Not every angler is lucky enough to live by a large, deep body of water, or own a boat of their own. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find success fishing shallow water target zones! In fact, many anglers actually prefer shallow water for its accessibility and exciting action. One of the best benefits of shallow water fishing is that it can be done almost anywhere; a pond, a river, or a bank – you name it. The key is to master a few different shallow water techniques so you can always be prepared for a big catch, no matter what conditions may be.

One shallow water technique that we love at Lucky Tackle Box is power fishing. Power fishing is a great way to entice fish to bite, even when they’re sluggish, slow-moving, and not even that hungry. Instead of imitating the movement of baitfish food – like what happens during finesse fishing – power fishing is a more aggressive method that actually aggravates the fish and forces them to strike out of pure frustration. It’s most effective around fallen trees, vegetation, and heavy cover, which just so happens to be at an all-time high during warm summer months.

In a new Lucky Tackle Box video from Scot Arganbright and Erik Thue, the two long-time members of LTB Nation explain how to power fish in shallow water with three different lures from May’s “Shallow Water” box: the Outlander by Stellar Jigs, the Buzzbait by Clear Cut Lures, and the Killer Crank Bait by Lake Lunkers. By switching up your set ups with various lures and rigging styles, you can practice, practice, practice until your power fishing skills are perfect!

As Scot and Erik put it, power fishing is a great way to “cover the water, bang the banks, and catch some huge bucketmouths.” Let’s check out what they have to say about each unique lure from May’s box:

1) Outlander by Stellar Jigs
When paired with a Ringworm from Bait Rigs, the Outlander allows you to swim through grass, over fallen trees, and maneuver through heavy cover in shallow water. Scot likes to pair the jig with a medium heavy rod, a fast, high-speed reel, and 17-pound fluorocarbon line. That set up will allow you to jack the fish really hard and pull them out from that shallow water cover. By adding the Ringworm to the Outlander lure, you’ll also get more thump and flair, and bulk up the overall presentation.

2) Buzzbait by Clear Cut Lures
Next up is the Buzzbait by Clear Cut Lures, also paired with a Ringworm by Bait Rigs. According to Erik, this set up is especially effective during the AM and PM hours, or as he likes to call them, the “witching hours.” The Buzzbait is best in calm water when there’s a little bit of cloud cover, but it can also be fished in heavy cover and open water, which makes it an extremely versatile lure. Erik likes to pair the jig with a medium heavy rod, a medium speed reel, and a braided fishing line for extra pull.

3) Killer Crank Bait by Lake Lunkers

Last but not least is the Killer Crank Bait by Lake Lunkers, Scot’s personal favorite. The Killer Crank Bait will allow you to blow through all types of cover, fallen trees, rocks, docks pilings, and heavy vegetation. Scot likes to rig it with a medium rod, a 6.6:1 gear ratio reel, and 15-pound monofilament tournament-grade fishing line. Instead of using a steady retrieve with the Killer Crank Bait, try bouncing it off the cover, and then kill it. As you kill it, the bait will float up and trigger even more bites.

At the end of the day, it’s really up to YOU whether you prefer finesse fishing vs. power fishing, or deep water fishing vs. shallow water fishing. However, keep in mind that every technique has its pros and cons, and if one’s not working, why not try another? In general, any style of angling that attempts to draw reaction strikes vs. hungry bites can be referred to as “power fishing.” Remember – the more you know, the better you fish! And nobody works harder to help you fish better than Lucky Tackle Box.

Did you learn anything new in our Power Fishing video? Let us know! We always appreciate feedback from our online community of fun, friendly anglers. Our next video will be dedicated to topwater fishing, so be sure to stick around for more great information from Scot and Erik.

Tight lines out there, angler!

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Shallow Water Power Fishing: Video Transcription

Scot Arganbright:
Welcome back, LTB Nation. I’m Scot Arganbright.

Erik Thue:
I’m Erik Thue.

Scot Arganbright:
This month’s box has been dedicated specifically to shallow water fishing. If you missed our last video on shallow water finesse fishing, be sure to check that out.

Erik Thue:
Today though, we’re going to show you the flip side of the coin and we are going to be shallow water power fishing.

Scot Arganbright:
Let’s go.

Erik Thue:
Water temps are on the rise. The bass are up shallow. Conditions have been stable. This is a fantastic time to get out power fishing. You’ll have bait fish, including bluegills, up in the shallows. This is a great time to cover the water, bang the banks and catch some huge bucketmouths.

Scot Arganbright:
Power fishing is all about running and gunning. These three baits are perfect for that. First up we have the Stellar Jig paired with the Bait Rigs Ringworm. This is going to allow us to fish this bait a lot like the standard swim jigs, swimming it through the grass, over lay downs, and really at any type of cover up shallow while you’re power fishing.

Scot Arganbright:
I pair this jig with your medium heavy rod, a fast, high-speed reel, and 17 pound fluoro. That’s going to allow me to have a direct connection to these fish, jack them really hard and get them out of that shallow water cover.

Erik Thue:
Fishing the Stellar Jig is a great way for power fishing. This bait definitely performs up in the shallows, but as I’m working this bait, I can give it a couple of rod pumps and allow that bait to jump and hop. This bait, I can also just drop my rod tip and just continue on a steady retrieve. Adding the Ringworm from Bait Rigs onto that Stellar Jig, that’s going to add a little bit more thump, a little bit more flair, some color, and also bulking up that presentation.

Erik Thue:
Next up is the Buzzbait by Clear Cut Lures. I’ve also paired this with the Ringworm by Bait Rigs. This is a fantastic top water bait for shallow water conditions, is traditionally fished in the AM and PM hours, or what I like to call the witching hours. The Buzzbait is also something that can be fished throughout the day with given conditions. Ideally, you’re looking for flat calm, a little bit of cloud cover, and that is something that can be fished in heavy cover and open water. I paired this right on down to braided line so I have a direct connection to my hook sets. I have a medium heavy action rod, so I make sure I can pull fish out of heavy cover if need be, right down to the bait casting reel in a medium speed gear ratio.

Erik Thue:
That fish came right off a log. I was able to run this Buzzbait right over the top of it. She was just laid underneath it. She snuck right up and just absolutely inhaled it. Quite a ride and quite a riot on top.

Scot Arganbright:
Last but not least we’ve got my personal favorite, the Lake Lunkers Killer Crank. This bait is going to allow us to go through all types of different cover, lay downs, rocks, dock pilings, and really just jack on those fish up shallow. I’ve got that rigged with a medium action bait casting rod with your Lucky Extra 15 pound monofilament tournament-grade fishing line. Let’s get to fishing.

Scot Arganbright:
All right, gang. Really what caught me that fish is I’m not doing just a steady retrieve, just reeling that bait in. I’m bouncing it off the cover and then I’ll kill it. I’ll speed it up really fast and burn that bait and hit another piece of cover and kill it. As you kill it, that bait is going to float up.

Erik Thue:
Ooh, get that.

Scot Arganbright:
A lot of the times that’s going to trigger more bites, more fish are going to see that and react to it, and you’re going to catch more fish. That’s a giant.

Erik Thue:
That’s a big fish, hey. Nice fish, dude. Bruh.

Scot Arganbright:
Now that we’ve given you the tips to become a better power fisherman, it’s your turn to get out there and run and gun.

Erik Thue:
If you have any questions, be certain to comment below. Definitely give it a like and subscribe.

Scot Arganbright:
Make sure you stay tuned for the next one because it’s going to be a banger, because it’s top water season.

Erik Thue:
Oh yeah.

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