Taking it to the bank

[Mobasser]

I love the " hunt" in bass fishing. Launching our boat, or canoe and trying to find bass is a huge part of this sport. I also love bank fishing. It's where many of us got our start. Sometimes I enjoy it as much if not more than being in the boat.I like to keep it simple. I usually take 1- maybe 2 rods, and a small flat side Plano box, which I've modified to clip to my beltloop. On the waters I bank fish, almost all the cover is right on the bank. Moss and weed beds, blowdowns and weeds are at your feet. We wear rubber boots, and walk the shoreline,casting mostly parallel with the shore. The most productive lures have been weedless soft plastics, and jig/ trailer combos.Anything even slightly different in the form of cover can always warrant several cast. It can also be deadly productive. Summer heat, early or late in the day, spring and fall- anytime, especially on overcast days. I plan on bank fishing a lot this fall, until our lakes freeze over. I'll bring my old flipping stick, and a med spin rod. Standing on the shore and pithcing out a jig, creature bait, or plastic worm into a large blowdown is just plain fun. Anyone else enjoy this simple fishing as much as I do? If so what tackle do you like, and what baits have been good?

 

[Harold Scoggins]

2 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Anyone else enjoy this simple fishing as much as I do? If so what tackle do you like, and what baits have been good?

 

I still throw from the bank from time to time, nothing "beginner" about it. It takes just as much skill from the bank as it does out on the water. I throw just about all the baits I use on the boat. 

[Catt]

I started bass fishing in the late 50s & this will come as shock to many but I was deathly afraid of boats!

 

Growing up on the Louisiana Gulf Coast every thing was geared to saltwater fishing. Bass tackle was hard to come by & obtaining information was limited at best.

 

Not only did I walk the banks but I wade fished a lot, sometimes waist deep.

 

Plastics worms were not readily available so my lures consisted of H&H spinnerbaits, Snagless Sallys, Jitterbugs, & Hula Poppers.

 

I still enjoy bank fishing & firmly believe it's harder than boat fishing because of limited access to the water.

[NYWayfarer]

This season has been almost all bank fishing for me. Issues have kept me out of the boat and kayak this year.

 

I forgot how much I enjoy it. It's so easy to throw 2-3 rods in my car, a small tackle bag and a short drive to be fishing.

 

The small tackle bag contains a variety of lures for different presentations, top water, some kind of crank or swimming bait for mid depth and bottom fishing jigs.

 

I generally stay in a spot for 20 minutes and then move on unless the bite is hot.

[Mobasser]

I think it's a fun way to fish. Keeping it simple. I recently read that Chuck Woods, one of the founders of Midwest finesse fishing actually preferred bank fishing. He had a rep for catching many large bass. I don't know that he ever owned a boat. Some friends and co workers, have tossed around the idea of having a bank tournament too.Each man pitch in 20 bucks, and the winner receive either the money, or a nice rod/ reel.It would be interesting to see how it turns out.

2 hours ago, Catt said:

I started bass fishing in the late 50s & this will come as shock to many but I was deathly afraid of boats!

 

Growing up on the Louisiana Gulf Coast every thing was geared to saltwater fishing. Bass tackle was hard to come by & obtaining information was limited at best.

 

Not only did I walk the banks but I wade fished a lot, sometimes waist deep.

 

Plastics worms were not readily available so my lures consisted of H&H spinnerbaits, Snagless Sallys, Jitterbugs, & Hula Poppers.

 

I still enjoy bank fishing & firmly believe it's harder than boat fishing because of limited access to the water.

I think it's harder too Catt. But it can be a good way to learn to read water, cover, and learn about bass fishing.You are limited to a degree, but as you know one real hoggs can be very close.Where I fish, the longer rod has worked best, just swinging a jig or worm into thick shoreline cover.

[Catt]

@Mobasser We have bank tournaments down, nothing fancy, $20 ea. 5 of which is big bass winner takes all.

 

Few ponds around here have manicured lawns that allows you to fish all the way around.

 

Most places are marshes with overgrowth shorelines & the others are bayous or river which means you standing under trees.

[thedilettantedad]

Just started recently so all I can do is bank fish. Have had good luck on a white spinnerbait, a white buzz bait, and, my favorite once I figured it out, a wacky rigged senko. Lost the worm on this guy. Until recently I was just using a daiwa 2500 on a 2 piece ugly stik. Just picked up a check Ultramax combo so pretty much doubles the gear I have to carry.

 

[WRB]

Most anglers started on the bank as pre teens and graduate from pan fish to bass because they share the shoreline areas. I walked the shoreline as a kid and caught a lot bass. We lived on a lake and was allowed to use the family row boat occasionally, restricted to the bay and caught a lot bass, I prefer boats if availble, if not it's bank fishing.

When our family moved to the flat land few lakes were close enough to walk to, so as kids we rode our bicycles to ponds, quarry put lakes, private golf ponds and a few water storage lakes closed to the public, yes we trespassed. Summer we spent at the mountain lake with unlimited fishing.

I don't bank anymore by choice, easier for me to fish in my boat and don't want to get injured.

Tom

[scaleface]

I dont bank fish so much unless its on rivers and then I'm wading half the time .

[Paul Roberts]

I still fish from the bank. I agree with Catt that it is tougher bc of the access limitations. But as Mobasser said, those limitations can make you a better angler.

 

There are real advantages to bank fishing too, and I try not to forget that as I boat fish. Boats simply give you access, and positioning advantages on any spot. But, sometimes the best casting angle is from the bank. At times I'll park my boat along the shoreline and cast out. I can fish an entire shoreline this way too, along banks that exclude bank fishers bc of brush and trees.

 

I use a backpack that I keep packed with essentials -duplicate of my boat bags. That way I don't end up out there and realize I'd left something in another bag. I grab the detail stuff -lures and riggings- from "the warehouse" before I head out. This stuff changes all the time, with season, water body, and conditions.

 

I use same rods I boat fish with, but find shorter rods can be a help bc of shoreline obstacles -high banks, and overhanging vegetation. If I'm checking out a new water body, I bring spinning tackle. It's much more "brush friendly" than casting gear. I also have a long range bombing rig -a large spooled, long, spinning rig- for mid-summer when there are a lot more fish away from the shorelines. 

 

I use the same baits I use from a boat, for the same reasons. They are still the same tools after all. The one thing I may use less of -or at least use more often from a boat- are crankbaits. There are places that cranks can be fished well from the shore, and I don't hesitate.

 

A good pair of waterproof boots, with good traction, are essential. 

 

Ah yes, as scaleface reminds me, streams and rivers are great fun, and fishing current offers great lessons in how fish operate. My dad and I used to drive backroads and fish any little creek we came too. We caught many species of fish and always found some surprises too. Small stream smallies may just be my favorite fishing. Don't have that here where I live now.

[NYWayfarer]

35 minutes ago, WRB said:

I don't bank anymore by choice, easier for me to fish in my boat and don't want to get injured.

That last part is no joke. I have fell twice this season trying to access areas to fish. My wife says it because I am fishing like a 16 year old boy.

 

I injured my shoulder and ribs enough to keep me from being able to paddle a kayak for awhile. No more climbing on logs to fish for me.

[WRB]

36 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

That last part is no joke. I have fell twice this season trying to access areas to fish. My wife says it because I am fishing like a 16 year old boy.

 

I injured my shoulder and ribs enough to keep me from being able to paddle a kayak for awhile. No more climbing on logs to fish for me.

You need to know your limits and I am not one to admit that easily. A few years ago bank fishing alone and decided to wade around some reeds instead of hiking up and around a steep bank, stepped into a muck hole and sank down to my chin, very lucky to get out without drowning. 

Early this year a good freind of mine was bank fishing and was hiking down a steep bank and fell,  broke his shoulder, ribs, punched his lungs and spleen falling about hundred down the steep hillside. Fishing alone as most of us do he managed to crawl to his truck to get cell coverage and called for help. Gary was given his last rights but survived, sold his boat all his tackle and guns and now can't walk without help.

We don't always use common sense, be safe.

Tom

[NYWayfarer]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

You need to know your limits and I am not one to admit that easily. A few years ago bank fishing alone and decided to wade around some reeds instead of hiking up and around a steep bank, stepped into a muck hole and sank down to my chin, very lucky to get out without drowning. 

Early this year a good freind of mine was bank fishing and was hiking down a steep bank feel and broke his shoulder, ribs, punched his lungs and spline falling about hundred down the hillside. Fishing alone as most of us do he managed to crawl to his truck to get cell coverage and called for help. Gary was given his last rights but survived, sold his boat all his tackle and guns and now can't walk without help.

We don't always use common sense, be safe.

Tom

Thanks for sharing that story Tom. Hopefully the young at heart anglers on here will get the message to be careful out there.

 

Like you I didn't want to admit my limits. My injuries were a big wake up call.

[Log Catcher]

I can't remember the last time I fished from a bank. Now my knees have arthritis so bad I can't bank fish. I have to sit down to fish when in the boat. I have to be extremely careful as to how I move around in the boat. For you young brats out there getting old is no fun. I have now reached the point where my mind says I can do that and my body says what are you thinking.

[JustJames]

I have boat and kayak but this year I bank fish a lot, more than 90% I guess. I normally fish for only couple hours after work and taking boat or kayak out I know I would be in water longer than that.

It is so much easier for me to just hop the banks, and luckily where I live got plenty of accessible shoreline. I normally carry only 1 setup but I can backpack 2 more if I wanted too and still got hand free. 

I fish everything while bank fishing but I would limited to only 1-2 techniques each trip (mostly Fluke lol)

[DINK WHISPERER]

My son and I hit our honey hole ponds almost every day when I get home from work. No time to use the boat since we only have an hr or so till dark so that scratches the itch. 

We usually start with topwater (frog or devil's horse). If no hits after several casts, out comes the Rat L Trap or T-rig plastic of some kind. 

Feels good not having to load/unload boat then clean it and the truck and tote all the gear. 

 

[Junger]

Top water from the bank has always been my favorite.

[BoatSquirrel]

Pond fishing is cool but an el cheapo $200 sit on top kayak is a killer investment.  Enjoy the simplicity while accessing the entire lake and miles of unfished rivers.

[LionHeart]

I enjoy fishing from the bank because of the simplicity of it.  Not having to worry about boat control sure can be nice.  I typically only take one rod and resign to one type of tackle (usually plastics), so I can cram everything I need in a few pockets.   I almost invariably end up wading so there is always a pair of wet boots on my porch.

 

Funny enough, I tend to catch more fish this way than from my boat, if one could call it that.

[Mobasser]

Just now, LionHeart said:

I enjoy fishing from the bank because of the simplicity of it.  Not having to worry about boat control sure can be nice.  I typically only take one rod and resign to one type of tackle (usually plastics), so I can cram everything I need in a few pockets.   I almost invariably end up wading so there is always a pair of wet boots on my porch.

 

Funny enough, I tend to catch more fish this way than from my boat, if one could call it that.

I'm with you on this. My grandson and I bank fish 2 smaller lakes, and at times have caught more than fishing from our boat. And the simplicity is hard to beat