Who still fishes from the bank?

[papajoe222]

Will still fish from shore. I actually love the simplicity of it. What I hate is how many lures I loose. In a boat, I can retrieve most lures by pulling in the opposite direction, bow pull/release, or using a lure retriever. I’ve actually lost a lure retriever fishing from shore. 

[crypt]

a couple times a week....at least..sometimes when I don't have time to take the boat, then a lot more....

[primetime]

I still do alot of bank fishing, especially at night. I live 10 minutes away from a really good lake in Florida which is also one of the deepest, believe it has the FL. Record of 19lbs still....I prefer fishing from the bank near the outflow especially after it rains, much easier to just grab a couple rods, bag of baits and go. If fishing isn't good, can hop in the car and drive to other spots....Some of the best bass fishing I have had in Florida are from random ponds and public lakes/parks from shore. 

 

Sometimes it's better to not be able to move and instead have to figure out a pattern....I also love to fish boat ramps since many of the fish released from tournaments linger for a bit at least I think that is why the fishing is really good at times. 

[Aaron_H]

I grew up saltwater fishing offshore on boats, it's practically all my family did. These days, I love bank fishing because there's no prep, no boat to lug around, no ramps to deal with, no washing the boat when I'm done, no additional fuel costs, etc. I can just hop in the car and fish for a couple of hours after work. 99% of my fishing now is bank fishing.

[Susky River Rat]

If I have the time to go bank fishing I have the time to take my boat out. I walk 6-8 miles a day on a normal day. The last thing I want to do is walk all over trying to fish. I enjoy fishing out of my boat. All my gear. My dog and I just feel so much more free and relaxed. The boat is my happy place not just a tool to fish off of. 

[Rucksack]

I don't own a boat of any sort, though I do occasionally rent a kayak, so 95% of my fishing is from a bank. I agree with the folks saying losing lures is the worst part. That's just infuriating.

 

I earnestly love the bushwhacking and hiking part of bank fishing. I don't really fish to catch, that's a nice bonus of course, I'm out there to feel connected to the real world because I spend way too much time in front of a computer. I personally get into that sense of connectedness the fastest dealing with all of the problems that come with navigating fallen trees, bad trails, wild animals, and the like.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not some bank fishing only zealot. Once I scrounge up the money, I'm buying a kayak. But even then, I'm sure a huge chunk of my time will still be spent wandering around the woods looking for bank access spots and enjoying the moment to moment problem solving of getting there from here.

[TheSwearingAngler]

My last (Massachusetts) trophy fish of the season came from the bank on my lunch break… I caught 6 more through the season from my canoes. I’ll never not fish the bank but I do significantly more damage from the canoe.

 

[dytmook]

I have a kayak that is rarely used due to loading issues. I'm basically 100% bank/wading. Small trips in the evening I do a lot of straight bank fishing. I've got a decent list of bank access spots on the rivers. Do they get more pressure than I would like? Probably, but it is better than being inside. 

[volzfan59]

Even though I own a boat, I still go bank fishing from time to time. Like others have mentioned, I enjoy the simplicity of it plus, I really enjoy it. 

[little giant]

I mostly bank fish. Lots of ponds, lakes and canals near by. Good shoreline, easy access. Have a kayak if I feel like it. Too much wind lately.

[Bazoo]

I fish primarily from the bank. I have taken my boat out a few times but I can't say I like it any better. It presents it's own set of burdens.

[MyKeyBe]

I've been actively bass fishing for about 25 years now. I've never fished for bass from the water other than ankle or knee deep. No boat, kayak, canoe, float tube... 100% bank beater bunch 😂 

[KP Duty]

Fishing a pond or creek on foot is how I started and still my favorite way to enjoy the sport.  I just don't have the great spots I used to have.  Google earth is great...I've been spot hunting.

[GRiver]

I’m a fish where your at kinda angler. 
I keep a backpack with tackle and a collapsible rig in the truck. 
I’m a reverse universe green eggs and ham fishing kinda person. 
“Yes I could, yes I would, I would fish in the dark, I would fish in a park. I would fish in my house, even with a big ole mouse. I would fish on solid ground, even fish and make no sound……

Somebody stop me, think I could do this all day. 

[N Florida Mike]

I bank fish a lot in my back yard. Besides that,  My area has so many accessible ponds that It would take me many years to fish them all. The 2nd and 4th biggest bass I ever caught was while bank fishing. 
The nature of my job also allows me time between stops to fish ponds along the way.

I like the flexibility of bank fishing . I feel like it’s easier to connect on smaller bodies of water with bank access, because the fish are more congregated than trying to find them in a boat on a larger water body. It takes less time for the extremely busy person like me…

[Catt]

@N Florida MikeThe first time I spent a week in Florida was in Inverness. This was in the early 90s, stopped at a local gas station & bought a map.

 

This is what I saw 😉

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

1 hour ago, GRiver said:

I’m a fish where your at kinda angler. 
I keep a backpack with tackle and a collapsible rig in the truck. 
I’m a reverse universe green eggs and ham fishing kinda person. 
“Yes I could, yes I would, I would fish in the dark, I would fish in a park. I would fish in my house, even with a big ole mouse. I would fish on solid ground, even fish and make no sound……

Somebody stop me, think I could do this all day. 

Hahaha ... I can't  Keep going

[Zcoker]

I’ve caught some large bass from the bank. I even won tournaments from the bank up against kayaks and boats. Nowadays, I usually take my kayak out, fishing close to the bank or cover. However ya look at it, it’s a logical place to fish. Sometimes it depends on where you bank fish to make it worth while or even memorable. All them pitfalls that you mentioned about bank fishing can also happen on the water. All depends on what ya like to do. I just luv to “park and fish” move on down the road or chill out in the AC if it’s blazing hot out.

 

 

 

[Gera]

I do all the time, sometimes when driving home from work in the evening.. if there is fishy weather and I got some time I'll stop and fish for a while, some other times I'm just to lazy to get the boat or the kayak out. I take only one combo and my light tackle backpack and walk the bank for a few hours.. very relaxing.. 

 

 

[fishhugger]

nothing better than a small body of water that is fishable from the bank.  simple, efficient, peaceful. i feel like with a boat you are more locked in to fishing for a longer period, because of the extra baggage a boat entails in expense, time, packing....   that being said - most places i guess a boat allows you to fish a lot more spots......especially on large bodies of water.

and it's fun when people  stop and ask "caught anything?" i don't think they do that when you're in a boat.

[Dan N]

I have a boat, but still fish from the bank a lot. Fortunately for me I have some excellent access in a local public park, with channels off of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. It can be absolutely great during spring and fall. Easy to do after work, and it’s 5 minutes from my house. 
I do a lot of short 1-3 hour trips. 
can get 10-15  or more in short trips at times.