How do you guys walk to your ponds?

[soflabasser]

On 2/21/2018 at 5:38 PM, Shak Muscles said:

I always thought that bass get bigger in ponds which aren't fished often? Because in public ponds there are people that take fish home to eat so they might not max out their potential. But I understand your reasoning as well, since the big bass are usually the smart bass. And most the giants seem to come from public lakes. 

Fishing private really is way too easy. I live in a golf course neighborhood and I have permission to fish on a small part of one of the ponds on the course and the fishing is insane! This area of Illinois in general has really good bass fishing, even though the bass don't get trophy size like the ones down south. 

 

There are many cases that a public body of water has more numbers of big (but hard to catch ) bass than a private body of water and the bass might be bigger in a public body of water. It takes a lot of available food for several bass in a particular body of water to get +8 pounds and some private bodies of waters might not the right conditions for these +8 pounders yet a public body of water might have them. There is a public body of water I fish in South Florida that I caught a 10.3 pound bass from the shore and that place is loaded with big bass which are extremely difficult to catch. Illinois has good fishing, especially in the rivers for smallmouth bass and muskies.

[Smalls]

This is the only pro to living where the air hurts my face. 

 

We we don’t have anything that thinks we look like a tasty snack. 

[RPreeb]

I have spooked a bear walking to a mountain lake in Montana many years ago.  The part of the trail we were on was lined with huckleberry bushes, it was August and they were ripe.  The bear was working on its winter fat supply for hibernation.  We stopped about 20 feet away, he gave us one look and took off through the woods. 

 

I have yet to see anything more startling than a garter snake or a frog around any of our local ponds.  We do have ticks, but so far they haven't been a major issue.  At the pond I go to down along the South Platte mosquitoes can be bad in the evening.

[je1946]

Can't speak for everyone, but I usually use my legs and feet.

 

[Sam]

When I get there, I walk very quietly and start casting about 10 feet from bank.

 

To move I go about 50-feet back away from the water, or as many feet I can, to walk to new location very quietly.

 

Remember, if you can see them they can see you.

[geo g]

I don't walk through tall grass in south florida.  We have an abundance of big gators, cotton mouths, pythons up to 15 feet long, and plenty of stinging bugs.  From the bank I fish cut banks, where I can look before I step.  Just part of living in the Tropics!  Even taking precautions, I see snakes a couple of times a week.  Have almost stepped on several over the years.

[the reel ess]

On 2/19/2018 at 1:53 AM, Shak Muscles said:

Sometimes the ponds near me aren't well maintained as in there is a bunch of vegetation and such all around the bank so its tough to go and stand there. These ponds also get the least pressure because no one is hardcore enough to go all Man vs Wild to catch a few bass!

I was wondering if you guys have any special technique for navigating such ponds. What do you wear, how do you avoid bugs etc. 

Personally, I go fishing in shorts and these prickly shrubs always make a mess out of my legs. Not to mention the ant hill you might step over. And just countless bugs. The grass is also practically as tall as I am, and there could be snakes in there. I live in Northern Illinois though so I'm not sure if any of them are dangerous. Also I mostly fish alone so if I break my ankle I'm screwed. 

I bought a kayak just for this purpose. You can go to a large public body of water and get to every square inch of it. There are bass in there that think they're safe because walkers can't reach them. WRONG, Mr. Bass! I even go to a friend's pond and get to fish he can't reach in his jon boat or sneak boat. He's always amazed at how many I can catch there on an average outing.

 

I usually fish the areas I can easily walk before I get into the kayak unless I'm at a really big place. Then I just paddle. 

 

I have yet to get a snake in the kayak with me. LOL

[the reel ess]

On 2/19/2018 at 2:52 PM, soflabasser said:

I fish often fish ponds, canals, and other small bodies of water and I tend to do well by being as quiet as possible. I walk slowly along the shoreline and try to make as little sound as possible. As for clothes, I tend to wear drab colored clothes and avoid clothes that have bright colors so the fish have a harder time seeing me on the shore.

 

Sometimes the path less taken ( possibly has snakes, alligators, etc) is the most productive path since less fishermen take it. I tend to take these paths and do well and I am always watching where I step and whats around me.

"I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

[Shak Muscles]

8 hours ago, Sam said:

When I get there, I walk very quietly and start casting about 10 feet from bank.

 

To move I go about 50-feet back away from the water, or as many feet I can, to walk to new location very quietly.

 

Remember, if you can see them they can see you.

That's a good plan but unfortunately I don't have the patience to do that. I usually just walk along the bank. Probably spooked a bunch of fish, but oh well. Although I usually cast parallel to the bank and to my spot before I walk over there, so if nothing bit then it wouldn't be a big deal if I spooked it anyway.

[soflabasser]

There is a public body of water in South Florida where I caught 149 bass in 1 day from land. This was in less than 6 hours of fishing and I am confident I would of caught more if I would of been there earlier instead of later in the day. I go to this location when the conditions are right since I know the bass fishing will be amazing when it comes to numbers of bass. This is a place where most people do not fish from land since its a very long walk in a area with lots of alligators around. Most people will not walk for hours while shore fishing to get the results I got that day but sometimes you have to think differently than most fishermen to get different results.

[Shak Muscles]

21 hours ago, soflabasser said:

There is a public body of water in South Florida where I caught 149 bass in 1 day from land. This was in less than 6 hours of fishing and I am confident I would of caught more if I would of been there earlier instead of later in the day. I go to this location when the conditions are right since I know the bass fishing will be amazing when it comes to numbers of bass. This is a place where most people do not fish from land since its a very long walk in a area with lots of alligators around. Most people will not walk for hours while shore fishing to get the results I got that day but sometimes you have to think differently than most fishermen to get different results.

Wow that's really impressive!

 

The most I've ever caught in a day was 23 or something haha. I normally just fish for about 2-3 hours in small subdivision ponds though. Just starting out!

[wisconsin heat]

I use one of these bad boys a few times of the year when the veggies get to wild. 

 

Works pretty well. I don't carry it every time I bank fish, but I'll bring it out to thin out a path if I know I'll be fishing there multiple times in the future.

[RPreeb]

2 hours ago, wisconsin heat said:

I use one of these bad boys a few times of the year when the veggies get to wild. 

 

Works pretty well. I don't carry it every time I bank fish, but I'll bring it out to thin out a path if I know I'll be fishing there multiple times in the future.

Now that's what I call a bushwhacker.  Nice machete!

[Shak Muscles]

4 hours ago, wisconsin heat said:

I use one of these bad boys a few times of the year when the veggies get to wild. 

 

Works pretty well. I don't carry it every time I bank fish, but I'll bring it out to thin out a path if I know I'll be fishing there multiple times in the future.

I've been thinking about that, chopping down some of the brush in areas where I want to fish. But then I also think I'll be ruining the "natural environment" if I kept chopping down all the vegetation in my way. Also, wouldn't I look like a maniac walking around with a machete and a fishing rod LOL?

 

On a side note, sometimes I "create a path" for myself by just squishing vegetation down with my legs at an angle. It probably has the same effect as the machete it just takes a bit longer. 

[fishwizzard]

4 hours ago, wisconsin heat said:

I use one of these bad boys a few times of the year when the veggies get to wild. 

 

Works pretty well. I don't carry it every time I bank fish, but I'll bring it out to thin out a path if I know I'll be fishing there multiple times in the future.

Ha, my mom bought me one of those for Christmas. Like five years ago when I was in my mid 30s. I have no idea what she was thinking but it lives in the trunk of my car waiting for the day I need it. 

[wisconsin heat]

3 hours ago, Shak Muscles said:

I've been thinking about that, chopping down some of the brush in areas where I want to fish. But then I also think I'll be ruining the "natural environment" if I kept chopping down all the vegetation in my way. Also, wouldn't I look like a maniac walking around with a machete and a fishing rod LOL?

 

On a side note, sometimes I "create a path" for myself by just squishing vegetation down with my legs at an angle. It probably has the same effect as the machete it just takes a bit longer. 

 

It's less weird than it you'd think it would be. The sheath attaches nice to your belt so its not too unbearable to fish with on. From the sounds of it, the places you're talking about are pretty secluded and ignored by most. I wouldn't worry too much about trimming the vegetation. It will all grow back and then some in a month or two.

3 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

Ha, my mom bought me one of those for Christmas. Like five years ago when I was in my mid 30s. I have no idea what she was thinking but it lives in the trunk of my car waiting for the day I need it. 

Funny, My fiancee's parents got me mine for Christmas. Guess where it stays? The trunk haha.

[soflabasser]

23 hours ago, Shak Muscles said:

Wow that's really impressive!

 

The most I've ever caught in a day was 23 or something haha. I normally just fish for about 2-3 hours in small subdivision ponds though. Just starting out!

 

Thank you. I have been fishing for well over 20 years now and have been very fortunate. We all have to start out somewhere and fishing is a hobby that every fisherman or fisherwoman learns for a lifetime. Make sure to have fun when you fish, be safe, and follow the fishing rules of your state.

[Will1248]

Take one rod(spinning) and a small tackle box or bag(like a satchel, all you need is grn pumpkin plastics 99% of the time with pond fishing). Wear blue jeans and a long sleeve columbia shirt that you roll up after brush and just trudge through it backwards so your rod doesnt snag. 

[bigbill]

I’m your pro shore fisherman here lol, kidding. But here’s my tips on being successful.

1. Stealth is the key. Walk up slowly, don’t step on roots or rocks sticking up out of the ground. This sends noises into the water like a alarm system. Put your tackle box and rods down softly. Make no noise.  I fish at 4am in the dark and keep my one cell flashlite in the roof of my tackle box. I don’t shine it anywhere. Keep the glow low to the ground.

 

2. I can’t tie knots in the daylight but at night I use the ball bearing, locking, snap-swivels. I can change baits very quickly plus I get more side to side action out of my hardbaits.

 

3. Keep your tacklebox very well organized so your not making noise looking for things. Label your little plastic containers. Night fishing in the dark till first light taught me a lot.

 

4. Wash your hands before you go fishing. I use big orange soap. Do not touch gas or oil when going fishing.

 

5. I avoid masking noises. I use only spinning reels. I open the bail slowly, cast it out, close it slowly. I don’t use baitcaster because of the click when the spool locks in. Bass can hear any little noise that’s out of there norm.

 

6. Wear dull colored clothes or camo in the daylight. If you can see the fish, they can see you too. I fish smaller places that are exceptional healthy eco systems. They have big heathy bass. (Fish). Never go out without a hat and polarized glasses. I watch for movement behind my baits like short strikes. I scan the droppoff I fish from for bass swimming by me.

 

7. Keep the location of your hot fishing spots to yourself. Never, never, ever tell anyone. You tell one person next your spot is crowded with people taking fish to eat. Thank the lord they can’t catch fish like we do.

 

8. You can catch decent sized bass from shore. Skip fan cast, cast parallel from shore were you can. Cast into the shady areas. The bass can hide in the shade too. I like spinnerbaits and in-line spinners in these shaded areas.

 

learn everything here from videos to articles, remember it’s skill that catches fish not luck.

[EGbassing]

Just fly a helicopter in. (just kidding) I would invest in some waders or hunting boots. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

Drive as far as possible. Then jeans, long sleeves, high rubber boots, Off bug spray and a Glock 20 10mm at my side. Too many black bears and panthers here in S central FL. 

[geo g]

I bank fish at least 5 days a week.  I am blessed to be surrounded by man made lakes all with a good supply of bass, and places to fish that people will not bother you.  Some suggestions for bank fishing that I have developed over the years.

 

1. All my lakes have deep drop offs where bass often hang regardless of season.  

2. I make long casts so I can remain undetected by the bass.

3. I start by fishing the drop offs and let the bait settle before working the bait.

4. Since the bank is full of pads and grasses for about the first 10 to 20 yards, I use almost all Texas rigs, no treble hooks.

5. When things are tough, slow down.

6.  I fan cast after working the drop off wherever I’m fishing.

7. Walk slowly along the bank, no sudden movements except setting the hook.

8. Always look for snakes along thebank when walking.  I don’t worry about gators, they will show themselves way before you get to them.  Snakes will freeze, and let you walk right up to them.

9. Always wear boots when walking the bank, never flip flops or Sandels.

10. After setting the hook always get a bass head up out of the water and surf it over the veggies or you will lose the big ones.  They will always dive for root stems after being hooked.  Heavy line is a must fishing the bank in south Florida.

[Shak Muscles]

You guys have it worse than I do haha

 

I don't have to worry about dangerous animals just pesky bugs.

 

I definitely have to work on being more stealthy when approaching the bank though. Just recently I spooked a few bass as I approached the bank and I saw them dart off. 

[chasegal88]

I grew up fishing creeks and large farm ponds. 90% of the time it was in shorts and shoes and carried a couple spinning rods and a backpack with all my tackle. Some ponds were in overgrown fields so i'd wear jeans and boots to protect from briars. During the summer i'd kick off the shoes and wade the shallows to fish deeper.

 

For bugs if wearing pants use sawyers spray to keep ticks and chiggers off! Don't spray on your skin!

[Ratherbfishing]

Like this but with a fishing pole in my hands: