Ready to access secluded backwaters and escape the fishing pressure of overfished main lake community holes?
MLF Pro Keith Poche is renowned for his unique and effective backwater fishing techniques, primarily utilizing his custom Gator Trax boat for navigating extremely shallow and challenging waters. In this seminar with Bass University, Keith shares his expert methods for identifying, accessing, and successfully fishing productive off-the-grid backwater areas, a specialized style he has honed over 15 years as a professional angler.
Recently, Keith celebrated a victory at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational, where he successfully accessed remote backwater creeks and ponds to secure his win, demonstrating the effectiveness of his distinctive "off the grid" approach. During the seminar, he teaches how he masterfully utilizes technology, such as Google Earth Pro, as his number one tool to locate these often-overlooked areas during practice. He explains crucial insights on how to use Google Earth to determine fluctuations in water levels and which areas can maintain a year-round bass population. He also covers what specific physical features and transitions to look for, such as grass edges that reveal deeper water, and how to identify optimal backwater fishing environments. Poche emphasizes that he is continually on the lookout for hidden fishing spots that harbor unpressured fish, which provides a significant competitive edge in tournaments, as these fish often bite more readily. The seminar also delves into seasonal fish migration patterns within these backwaters, specific tackle recommendations, and essential boat handling techniques for navigating challenging access points. Accessing these secret fishing spots can require some specialized tools (like chainsaws or wenches). He even describes how to "jump" over logs with your boat.
If you're interested in exploring remote backwaters and discovering unpressured bass for a competitive advantage or simply for the thrill of finding untouched fishing grounds, this comprehensive seminar with MLF Pro Keith Poche will broaden your understanding of how to identify, approach, and effectively fish these unique areas that can host large bass, offering invaluable insights for your own shallow water fishing trips.
Disclaimer: The maneuvers shown and discussed in this video should not be attempted without proper training, experience, and equipment. Attempting these techniques is done at your own risk and can cause serious damage to your property and personal harm.
Shallow Backwater Bass Fishing Class Chapters

0:15: Keith Poche's BackgroundUnderstand MLF Pro Keith Poche's unique journey and "off the grid" fishing philosophy that has defined his 15-year professional bass fishing career, revealing how he found his winning edge by applying what he loves to competition and through years of trial and error.
2:40: Shallow Backwater FishingDive into the core of Keith's "off the grid" strategy, learning what specific backwater areas to target—from hidden creeks to secluded ponds—and how these unique environments consistently hold big bass that others overlook, often because they lack the equipment to access them.
17:10: Google EarthUnlock the power of Google Earth Pro as Keith's primary scouting tool. Discover how to leverage it's features to identify stable, fish-holding backwaters that maintain consistent water during drawdowns or droughts, and discern subtle visual cues like grass edges and bank lines and why those reveal productive areas.
20:05: Gear and PreparationPrepare like a pro for extreme shallow-water access. Keith details the essential gear, like winches and push-poles, and teaches his technique for "jumping" logs with your boat—even a fiberglass one—enabling you to reach truly untouched waters while keeping your spots concealed.
25:20: Beaver DamsGain insight into fishing around beaver dams. While Keith has experience navigating them, he shares why they might not be as productive for big bass as other backwater structures and tend to hold numbers rather than larger fish, guiding you on where to focus your efforts for a better return.
26:27: ElectronicsRe-evaluate your use of electronics in shallow water. Keith demonstrates how he uniquely utilizes LiveScope and other depth finders to locate critical underwater structure like hidden stumps, submerged grass, and rock piles that harbor big bass, even in ultra shallow water, emphasizing its importance beyond just spotting fish.
28:32: Deeper Water & Fishing PressureUnderstand how to identify and leverage deeper water pockets within backwaters, considering regional differences in required depth. Learn Keith's strategy for finding multiple "off-the-grid" locations to manage fish and capitalize on the zero pressure these secluded bass receive, giving you a distinct competitive advantage over anglers fishing main lake, pressured areas.

Buy tackle from this class from our partners at Tackle Warehouse
As an affiliate, we receive a small commission if you purchase using these links
Keith Poche's Shallow Stick Bait (Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General Worm) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Maxscent_The_General_Worm/descpage-DMGS.html?from=butv
Poche's Electronics (Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 2 LiveScope Plus Bundle) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Garmin_EchoMAP_Ultra_2_LiveScope_Plus_Bundle/descpage-GPMEB.html?from=butv
Poche's Topwater Frog (Berkley Swamp Lord Frog) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Swamp_Lord_Frog/descpage-SWF.html?from=butv
Poche's Walking Bait (Berkley J-Walker) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_J-Walker/descpage-JWLK.html?from=butv