Bank And Boat

[Mobasser]

The general assumption among bass anglers is that many more fish are caught by anglers in a boat, as opposed to anglers fishing from the bank.                           I say this isn't always true. What does everyone say here? In your opinion and experience, are more fish caught from a boat, or, from the bank in an average fishing season?

[Kirtley Howe]

There are too many variables on any given day to make a blanket statement. The big advantage of being in a boat is the ability to cover much more water than a bank fisherman.  On the other hand, a bank fisherman can fish waters a boat cannot get to, and a bank fisherman will often fish an area much more completely than a boat fisherman would. As a general rule though, I would think the advantage goes to the boat fisherman. 

[dodgeguy]

IMHO the boat angler has the advantage. Especially with stuck lures. The boat angler can f ish spots and still get his lures back. Laydowns and ripwrap are 2 examples of this.

[gim]

Probably very dependent on the body of water being fished too. A bigger lake definitely has an advantage from a boat. If it’s a smaller river or a pond, a boat can’t even get in there so the obvious advantage is from shore.

[Catt]

The major difference is access to the water.

 

Some shorelines I fish are well manicured like a golf course. Some shorelines are over grown with weeds, brush, trees, or all 3.

 

In a boat I have access to the entire body of water. 

 

That being said I have more than once out fished guys in a boat from the bank.

 

[Mobasser]

Just now, Catt said:

The major difference is access to the water.

 

Some shorelines I fish are well manicured like a golf course. Some shorelines are over grown with weeds, brush, trees, or all 3.

 

In a boat I have access to the entire body of water. 

 

That being said I have more than once out fished guys in a boat from the bank.

 

 Cart, I've known guys who never owned a boat, but did well. They knew when to time they're trips, and where to fish

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

I bet more bass are caught from shore simply because there are more shore fisherman. 
 

having said that, even the most basic fish finder on any floating water craft is a giant advantage. 

[cyclops2]

Boat during daylight.  Dock to feed the mosquitoes.

[J Francho]

Off the bank wins more often.  

[Johnbt]

Bank and boat? I thought this was going to be about boat loans. 

 

I have no idea where most fish are caught. I know I catch more using a boat.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

The general assumption among bass anglers is that many more fish are caught by anglers in a boat, as opposed to anglers fishing from the bank.  

Who makes this assumption? In total, shore based anglers catch more bass than boat anglers.

[ironbjorn]

I'd say better quality fish are caught from the boats, and the boaters have better days in tough conditions, but there are definitely times when bank anglers will smoke boaters numbers wise.

[Catt]

32 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Who makes this assumption? In total, shore based anglers catch more bass than boat anglers.

 

Uhh I know several guides the are boating 100-150 bass a day. That's gonna be a little hard for bank anglers to over come. 

 

Tournament anglers only weigh 5 bass but many guys down here will catch 15-20 bass a day.

[the reel ess]

If you can get a hook to every spot on a body of water, you could be right. If not, then advantage boater.

 

Then there are different levels of "boaters". There's the tourney bassboat type, Bass Tracker type and the Canoe/kayak type. Different types of fishing, but they're all related. Now, do I think the bassboat guy who runs and guns the local lake catches more or bigger fish than the kayak guy who seeks out smaller, remote waters? No, because I've done both. I've also been the bank fisherman. Whatever works for you and gives you enjoyment is what you should do.

[WRB]

Bank anglers are limited to access areas. Ponds and smaller rivers the bank angler has the advantage. Reservoirs, large natural lakes and big rivers the boater excels.

Bank angler can only fish blind, boat anglers have all the sonar, electronics, trolling motors, engines to move around with ease to locate bass.

It really comes down to regional areas and number of anglers fishing from the bank or boats. Where I fish the bank angler has very limited access so boaters outfish bank angler by a wide margin.

Tom

[scaleface]

Boats , but  a lot of my bigger bass have been caught along road side culverts .

[the reel ess]

Well, the boater can be a bank angler, the bank-bound angler can't be a boater.

[Deleted account]

38 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Well, the boater can be a bank angler, the bank-bound angler can't be a boater.

We call that the vig, I get a piece of your action, and you just watch...  

[jbsoonerfan]

I'm a boat angler that fishes the bank. LOL 

 

I would say 90% of the casts I make from my boat are within casting distance of the bank. However, I would say 75% of those casts couldn't be made from the bank because of the terrain. 

[thediscochef]

Depends on who's driving, from what I can tell.

 

The last couple of months I've been at a lot of boat ramp areas to bank fish. I've had just about every experience so far - some guys coming in skunked while I'm at a bass every 10 minutes. I've also been painting my skunk lines while guys are coming in with multiple 5+lbs bass and huge crappies too. More often than not at my favorite spot, it's about even between myself and most guys coming in.

 

I think the best boat angler will likely outfish the best shore angler most of the time, simply because of access. But like I said. It depends on who's driving.

[dodgeguy]

I own a rowboat. I would never fish from the bank by choice. Catch rates and pleasure are Definately higher even rowing.

[Hammer 4]

Here in So. Cali the lakes where I fish have limited access from shore, so on those lakes I have caught way more fish from a boat. On small lakes and ponds where the shore access isn't great, but much better, then fishing from the shore wins. Just depends on the body of water.

[Frezzy]

A good bass fisherman in a boat should always out fish a good bank angler on any decent size or bigger body of water.  It’s not even close to a fair contest though.  

 

if you can’t then your just not that good.

 

 

[Deleted account]

19 minutes ago, Frezzy said:

A good bass fisherman in a boat should always out fish a good bank angler on any decent size or bigger body of water.  It’s not even close to a fair contest though.  

 

if you can’t then your just not that good.

 

 

 

Agreed, but that's not what was asked.

[Bird]

Can't imagine a boat angler not having a surmountable advantage over a bank fishermen. Idk

If I simply take the lakes I fish as an example, most of the fish I catch are unassesable by foot.

Smaller bodies of water may be an exception though.