oz in either Burnt Watermelon, Green Pumpkin/Hot Craw or, with a Berkley Chigger Craw in Green Pumpkin.
- Cortez Tackle – Killer Craw in green pumpkin, or craw orange swirl, Texas rigged on a 4/0 worm hook 1/4oz - 3/8oz bullet weight pegged at the hook.
- Dropshotworm.com – Ring 4.0 in Bluegill, salt & Pepper, or Green Pumpkin, Texas rigged on a 3/0 worm hook, 1/4oz bullet weight pegged 6”-8”.
- Cortez Tackle – Deadly Swim’R Jig – 1/2oz in either Blue Back, TN Shad, or PMKN/GRN Baitfish, and a 3” Mad Kick’R Grub