Zack Birge’s Backwater Plan
If you follow the Bass Pro Tour, you’re well aware of Oklahoma pro Zack Birge. He’s a constant threat everywhere he goes and much of his success comes from finding places that others either miss or can’t find a way into.
It’s all part of his fishing style borne from his upbringing fishing shallow rivers and backwaters. He’s brought that approach with him to the professional ranks. He’ll be the first to admit that it doesn’t always pan out, but he’s still willing to give it a shot.
“I grew up fishing the Arkansas River. That’s the biggest reason I fish the way I do,” Birge said. “We were always going over rock jetties or running way up creeks. Living in a shallow water region of the country help shape my fishing style and I’ve always been one to try to finagle my way into little ponds and backwaters to get to fish that others don’t spend the time to access.”
Birge added that he’s not afraid to fish offshore in deeper water, but if given a choice, he’ll be in ultra-shallow water and offered a few tips on locating and fishing these locations.
Finding and Accessing “Off the Wall Spots”
Locating backwaters and other overlooked areas often comes down to research on Google Earth for Birge.
“Google Earth is your best friend,” Birge shared. “I study it and it helps to guide me to some hidden places that others don’t find. If you find a place that other guys won’t go into, you’ll often find less pressured fish.”
Just because you find something on a satellite image, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to access it with a bass boat and Birge has learned that the hard way, including when he beached his boat at REDCREST on the Upper Mississippi River.
“It takes a lot of experience driving in shallow water and you can stick a boat real fast, I mean, I did it at REDCREST. You always have to be extra careful when maneuvering shallow water, so you don’t hit anything or tear up your boat.”
Because of this, Birge utilizes his trolling motor or idling his boat through spots first to check the route. “You have to be safe and check things out first before you just decide to run into a backwater.”
Shallow Water Techniques
Once he finds himself safely inside these hidden areas, Birge keeps it simple with bait selection.
“Most of the time, it’s tight quarters fishing and I do a lot of flipping and pitching or throwing frogs,” he said. “A squarebill is another great choice and I’ll also throw a finesse spinnerbait. If the water is really dirty, I like to add an orange kicker blade to it.”
A Wild Goose Chase
Birge, an avid waterfowl hunter, has been led astray on long journeys into backwaters more times than he likes to admit.
“Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and I’d say that that happens more times than it pays off,” Birge said. “But you have to take that risk. Not every little creek or slough is going to be full of fish and you have to be willing to burn a few hours of your day because it might just pay off big, you just never know.”