Right Matt: the cutts can be caught off shore at times with leech (egg sucking leech is a winner),but you hafta know the best areas to do that and hit it just right when the BIG ones are on the spawn. Otherwise you will get only small fish offshore. Spoons off shore will also work during the spawn as they anger the big bucks.
But the fishing for Lahontins can be very good outside of the spawn by getting out into a little deeper water as I suggested. Even during the spawn I can outfish shorebound fishermen about 3 to 1 and get bigger fish on average too.
And as far as fall fishing goes,you'll get only small fish fishing from shore.
Next time take a floattube and try it,You'll see what I mean. Besides,it's more fun to be pulled around the lake with a 5-10# Lahontin for a motor.