Bass anglers who fish from shore, whether by choice or not, face obvious mobility limitations and, even if you're up for a lot of walking, the bank is the bank — you take what it gives you. One of the key principles here, is recognizing water dynamics and leveraging them to your benefit.
On the shallow Florida lakes and ponds I fish, it's all about finding those key areas where cover, depth and access align. One of my favorite ponds where I enjoy direct shoreline access has a cement seawall with a storm water drain pipe next to the property from which I access the pond. Next to the pipe, a small wooden dock provides shady cover that meets the edge of a small pad field that covers about 200 square feet.
Basically, it's a dream setup for pitching, skipping and crappie style shooting baits under dock cover and working the pads with topwater and perimeter presentations. But for now, I want to share two examples of how I've learned to play this scenario — one specific, one general. Consider the broad applicability of these lessons wherever you fish from shore.