I realized something today.

[tnbassfisher]

I don't know how to fish ponds/small lakes while standing on the bank at all. Wondering if you all could help me out a little.

Thanks.

[Fishing Rhino]

While not strictly a "shore fisherman", since I fish from a canoe, I do fish mostly from shore.  

When I fish the windy side of the pond, I "park" my canoe in the vegetation, and cast along the shore or outward.

I fish pretty much the same whether stationed along the shore or away from the shore.  The main difference is that I allow more time for the bait to "drop" when I'm casting outward from the shore, into deeper water, and less time when I'm casting into the rocky shallows.

You'll have to accept the fact that to be successful from the shore, you will lose more gear than you would from a boat, since you cannot work the bait free from the backside of a hang.

I'm not sure if I would enjoy fishing without a boat.  It's a case of the grass being greener elsewhere.  Whether it actually is or not doesn't matter.  The fact that I can get to it does.

The main thing is to be or get familiar with the bottom of the areas you fish.

It seems to me that most boat fishermen whether it be a float tube, kayak, jon boat, or a full bore bass boat, tend to work along the shoreline.  

Keep in mind that big fish are often found tight to the beach in shallow water.

Do not walk right up to the edge to start fishing.  If possible, stay back several feet so you can work the shallows first.  This can be particularly critical if the sun is to your back and your shadow falls on the water.

Even foot steps transmitted through the soil can spook fish close to the shore, where they are more vulnerable to fishing birds.

If the shoreline is open, before you move to another area, make a few casts close to the shore where you want to fish next.  

Then you can move to that spot and work the areas away from the shore.

[Skinnyh2ofishin]

I grew up fishing from the bank along all the small ponds here in Central Florida and though I have other options now, I still enjoy heading out on foot from time to time.  As Fishing Rhino said, there are plenty of disadvantages, especially the losing of lures which you'll just have to become accustomed to (or go swimming).  But it can still be very productive and in fact, all but one of my biggest bass to date were caught while fishing either from shore or wading.  

I agree with Fishing Rhino about stealth.  Trout fisherman don't rush along the bank searching for fish, and while bass certainly aren't trout, they are still wary of things stalking them from the shallows.  Be patient, walk softly if you're at the waters edge, and agian following FR's advice, try to aviod fishing with the sun at your back.  The next step is actually fishing.

One of the biggest problems with being shorebound is the amount of gear you can carry.  This is really less a problem than we make it.  Before you head out, evaluate the weather conditions, possible lake conditions and what lures you have confidence will catch fish that day.  Then just take the gear that you can carry comfortably, there's nothing worse than falling off a rock, or slipping down a steep/muddy bank into a lake with your entire tacklebox on your back and three (or more) rods in your hand!  My philosophy when shorebound is if I can't fit it in a pair of cargo pants then I don't need it...and I only need one rod.  Not everyone feels this way, and they've found great ways to carry more gear, it's just not my thing.

Lures you'd use are all the same as if you were on a boat.  Even deep divers can be handy in rocky or timber filled areas as they deflect well and they can also help you learn the bottom composition.  If you don't have time to walk the bank of the whole lake/pond, then pick out areas of the pond that look the most productive and fish those hardest and just scan cast the rest.

Just remember, a small lake or pond is the same as a large lake, only smaller!  

[Sam]

Suggestions:

1.   Walk at least 50 feet from the bank when moving locations.

2.   Try to fish with sun in front, trying to avoid a shadow on water, if possible.

3.   Always carry a pliers with you, along with a scissors.

4.   Take three rods, two spinning and one baitcasting as to not overload yourself.

5.   Take one or two extra reels of each variety so you can change them out if they get line twist or a bad backlash.

6.   Fish the shoreline, from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock and then back with each type of bait.  Do this three or four times, or more, with each bait to fan cast the entire area.

7.   Bass can be right at your feet so be sure to fish along the bank where you will be standing first, from about 10 feet away.  Flip a worm in the area to see if there are any bass hanging out along the shoreline where you will be fishing.

8.   Try to find dropoffs or ledges and fish them.

9.   Always be sure to throw parallel to the shore when you fan cast.

10.  Use smaller lures, like #5 Shad Raps, Rooster Tails, Mepps #2 and #3's, Bandit 100s and 200s, etc.  

11.  Try buzzbaits and other topwaters early in AM and late in the PM. White or pink weightless trick worm, on a spinning rig with 6 pound test is a great search bait in the ponds.

12.  If your bait comes back with grass or slop on it, try a Carolina rig, a split shot or a drop shot to get bait off the bottom.  Or throw a Minus-1 and like shallow crankbait.

13.  Usually, pond bass will eat plastics, like Zoom 6 inch finesse worms.  Try watermelon, pumpkin seed and moccasin blue plus June bug to try to find out what they prefer.

14.  Pond bass may also hit all types of lures so try a spinnerbait, Chatterbait, jig and pig, creature bait, and of course, always throw a Senko wacky style.

15.  Senkos are a must be them 4 or 5 inches.  Throw them wacky rigged.  

16.  Throw some Zoom or Power Bait finesse worms wacky style, too.

You have a lot of choices when pond fishing.  Just give them a try to see what the bass want on each day.

Always watch where you walk in the summer as high grass or weeds can hide critters who will not appreciate being appreciated or stepped on.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Don't forget the pliers to remove hooks!!!  

[skillet]

 Just got a boat here lately, have been fishing ponds and small lakes for REALLY long time (still love it). Sam replied with a great list. The only thing I could disagree with was number of rods. I would stay with 2, 1 spinning and 1 BC. Most of my bank fishing involved LOTS of underbrush . Two was sometimes hard enough to deal with. With more I spent so much of the time with blood pressure above safe limits, no fun ...

skillet

[Crestliner2008]

Being retired, I usually can pick & choose my days when to go fishing. I usually take the boat out 1 - 3 times a week, depending on weather. However, I fish EVERY day, regardless. Those days when I do not take the boat, I fish a few local ponds from shore, including the Connecticut River. So, yes, I am very familiar with the problems you might be facing.

The suggestions above are fine, especially Rhino's, about being stealthy. This is the number one pre-requisite to successful shore angling. Myself, I take one rod and a selection of 1 - 3 presentations, all stuffed into a fanny pack. Wear sneakers! Yep, the old style basketball kind. Great for walking soft.

You need to settle on one rod/reel combo you feel most comfortable with; one which you can cast easily - without thinking - in very limited quarters, sometimes even bending over and lob casting under trees. Sorry, but you just can't do that with a baitcasting rig!

I use a 6 1/2' Med-Heavy spinning rod with a 4000 series Sahara, loaded with 12# test fluorocarbon. A good, all around combo for casting soft jerks, Senkos, top waters and jigs.

As has been said, learn the water you fish. Know where the inside bends are. Where the sunken trees sit. Where the closest drop off is to where you plant your feet.

Take your time approaching! Walk a step at a time. You cannot be a hurry. If you do, you'll fail. It's alot like still hunting deer, if you are familiar with that. And YES....wear camo if possible! Or very subdued, natural greens & browns. NO white T-shirts or white hats! This is NO ballony....if you want to be successful!

Finally, take a couple of the selected presentations you will plan on using. Maybe 2 colors of Senkos. One top water. A blue/black jig with plastic trailer. That's it. I've caught a lot of quality largemouths with this tactic. It will work for you!

Now go get 'em!

[tnbassfisher]

Thanks for the tips, but should I be throwing over the weeds and retrieving back through?

[Koop]

Absolutely, unless you can flip or pitch into them from where you are.  Make the lowest trajectory cast you can with minimal splash.  I complete my fan with minimal splash casts then I do it again with high splash casts.  Sometimes having a worm hit the water with a big splash like it fell out of an overhanging tree will get you a reaction strike.

Just make sure your using weedless rigs going through em.

[cart7t]

I always try and fish areas that others aren't likely to try and fish from.  Obviously you have to take into account your ability to cast but anytime you can get a lure in a fishes face from a direction it's not used to seeing lures coming from is a good thing.  

[skillet]

 If using a bait caster, MAKE SURE of the room you've got to cast in. I have had "professional overruns" that came out of the reel and engulfed my whole hand :-[ :-[, when the bait hung on piece of weed or small branch...

skillet