bank fishing

[Fred Hutchison]

I don't have a boat. So I fish from from the banks of ponds,lakes or rivers. My question is how can I increase my chances of catching more bass

[mrmacwvu1]

First off use the search forums from this site. There is another reason that it is the best fishing website out there.

RoadWarrior has a thread explaining how to fan cast a senko. If you follow that advice you will catch fish.

If you provide more information of where you are fishing more info could be provided.

[boostr]

If it's sunny, get a good pair of polarized sun glasses, and they even work when it's overcast. Look for cover, if there is any. Lilly pads, fallen tree, a stump, a log, even a shade line. Sometimes cover is right below the surface, this is where the polarized sunglasses come in handy. Even an indentation in the bed of the body of water is a good spot when there's it's no visible cover to be seen. I prefer to pitch or cast Seibert Outdoors arky  jig with a Rage Chunk trailer, but you can use a spinner bait or even a square bill crank bait if you prefer. Try to keep treble baits away from the Lilly pads though. If it's cloudy a search bait is good to use, like a spinner bait, crank bait, swim jig/bait, bladed jig. If all else fails chuck a wacky rigged stick worm our Ned Rig.

Hope this helps a bit.

[thebillsman]

Jerkbaits.

[MassYak85]

My favorites when I go from shore are either a spinnerbait or some type of soft plastic (weightless senko, T-rig etc.).

[d-camarena]

Ive had most success with frogs, lizards, wacky senkos, 5inch swimbaits and ned rig

But yeah read that thread about fancasting a senko and a fat ika. Great article

[Hurricane]

Chatterbait!

[wnspain]

1 hour ago, boostr said:

If it's sunny, get a good pair of polarized sun glasses, and they even work when it's overcast. Look for cover, if there is any. Lilly pads, fallen tree, a stump, a log, even a shade line. Sometimes cover is right below the surface, this is where the polarized sunglasses come in handy. Even an indentation in the bed of the body of water is a good spot when there's it's no visible cover to be seen. I prefer to pitch or cast Seibert Outdoors arky  jig with a Rage Chunk trailer, but you can use a spinner bait or even a square bill crank bait if you prefer. Try to keep treble baits away from the Lilly pads though. If it's cloudy a search bait is good to use, like a spinner bait, crank bait, swim jig/bait, bladed jig. If all else fails chuck a wacky rigged stick worm our Ned Rig.

Hope this helps a bit.

Agree with everything you said but left out one VERY important search bait, the Carolina Rig with a tungsten weight. If used with braid, it's the most effective method that I've found to help diagnose bottom composition. A good sensitive rod also helps 

[geo g]

I bank fish almost every evening.  My house is surrounded by a number of man made lakes.  1). I would say be quiet at the bank, and move around slowly.  No fast moves.  2). Look for different types of vegetation in close proximity together.   Two or three different types of plants are always better then just one type.  3). Isolated clumps of veggies is always better then one massive clump.  Fish will gather at the isolated clump, from the surrounding open areas, especially on clear sunny days.   4). Figure out where the deep drop-offs are located, and fish them slow with contact at the deepest point.  I have caught more fish at deep drop-offs, then any other spot at the lakes.  Big bass love these drop-offs close to shallow flats.  5}. Fish parallel to the outside edge of a weed line, if you can.  6). When things get real tough, slow down, with Texas Rigged plastics.  7). Hard to beat watermelon red, June bug, and black 4" inch Texas Rigged Plastics.  They will catch all size bass.  8).If you catch one fish, go back again, sometimes they stack up in one location.  9). Be a constant line watcher at the furthest distance from the rod, the line will jump, way before you will feel it.  10). Constantly look for birds, pads moving, grass separating, swirls at the surface, and baitfish fleeing.  The birds know where the bait fish are, and so do the big bass.  Constantly monitoring you surroundings.  You can learn a lot by being observant. 

I forgot one important thing.  If you live in snake country wear leather boots.  I see snakes almost every night.  Don't move unless your being observant.

[greentrout]

Get to your favorite spots at the crack of dawn. Religiously.  T-rigged worms & top waters put a smile on your face this time of year. If it's a large body of water, with little access to good spots without a boat,  go to the dam as long as it's safe. They are feeding.

Good fishing.

 

[trick worms]

Fish all cover thoroughly. I do the best with trigged worms and shaky  heads. Another tip is if your lame is shallow like mine, you can wade in to reach some new spots now that the water is warm 

[geo g]

28 minutes ago, trick worms said:

Fish all cover thoroughly. I do the best with trigged worms and shaky  heads. Another tip is if your lame is shallow like mine, you can wade in to reach some new spots now that the water is warm 

If you wade in south Florida you may have a visit from a toothy critter! 

[Bankbeater]

If your going into the weeds don't forget the bug repellent.

["hamma"]

All good tips and pointers, what I can add is, wear concealling clothing, be it camo or just greens and browns, and above all be stealthy. Dont make alot of noise and step lightly. Bass have a lateral line down the side of their body and that senses vibrations,.. If your just walking along the bank close to the waters edge they can actually "feel" your footsteps. And if a larger fish is present and it feels your presence its going to turn seeking to locate you with his eyes, and once it does locate you?,.... your chances just dwindled.

 I take one rod for bank fishing, and a backpack for tackle with my needlenose pliers in my pants backpocket, reason being is that Im not making much disturbance on the shoreline with plunking my tacklebox down, laying rods against things, only to have them fall over, or get caught on bushes making even more noise/vibrations. And when i catch a fish again, my pliers arent in the tacklbox again,... making more vibes by rustling around with a rod in one hand. fish in the other and trying to locate the pliers.

When you decide to make a lure change, move away from the waters edge to do so, return when your ready to fish again with the new lure

 These may seem like minor things but they do play a part

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Fred!

Good replies here, but really do avail yourself
of the awesome articles and "how to" pieces
on bassresource.com. They can really help 
you with your situation. I know for me they
have been helpful over the years.

[Hogsticker]

Your best chance of catching quality fish from shore is at the crack of dawn, and that last 45 minutes before the sun goes down. They will be searching the shallows for prey. I'll start with a lipless crank and fan cast the area, maybe follow it up with a jerkbait fished slowly. Then I'll move onto a 4 or 5 inch paddle tail and experiment around with my retrieve as I did with the jerkbait. Lastly I'll break out the flick shake worm. If nada it's time to move onto a new spot and start from the beginning. When all else fails tie up a split shot rig. Deadstick it, creep it along at a crawl along the bottom. Learn how to make flick and roll casts. Find a tight area that likely doesn't see a lot of pressure with overhangs. Dial in your casting skills so you can make pin point casts. Lastly, if it looks fishy, it probably is. 

[Raul]

22 hours ago, Fred Hutchison said:

I don't have a boat. So I fish from from the banks of ponds,lakes or rivers. My question is how can I increase my chances of catching more bass

Be where the fish are.

But to be where the fish are first you need to learn how to find where the fish will be, you can start by searching the article section.

15 hours ago, geo g said:

If you wade in south Florida you may have a visit from a toothy critter! 

Ain´t that the truth !

Down here, well, that rattlin´ sound ya hearing 10 ft from your feet ain´t exactly the Rat L-Trap you got tied to your rod.