Bank Fishing - Not as Bad as it Seems?

[ryandogsling]

I've always been restricted to bank fishing, as my father and I have never had a boat. I've managed to make some good catches on a bank, though. I used to live down a dirt road, with a pond about 1 mile away. The last day I got to fish it, I nailed a ~5lb largemouth on my first cast with a strike king mini bleeding spinner bait. Any of you guys regularly bank fish? Do you have any preferred lures or tactics for it? I've typically always fished small jigs or ran a spinner bait by the cover on the bank, as most small bodies that I bank fish are fairly featureless.

*Please note that the bass in the photo is not the 5lb one I was speaking of, this was a completely different day, years apart.

[r3825]

Even though I have a boat I bank fish the majority of the time and have good luck.  I save getting the boat out for days when I have more time as it's quicker just to hop in the truck and go get some time in without messing with the boat.

[Raul]

I´ve caught a big bunch of big fish from the bank and even though I own a boat most of my fishing is done from shore.

[Brayberry]

I have a boat but most of my biggest bass have come from the bank, best bank fish so far is 9 lbs even

[Onvacation]

Most of my time is spent bank fishing.  Don't limit your bait selection.  First off, it's fun to learn new things.  Second, it kind of sucks if they are hitting on something you don't have.

 Also I like to think like I'm on a boat. In other words, I look for spots other than just fishing parallel to the bank that I would hit if I had a boat.  I bought a Deeper fish finder over the winter and it has helped me map out some ponds that I also thought were featureless. I was a bit surprised because I "thought" I had a pretty good idea of what was under the surface. I wasn't always right.  

[Brikon]

I have a boat, but I do alot more Bank fishing. I figured the time it takes me to load and unload a boat I can make several casts extra casts. Since my time on the water is very limited. I also travel alot for work so I always have a Rod and A box of soft plastics. Worms, lizards, creature baits, jigs ect... I like finesse fishing from the bank 

[Kyhokie]

I mostly fish from the bank and I agree with these post. I carry a lot of lures in my backpack. I also began to catch many more fish once I learned that I don't always have to fish midwater lures (spinnerbaits, crank baits, ect). The bottom of these small water ways hold many bass that are accessible with bottom bouncing baits. Tight lines bro. 

[YoTone]

i bank fish during my lunch hour. the things that suck for me is that im always fishing in super tight spots and not so public  areas. my go to lure are the smaller jigs and wacky stick baits.

[Bankbeater]

I like to fish out of a boat but when the weather conditions are bad I like to fish from bank.  Usually a lot in the spring.

[Hurricane]

Nothing like hitting the ponds after work... Love bank fishing..

[I.rar]

Never owned a boat and probably won't for a long while. 

I've caught fish large and small from shore. From peacock bass and that one monster arrowana to tiny bluegill and sickly dink bass. 

[burrows]

I like a weightless rage menace or rage craw for bank fishing ponds I also like throwing crank baits or pond magics. I bank fish mainly but I own more tackle than many who own boats, my brother has a boat he usually never fishes without me but I bank fish mainly.

[Jeff Bernaeyge]

all I do is bank fishing. something pure and bout it. nothing like a few cast before work. something pure and bout it.

[blckshirt98]

I'm 100% bank and there's enough bodies of water with good shore access that I don't feel a need to run out and get a boat.  My two main techniques are either a dropshot or a squarebill crank because most of the time I'm making 45 degree casts to the left and right so I'm not fishing deep.  If there's deeper water I'll usually go with a lipless crank or a chatterbait.  Finesse you can use almost anything, dropshot, texas rig, carolina rig, wacky, and it'll catch fish, just use what you're most confident in.  Reaction I think a squarebill that runs 1-3 feel below the surface will cover you most of the time because you'll notice the baitfish are either always swimming tight along the shoreline or breaking surface as they're being chased by bass.

[Pond]

I do all my bass fishing from the bank don't own a boat I do good and I don't mind it just annoying carrying around a tackle bag and a bunch of rods lol

[chubaka]

Grew up fishing the banks only.  I love it.  At times it can be tough but when you do catch one it feels so much better knowing you worked hard for that fish.

[Fisher-O-men]

There is something between a boat and being shorebound; Float Tube Fishing!  Great freedom, stealth, and hardly any lost lures!

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I bank fish and kayak fish about the same.had a few boats but since i fish mainley ponds,small lakes and streams dont need. Boat anymore

[mrmacwvu1]

My favorite fishing is wet wading streams for smallmouths

[GLK]

I kayak fish and really enjoy it but still like to bank fish.PB was taken while on the bank. 

[MassYak85]

I fish my my kayak usually but if I only have a couple hours before dark I'll grab a couple rods and go fish couple ponds from the bank. There's almost something I like about fishing from the bank more. But that's probably just having solid footing. My go to techniques are a spinnerbait or a weightless worm. Although my favorite thing to do is fish a wakebait or other topwater right at dusk. 

[jonnyblazex]

  I deffinatly like boat fishing over bank fishing.  Bank fishing, your limited to where you can go, and boat there are no boundaries.  I just bought a old beater 16' aluminum boat, and it is a lot better than no boat, no doubt about it!  Is it a kick ass bass boat? No, but It gets me out on the water comfortably, and quickly, and I catch a lot of fish out of it.  You would be surprised that you can still catch bass out of an old boat, just the same as a high end bass boat!

[Last_Cast]

I bank fish all the time. Since I don't have any type of boat (yet)

It's fun and I've caught plenty, but I guarantee every time I go out, I day dream of getting one.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Bank fishing can be fun and productive for sure. You can help protect small bodies of water by taking fish off the stringer and get them back in the water.  Especially the good ones.