High Banks Shore Fishing Question

[Yeti]

Hi everyone, 

I've got a question for those of you that bank fish or have experience bank fishing in places with high wall along the shoreline. I lost a fish the other day due to not being able to winch him up the side of a 8 foot high wall at a local lake and I am looking for ways to retrieve a fish should this scenario repeat itself. 

My question is, how would you land a fish and safely release it without having close access to the shoreline.

 

Parts of the lake have boat tie ups and a beach area, but the area I was in does not have any of this within 200 yards. Attached is a picture of the type of wall I am dealing with, not in the same area as I was fishing, since it has quite an obvious place to land a fish.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

P.S: This is not my photo and I make no claims to it. It is just being used for demonstration purposes.

[Sam]

Use heavier test line so you can lift the fish to you.

 

Just double check the line test limit on your rod and reel and go with the heaviest, or a few clicks upward, line you can use.

 

Constantly check your knot and for knicks, abrasions and cuts in your line so you can retie and cut out the damaged line.

[Yeti]

The problem wasn't the line breaking, the fish shook the hook while I figured out how to get him out of the water without slamming him against the wall. The walls are rough enough to tear your knees up, and I don't want to hurt a fish trying to land him. 

Thank you for the advice though, I will keep that in mind should my line break when fishing this area.

[OroBass]

That's tuff man! Maybe a longer rod so you don't have to drag the fish. Or a long handled net could work. I would release them by just walking up to the water.

[Yeti]

I've thought about getting a long handled net, but I would need one about ten feet long. That's just completely impractical for trying to shore fish. I like the idea of a longer rod, however. Gives me an excuse to buy a new setup. As far as rod strength goes, do you have any recommendations? The rod I was using was a 6'6" Carbonlite M-F, the replacement for an identical rod I broke trying the same thing.

 

As far as walking up to the water, I would have to walk a good distance with a bass out of water. When I catch smaller fish, I usually just toss them back in, but I wouldn't want to do that to a bass. Thanks for the response!

[OroBass]

Ok maybe like a 7 ft 3 or so MH fast action. That rod should give a little more reach and have the backbone to lift a fish. Good luck and super tight lines friend!

[Yeti]

Thanks, man! Tight lines to you too!

[einscodek]

Yer not supposed to use yer rod like a crane

For a big fish, I'd grab the line and pull it up

[jtharris3]

I do a lot of pier fishing for salmon and steelhead. We use a long handled net. The net has a telescopic handle so it's easier to move around with it.

[Catch and Grease]

Yeah I'd grab the line to... I won't grab a line if I'm within reach of the fish but it may be your only option... I would just be scared to snap my rod reeling up a 4lb+ bass

[OroBass]

I agree but I think his problem is not dragging the fish. How is he gonna do that by grabbing the line if the concrete is ten feet out? In a perfect world you never want to lift fish out with your rod, but you do what you gotta do. I've yanked tons of little 4 pounders out with my rod.

[Yeti]

I didn't know telescopic nets existed. Any recommendations as far as brands go?

 

For the hand line retrieve, Oro is right. The bank is angled about 60 degrees from horizontal and that would require some serious maneuvering to make sure the fish wasn't completely shredded by the walls. I learned not to winch a fish up the hard way, but with a tougher rod, I believe it can be done. The other issue is that this was a dropshot rod, so I can't go overboard on the action. I've thought about jumping down the embankment for other fish, but I don't think I would be able to get out again. 

Thanks again for the replies to this. I feel like I may have found a good place to start looking for a solution.

[Catch and Grease]

Well whatever you do stay safe haha don't go rock climbing

[ClackerBuzz]

rope. there was just a thread about guys in mexico tying a milk crate to a long rope and lowering it down to scoop up their fish.  obviously the size of the crate, net, wire basket will vary depending on ur forage

https://www.google.com/search?q=wire+basket+to+hold+fish&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xEDHU5OgF4-MyASs-YDQCQ&ved=0CFoQsAQ&biw=1207&bih=521#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=FTK3W8MlmTP5fM%253A%3BvTOelgY9vySbvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bigfishtackle.com%252Fcgi-bin%252Fgforum%252Fgforum.cgi%253Fdo%253Dpost_attachment%253Bpostatt_id%253D9717%253B%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bigfishtackle.com%252Fforum%252FFloat_Tube_Fishing_C66%252FPictures_F130%252FNets%252C_Baskets%252C_Stringers_and_Stuff_P199508%252Fgforum.cgi%253Fpost%253D199508%253Bforum_view%253Dforum_view_collapsed%3B400%3B306

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Collapsible-Fish-Baskets/product/1308/

[Yeti]

I like that milk crate idea. Put some of that anti-slip stuff for rugs in the basket so the fish doesn't hurt itself. Thanks for the suggestion Clacker!

And I'll make sure to get my rock climbing gear out if I do decide to go over the side.

[SirSnookalot]

I couldn't see from the picture if there are big rocks to contend with or just a straight sea wall going into the water.  Come down to the Boynton inlet and we pick up fish every day.  Getting fish up is no problem, you have to know how to "spring" them, like a trampoline.  There is a limit of course most of out fish are about 8# and I don't spring higher than about 7 or 8 feet.  Another option is picking them with the leader, I'll be using a 30 or 40# attached with a good sized swivel that acts like a little handle, don't ever pick up braid.  There is always a drop pier net, Frabil 36" is $29, best way to do it.

[shanksmare]

The Bridge Net that Sirsnookalot speaks of is probably the best solution to your problem. An alternative solution could be constructing the following fish retriever:

 

1). about 15' of parachute chord

2). an 8 ounce (or thereabouts) Bank Sinker

3). a couple of very large hooks (about 8/0 to 10/0) the eyes on the hooks must be large enough for the bolt to fit through

4). a 1/8" bolt about 1" long with 2 washers with a nut

5). a very large snap swivel

 

Take a drill with a 1/8" bit and open up the loop on the sinker so the bolt will fit through. Drill another hole near the oppossite end of the sinker.

 

Put a washer on the bolt then a hook. Insert the bolt through the enlarged loop of the sinker. Put the other hook on the bolt, followed by the washer and the nut. Tighten the nut with the hooks pointing away from the sinker.

 

Insert the parachute chord through the hole in the fat end of the sinker. Insert the parachute chord through the swivel porrtion of the snap swivel. Slide it to within a couple of inches of the sinker and secure with an overhand knot.

 

To use you just clip the snap to your line and lower the sinker with hooks on it into the fishes mouth. A quick jerk will hook the fish and it can be lifted up the wall or to the pier using the parachute chord.

 

You can wrap the line around the sinker and carry it in your pocket (carefully, it may be prudent to crimp the barbs on the hooks down) until needed. It worked off of peirs and bridges for large striped bass and bluefish.

[senile1]

I see some possible options above, but how deep is the water at the bottom of the wall and is the bottom clean enough to land on safely?  When I was younger I would jump down off just such a wall to grab fish.  My knees aren't quite what they were then, so I wouldn't do it now.  Of course there are other things to consider.  You said the wall was rough so would you be able to climb back up?  Also, you would probably want to leave your rod at the top and hold the line when you jump down as it might be difficult to climb back up with the rod.  And you would need your phone/camera and a scale in your pockets if it were a worthy fish.  It might be more trouble than it is worth but it could be doable.

[roadwarrior]

A small boat would be a much better option.

[geo g]

If you are going to fish this area often, I would up grade all my equipment, at least a big Medium heavy rod, at least 20 pound test, and probably braid. You are going to lose a few fish but I would hand line a bass up and would wear gloves to reduce cuts. I have seen pier fisherman that have a square net with a long rope. The fish is pulled over the net and it is pulled up and it folds around the fish. I have seen them pull up a 50 pound ray. This is just too much trouble for a bass, at least in my opinion!

Priority for me would be finding an area to fish without these problems, even if the fishing was not quite as good. This is far less then a perfect place to catch, Catch and Release Fish safely without injuring them.

[Yeti]

SirSnookalot: The wall is a very rough concrete stucko material. This lake is a completely man-made portion of a river that runs through town, so there are no big rocks to contend with. The wall is at about a 60 degree angle from horizontal, so while I could feasibly get down, I doubt I could get back up with a fish, especially without hurting it. As far as your leader solution, is that similar to shanksmare's idea with the paracord and weight?

 

shanksmare: I have been looking at telescoping nets, however, the length I would need (10') is a bit outside my price range for now. As for the weight solution, that sounds like a good option. The question I have about that is does the shape of the sinker matter or is the weight the important part? I have two 8 oz egg shaped sinkers from a deep sea fishing trip that I could use, but I would like to be sure that they would work.

 

senile1: The bottom of the wall varies from day to day, depending on the flow from the river and if we have had any rain. Generally it is covered in algae, making it pretty slippery. The wall itself is usually dry, but from previous experience, I know I can't climb up it safely.

 

roadwarrior: I completely agree. Unfortunately, that's not in the cards right now. Not many boats on Craigslist in Phoenix. And I know I would need about a 14' minimum. I'm a pretty big guy and most of my height is in my torso (bad balance in little boats.)

 

geo g: I agree that it would be better to fish elsewhere. I usually fish this lake when I can't make it out to the larger desert lakes. The are I usually fish has been getting a lot of pressure lately and doesn't produce like it used to.

 

Thanks again for all of the replies. I now have several options to recover fish from these spots. I will probably try the milk crate and the "weight on paracord" idea until I can get a proper net and/or boat.

[senile1]

A small boat would be a much better option.

 

True and that is obviously the best solution.

 

I suspect the fact that he labeled the post, "High Banks Shore Fishing Question," means he wants an answer that would suffice when fishing from the bank. 

[roadwarrior]

Yep, and this was a better suggestion:

 

Priority for me would be finding an area to fish without these problems, even if the fishing was not quite as good. This is far less then a perfect place to catch, Catch and Release Fish safely without injuring them.         

[Yeti]

I will make sure to avoid this kind of area if possible. However, I'm glad that I have several options now when I am forced to fish these area. 

Thanks again, everyone.

[shanksmare]

The shape of the weight makes no difference. I just happened to have one available when I made it forty or so years ago. The bank sinker has a built-in attachment for the bolt and hooks.