Official Bank Walkers Topic!

[deep]

Directional changes. Bill Siemantel seems to talk a lot about this. Think of a crankbait deflecting off a laydown or a boulder. Now here's the deal, your bait doesn't have to physically hit something to make that directional change. You can impart that action yourself, when the bait nears a piece of cover (or structure). You have to intimately know the water if the structure/ cover isn't visible. Change the speed or the depth. Remember that depth and speed are the two primary controls you have.

 

(Paul talked about triggers above.)

 

I like to end my retrieves with a figure 8 (or two) unless the water in front of me is really shallow, and I'm 100% sure there isn't a follower (bass are curious creatures).

[Paul Roberts]

Yes, deflection is one way to get direction changes and triggering. But just sticking the rod off to one side or the other -sometimes both- can trigger strikes. It can’t really be done with too long a line out, working best nearer the end of the retrieve.

 

I'll do several things to try and trigger strikes. When I come to a piece of cover I'm apt to crash it, or accelerate past it. Or I may kill it, esp if the cover piece is dark and has an edge for bass to pop out from. When I cross open spots I may reach out to one side with the rod to abruptly change direction. I may even zig-zag here and there. The idea is to look like a panicked prey fish.

 

Just an acceleration can do it, and it doesn't take much –a few accelerating cranks of the reel handle -deadly with a SB, lipless, or swim jig. Sometimes I think people get strikes when their attention starts to fade (and at the very end of retrieves) bc they inadvertently vary the retrieve. “Varying the retrieve” does not mean just randomly breaking things up. Being thoughtful about when and where you apply those variations is where the casting becomes fishing.

 

Direction changes are the reason why some lures are so effective such as walking topwaters, CB’s that ‘hunt’, and bladebaits. Lures that fall, such as jigs, are essentially doing a direction change as they fall, although there’s more to the reason falling baits are so effective on bass than direction change.

 

And speaking of the "end of retrieves", a big triggering advantage bank anglers have is inherent in the fact that they are retrieving the lure from the depths into the shallows. A following bass has to react quickly before the “prey” escapes into the shallows –a strong trigger. Bill Siementel talks about this one too, although this isn’t news to wide awake shore anglers everywhere. Bank fish enough and you’ll see this natural trigger in action, and then can watch for opportunities to take advantage of it.

 

You know deep, I've not tried figure-eighting for bass. I should probably try it some.

[J Francho]

Yes, deflection is one way to get direction changes and triggering. But just sticking the rod off to one side or the other -sometimes both- can trigger strikes. It can’t really be done with too long a line out, working best nearer the end of the retrieve.

Here's where the swimbaiter's toolkit is better - many of the baits we're using CAN do this, on a long cast.

[Paul Roberts]

Here's where the swimbaiter's toolkit is better - many of the baits we're using CAN do this, on a long cast.

Long rod and 'hunting' bait? 

[J Francho]

Take a look at what guys are doing with glide baits. It's not "hunting" if you're in control of what the bait is doing.

[greentrout]

Where is this green trout

http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/coastal/buffalo_bayou/index.phtml

[Bruce424]

What do you guys use to carry all your tackle in and how do you organize it??

[MIbassyaker]

What do you guys use to carry all your tackle in and how do you organize it??

When bank fishing I go for mobility -- a backpack with a few bags of plastics + a couple plano boxes, about 3500 size, usually one with a few cranks and topwaters, and one with some jigs and terminal tackle. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in a secondary pocket on the pack. Scale and measure in the pack, pliers in a pocket.

[*Hank]

When bank fishing I go for mobility -- a backpack with a few bags of plastics + a couple plano boxes, about 3500 size, usually one with a few cranks and topwaters, and one with some jigs and terminal tackle. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in a secondary pocket on the pack. Scale and measure in the pack, pliers in a pocket.

That's exactly how I do it! Works great.

[HoosierHawgs]

To keep this bad boy alive, here are some we caught at a local reservoir similar to hat Deep mentioned. Nice and rainy, overcast. All on a spinnerbait.

[deep]

I guess it's post-spawn/ summer in the northern half of the country now.

 

Even in post-spawn, I do find some shallow fish. Look for bluegill beds. Also an incoming creek dumping water if the inflow is cooler (all sorts of soft breaks including color, temperature and oxygen).

 

One post-spawn/ summer location that always seems to work (for me) are steeper banks, especially if there's a shade line in afternoon.

 

If there are some laydowns you can reach, try a rat swimbait around those (PB and morning wood are the two I like) when the sun is out- positions the fish better. Don't wake it, twitch and walk-the-dog the bait. They will come up for a big bait even in the middle of the day. (I learnt this from Speed first.)

 

Southern Trout Eaters has some good footage on Nezummas (and Slammers too).

[HoosierHawgs]

I guess it's post-spawn/ summer in the northern half of the country now.

 

Even in post-spawn, I do find some shallow fish. Look for bluegill beds. Also an incoming creek dumping water if the inflow is cooler (all sorts of soft breaks including color, temperature and oxygen).

 

One post-spawn/ summer location that always seems to work (for me) are steeper banks, especially if there's a shade line in afternoon.

 

If there are some laydowns you can reach, try a rat swimbait around those (PB and morning wood are the two I like) when the sun is out- positions the fish better. Don't wake it, twitch and walk-the-dog the bait. They will come up for a big bait even in the middle of the day. (I learnt this from Speed first.)

 

Southern Trout Eaters has some good footage on Nezummas (and Slammers too).

Good tips, and yeah it's just about post spawn here, most of the fish are spawned out. I fish a lot of shallow water year round though. I really like fishing a small reservoir because the water feeding it brings in current and food, and its about the best habitat a bass could have. Guys in Indiana complain there's no big fish here, but you just have to find the right place. And no, I'm not giving away my spots lol.

[deep]

Any new success stories?

 

 

I was doing a ton of pitch-skipping under overhangs yesterday and was reminded of something very basic.

 

Practice your backhand casts, skipping and pitching in your spare time.

 

I do all three with baitcasting gear (my skips aren't very pretty though but I don't have any spinning gear). If you can't get your bait in front of the fish, you're not going to get bit.

[lectricbassman]

Any new success stories?

I was doing a ton of pitch-skipping under overhangs yesterday and was reminded of something very basic.

Practice your backhand casts, skipping and pitching in your spare time.

I do all three with baitcasting gear (my skips aren't very pretty though but I don't have any spinning gear). If you can't get your bait in front of the fish, you're not going to get bit.

Ive been practicing my backhand cast too. Working from the bank, i realized how many good spots ive been passing up by not having that technique down. Ive been killing it with frogs from the bank though!

[Senko lover]

I agree. Working long days in the hot NC sun, I haven't felt like going fishing when I get home for about 5-6 days.....the urge to go is so strong until I step outside the door into the oven that is North Carolina right now. 

In my off time, I have been working on my skills. I've gotten basic skipping down pretty well, now I'm working on distance skipping with my brakes set down, which is really fun. I always work on flipping and pitching and soft presentation. Now I'm also learning how to cast my righty reel with my left hand, for spots on the bank where I can't get my right handed casts into play and I need to cast to something to my far right. Also, it should come in handy when I'm on the back of a small johnboat, where if I cast righty and side-armed, I'll hit the pilot

[HoosierHawgs]

I've been catching em good on 2.5 Squarebills lately. They've been killing it! They just slam that thing and almost tear the rod out of your hand! Spinnerbaits are good too. All shad colored stuff. Can't wait to get out and try my rage blade this weekend.

[vmabuck]

I do a lot of bank fishing. I like it. It is because of my fly fishing roots.

 

I like being on foot. Right now I am doing very well with hollow body frogs and punching  using a Black Neon YUM Mighty Bug which is working well. Just picked up some heavy cover swim jigs and I will give those a go over the weekend.

 

My best lake bank bass (LBB) so far...

 

[kingmotorboat]

Nice since I've started this topic I've graduated to a boat. But still do a little bank roaming sometimes

[SchlottyD]

Did good today with some luck e strike ribbed senko type worms that were 4 inches and watermelon and green pumpkin. Rigged texas style weightless. Fishing milfoil edges in about 4 feet of water. From the bank of course.

[*Hank]

I do a lot of bank fishing. I like it. It is because of my fly fishing roots.

 

I like being on foot. Right now I am doing very well with hollow body frogs and punching  using a Black Neon YUM Mighty Bug which is working well. Just picked up some heavy cover swim jigs and I will give those a go over the weekend.

 

My best lake bank bass (LBB) so far...

 

That's a pig! Congrats!

[HoosierHawgs]

All caught on the 2.5 rattling squarebill from the bank

[Senko lover]

I do a lot of bank fishing. I like it. It is because of my fly fishing roots.

 

I like being on foot. Right now I am doing very well with hollow body frogs and punching  using a Black Neon YUM Mighty Bug which is working well. Just picked up some heavy cover swim jigs and I will give those a go over the weekend.

 

My best lake bank bass (LBB) so far...

 

 

Is that the Pfleuger Purist? How do you like the EMotion?

[Sam]

Senko Lover, shouldn't you be doing homework or sleeping in or fishing or something other than being on the computer?

 

If you are up at 6:30 AM why aren't you on the water?

 

Get that rod and your gear and head out to the bank.

 

You are missing some great bank fishing with topwaters.

[lectricbassman]

Senko Lover, shouldn't you be doing homework or sleeping in or fishing or something other than being on the computer?

If you are up at 6:30 AM why aren't you on the water?

Get that rod and your gear and head out to the bank.

You are missing some great bank fishing with topwaters.

[vmabuck]

Is that the Pfleuger Purist? How do you like the EMotion?

 

That is an H2O Express from Academy. I am very happy with it for the price. I picked it up for $50. All aluminum body and casts great. A lot of good reviews about it out there as well.

 

I posted a review of that E-Motion in another thread So I will just quote that here:

 

"Well, I am speaking from minimal experience when it comes to these baitcast rods but I have a world of experience in fly fishing rods. I like the clean look of the E-Motion, and it has those hybrid guides, not micro but not full size either which I think performs smoother compared to my other rod and it looks really good. The white guide wraps against the matte black carbon fiber looks really good as well.

 

This rod is handling some really tough pulls! I get them in fast. The reviews online for this rod seem very good as well. I think I lucked out with this combo. I just took what knowledge I had of fly fishing equipment and applied to some more budget minded bass gear and my instincts were pretty right on. The rod feels like a good bit of quality. I also like that there is no padding past the reel. I can set my finger on the blank and really feel what is happening.

 

I feel like it is an entry level pro-performance rig. Kind of like in mtn bikes. I got the good frame and rims but not a top of the line component group..."

 

For $60 I think it is a good deal...