Bank Fishing Gear

[arrontapp28]

Hey guys,

im fairly new, as in it's been years, to bass fishing. I do not own a boat, and will not be getting one in the near future, so I pretty much fish from the bank. I would like some recommendations on a good 2 rod/reel setup that I can easily walk the bank with. Thing I'm looking for include:

- 1 spinning and 1 baitcasting setup

- can be used for multiple bait types and presentations

- rod action/strength/length

- line type/strength for both reels

- reel gear ratios and size for spinning reel

In a perfect world, I know it would be better to have multiple setups. But since I'm walking, I like to keep it to 2, 1 spinning and 1 baitcasting. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[RyanDR]

I just made a post about this rod. If you are willing to spend the money the Medium fast Fenwick Aetos is my suggestion for a spinning rod. If not that rod I would definitely suggest another medium fast action as the rod specs. 

[trick worms]

A 6"6 med heavy BC and a 6"6-7"0 spinning 15# mono/fluoro on BC and 15# braid with optional leader on spinning reel. 7:1:1 on BC and 2500 on spinning 

[Yudo1]

Spinning combo:  6'6"-7' medium/fast.  2500 size lined with 20lb braid and 10 lb fluoro leader.  Casting combo:  6'6"-7'' mh/fast.  6.XX gear ratio lined with 40lb braid and 14 lb fluoro leader.

[hawgenvy]

The choice depends on the type of vegetation and structure where you intend to fish, and on the types of baits you like to throw.

[Hogsticker]

Bank fishing is typically an open water deal. I'd get a medium power casting rod and a medium light spinning rod. Personally I prefer rods that lean towards a moderate fast action for bank fishing. Nothing too slow though. Landing fish from the bank can be a chore at times and I like a rod that is a little more forgiving to help keep the fish pinned if running around trying to find an adequate spot to take the fish out of the water. I highly recommend getting a spare spool for each reel. Fill one with mono one with braid. Now you can adjust accordingly for different baits without extra rods. Pound test is up to you, but focus on the type of cover you will be facing and the type of baits you will be throwing. 12 lb mono and 40 lb braid are pretty safe bets that you can do most anything with. You can lighten up the line on the spare spools to throw the smaller stuff. If you're fishing open water let the rod and reel do what it was designed for. The fish don't really have anywhere to go anyways. Up or down, usually up if it's shallow water. Wearing down the fish will make it easier to land. Get a pair of lip grippers. Basspro sells a nice orange one. It will come in handy, trust me. 

[Fishes in trees]

Back in the day, I did a lot of bank fishing.  In my case, it was seldom an "open water" deal.   Walking across fields with chest high weeds, overgrown banks, where you had to stomp out an area where you could get a cast in were common.  For me, bait casters were not a real option because the chances of catching something on the back cast and getting a back lash were real high for me.  With spinning gear I could do a pitch or a roll cast and keep the bait and rod tip in front of me - more or less out of the way.

Here is what I'd get, if I had it to do over with a reasonable amount of funding.  Two 7 or 7.5 foot spinning rods, one MH and the other M.   MH for jigs & worms, M for all reaction baits.  I'd recommend the Fenwick AETOS, just because that's my current favorite line of rods.   Get the same reel for both of them,  If you buy a reel with spare spools included that gives you four line choices. I'd recommend Shimano reels - just because that's all I use.  Back in the day, I had a Garcia-Mitchell 300.   That was back in the days when Shimano was more well known for bicycle parts than fishing gear. I don't know where you live, but for me, braid with fluorocarbon leader would be at least two of those choices.  You're going to be walking through vegetation so make sure you get rod socks ( that fit) for each rod.   Get a medium sized back pack to carry whatever gear you need.

Buy stuff that you don't mind getting dirty.   I found back in the day that bringing along a machete was worth the weight.   I didn't always need it but it came in handy when I did.

I've always thought that the most important piece of equipment were my hip waders.  These allow you to get off the bank a little bit and cast parallel to the bank easier.

Lastly, have an ultra safe spot for your car keys.    You don't want to be out fishing, slip and fall a few times and then get back to your vehicle and ask the question "Where are my keys?"   For me, one of those magnetic boxes that you hid somewhere on your car was the answer.  Make up your own mind on that one.   In my days of bank fishing, no one had a cell phone.   These days, I have a waterproof case for mine.  I get that getting all this stuff at once probably isn't doable funding wise, but if you get one piece every few months it is.  Start with the hip waders and make sure that you get one that fits with a couple pairs of heavy padded socks.  Walking any distance in hip waders without decent foot protection ( like a couple pairs of heavy duty socks) will cause some serious foot blisters and that ain't good.

One more thing, I lived in the midwest, specifically Boone County , Missouri when I was a meat fishing bush hippie bank fisherman.    If I lived where gators or mega snake populations were any kind of an issue at all, I'd rethink the whole bank fishing experience.  I'd make a serious effort to get to know guys who had boats who didn't mind me tagging along.

[blckshirt98]

As a 100% bank guy the one rod I pretty much always take that has caught more than all my other rods combined is a Phenix M1 MXS72M.  Paired up with at 2500 size Shimano reel with 15$# PowerPro, I'll use leader in the 7-10# range for pretty much all my finesse/soft plastic stuff, and will go straight braid for reaction baits up to 1/2 oz (squarebills and such, with the KVD 1.5 being the heaviest I'll go).  I'll bring a baitcaster for reaction baits (larger squarebills, chatterbaits) usually either a Phenix X3 (Revo STX Gen 2 20# Sniper FC)  or an Orochi SwingFire (Citica 201E 20# Sufix Braid).  I'll bring the X3 if I want to go heavy on chatterbaits, the SwingFire if I want to throw more crankbaits.  A lot of times I'll just bring the M1 and go finesse and smaller crankbaits (KVD 1.0/1.5).