Bankfishing Tips?

[FishWitWiz]

By all means, do not wear a bright orange University of Tennessee hat. You will catch zero fish guaranteed.

[Matthew2000]

By all means, do not wear a bright orange University of Tennessee hat. You will catch zero fish guaranteed.

Maybe if you try a Ohio State hat you will catch fish. Or maybe a Nat'l championship ring..... Maybe both

[Mccallister25]

By all means, do not wear a bright orange University of Tennessee hat. You will catch zero fish guaranteed.

.. Don't wear one of those, period. Go Dawgs!!

[FishWitWiz]

Maybe if you try a Ohio State hat you will catch fish. Or maybe a Nat'l championship ring..... Maybe both

 

Over your head my friend.

 

[tnt2671]

With all due respect, some of this sounds crazy to me! I bank fish exclusively, and don't take a great deal of "precaution" when hunting these fish.

I assume your not fishing for money, etc. when bank fishing. Just for personal enjoyment.. Just fish! I catch plenty when walking normally, talking to buddies, standing with my shadow in the water, stopping to throw a dip in..

Seems to me the fun is lost when I have to start worrying about my reel clicking, or having a certain piece of clothing I'm obligated to wear.

Just go out, leave the world behind for a bit, and fish.

 

I  always try to start my  initial approach at least 300- 400 yards away then low crawl the 300 yards in my ghillie suit ,  always stopping 17.546 to 18 feet back from the waters edge with the sun at a 63 degree angle to my east as not to impede any ultraviolet rays that the fish may be monitoring on any given day. i then just lay there taking shallow breaths so i don't spook the fish, see the problem is i have not figured out a way to actually present a lure in the water for fear of when i do cast  all  the fish will see me (who is cleverly disguised was a large lump of mossy vegetation) make an unnatural move and if they don't catch on to that( which i'm sure any fish would) but hypothetically speaking IF i was able to fool them even just once they would never miss the plastic thing that resembles a worm flying overhead  and land in a  bellyflop style dive into their domain therefore destroying any chance at all of catching anything.  Then after years  of laying by the water dressed as a fern not breathing one day my suit got caught on a root which made a noise and exposed human flesh, at this point i knew my cover was blown so i  just backed my truck up flipped down the tailgate  all while drinking a coffee and listening to the radio threw out a line and whatta ya know fish aren't that smart. long story short don't over think it!!

[SirSnookalot]

With all due respect, some of this sounds crazy to me! I bank fish exclusively, and don't take a great deal of "precaution" when hunting these fish.

I assume your not fishing for money, etc. when bank fishing. Just for personal enjoyment.. Just fish! I catch plenty when walking normally, talking to buddies, standing with my shadow in the water, stopping to throw a dip in..

Seems to me the fun is lost when I have to start worrying about my reel clicking, or having a certain piece of clothing I'm obligated to wear.

Just go out, leave the world behind for a bit, and fish.

Pretty much my approach.  

Fishing every day I feel there is only 1 absolute factor I need to know, dealing with the moment at hand.

If there is one thing I try and do is fish with my eyes and ears, I'm opting to cast where there is activity vs blind casting.  I try to avoid long casts, sometimes you have to because that's where the fish are.  So many times my lure is so far out then I have fish busting just a few feet away, can't get my lure i fast enough before the fish are gone.  I move a lot when I fish, I use but 1 rod.

[Mccallister25]

I always try to start my initial approach at least 300- 400 yards away then low crawl the 300 yards in my ghillie suit , always stopping 17.546 to 18 feet back from the waters edge with the sun at a 63 degree angle to my east as not to impede any ultraviolet rays that the fish may be monitoring on any given day. i then just lay there taking shallow breaths so i don't spook the fish, see the problem is i have not figured out a way to actually present a lure in the water for fear of when i do cast all the fish will see me (who is cleverly disguised was a large lump of mossy vegetation) make an unnatural move and if they don't catch on to that( which i'm sure any fish would) but hypothetically speaking IF i was able to fool them even just once they would never miss the plastic thing that resembles a worm flying overhead and land in a bellyflop style dive into their domain therefore destroying any chance at all of catching anything. Then after years of laying by the water dressed as a fern not breathing one day my suit got caught on a root which made a noise and exposed human flesh, at this point i knew my cover was blown so i just backed my truck up flipped down the tailgate all while drinking a coffee and listening to the radio threw out a line and whatta ya know fish aren't that smart. long story short don't over think it!!

Intense

[Mumbly]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbKCfbfM6cI

 

 

 

 

The first video is what i was going to link. Great vid with some really good info, just what you'd expect from Gene. The 2nd video I turned off right after the guy dragged the fish across the gravel.... 4 secs in.

[hatrix]

I don't really take a lot of precaution about my movements on the bank unless there is a specific spot I want to target and give my self the best chance at a possible big one I think is sitting there. I generally cast ahead of me and work my way around and most fish are caught paralleling the bank rather then straight out. Well for me usually. One tip if yu fishing back woods spots is buy a machete so you can get to the fish. If you trudge through some gnarly trees and such hold you rods butt end first and not tip. You can plow right through stuff that way and rod sleeves work great to keep stuff from hooking around eye or your line and you make your way.

[scaleface]

I always fish quietly. I dont wear bright colors , I dont stomp, and I dont let my shadow hit the place I'm fishing. I take the same precautions in a boat .

 

 People do catch fish stomping around , making all kinds of racket wearing bright shirts, I will not argue that.  There is no doubt in my mind , though ,that more and bigger fish will be caught if the fish doesnt know you're there .

[RanndomUndead]

Something i just noticed on my trip today, Cranks with rattles have been producing a lot more than ones without, and this is with me stomping around on about a 50-60 yard dock system. Maybe its the extra distraction, who knows

[scaleface]

Now on the other hand , I have fished places that the bass have never seen a lure. They followed me around like a dog. If I let a lure dangle in the water fish would grab it. Places that are noisy all the time  , the fish get use to that noise. Theres a lot of variables involved in bass fishing . No set rules .

[RanndomUndead]

Now on the other hand , I have fished places that the bass have never seen a lure. They followed me around like a dog. If I let a lure dangle in the water fish would grab it. Places that are noisy all the time  , the fish get use to that noise. Theres a lot of variables involved in bass fishing . No set rules .

Reminds me of the mind wrecker that is transitioning between stocked ponds and lakes...

[kingmotorboat]

I always try to start my initial approach at least 300- 400 yards away then low crawl the 300 yards in my ghillie suit , always stopping 17.546 to 18 feet back from the waters edge with the sun at a 63 degree angle to my east as not to impede any ultraviolet rays that the fish may be monitoring on any given day. i then just lay there taking shallow breaths so i don't spook the fish, see the problem is i have not figured out a way to actually present a lure in the water for fear of when i do cast all the fish will see me (who is cleverly disguised was a large lump of mossy vegetation) make an unnatural move and if they don't catch on to that( which i'm sure any fish would) but hypothetically speaking IF i was able to fool them even just once they would never miss the plastic thing that resembles a worm flying overhead and land in a bellyflop style dive into their domain therefore destroying any chance at all of catching anything. Then after years of laying by the water dressed as a fern not breathing one day my suit got caught on a root which made a noise and exposed human flesh, at this point i knew my cover was blown so i just backed my truck up flipped down the tailgate all while drinking a coffee and listening to the radio threw out a line and whatta ya know fish aren't that smart. long story short don't over think it!!

Rich and compelling. Left me wanting more

[Matthew2000]

Over your head my friend.

 

I got the joke but just wanted to poke at some football fun.

[Bill77]

I have been fishing banks forever and I have found that the most important thing is that you need to be able to find cover such as rock piles and logs because they love to hide up in them. Make sure you have an accurate cast so you use this cover wisely. I have also found that you can make plastic baits work in almost any conditions. Keep fishing!!!

,Bill

[Drew03cmc]

What is your favorite rod and reel setup, length, power, line, etc?

[macmac]

A fanny pack was mentioned and is a great idea.  Another good one is to get a nail apron and dye it either dark green or a mediium brown.  Both work well and provide ample storage for your gear.   Each requires a minimum of movement when changing lures or rigs.

 

If you get into wading, take an old pair of sneakers and use Construction Grade Liquid Nails to secure carpeting with a good knap to your sneakers.....I like to trace them on the carpeting with a marker and make them three to four inches too long, I bend the carpeting up and over the toe and tie the carpeting on with rags until the Nails dry thoroughly.  The toe wrap protects your toes when accidentally smacking rocks or submerged logs.  The knap prevents slipping on rocks and provides sure footing as well as  a cushy walk.......very quiet both in the water and on dry land.