What Do You Pack When You Bank Fish? 2024

Josh Smith reply :

Hello,

I'm estimating I'll have my boat repaired this fall and still hope to see some water time with it this year. I've been busier than I thought I'd be, or I'd have had it out this summer.

When I boat fish, I generally have food and everything I need for as long as I care to stay out. When I bank fish, I find all that stuff difficult to carry.

Problem is, when I take a day to fish, I don't know how long I'll be out, even bank fishing. So I've come up with some essentials to take.

First thing is my "always" stuff: Belt pistol (1911) with two spare magazines (one loaded with soft cast; one spare and the one in the pistol loaded with hollowpoint). Compass and Leatherman. In my front pockets are a Spyderco Clipit knife I've carried ever since the late '90s when I purchased it for martial arts training, and on the other side is a clip-on high power flashlight, Bushnell if I remember correctly. It had been a Mini-Maglite, but their newer ones are kinda' junky, so I switched brands.

Then there's the backpack. It's an old Yugoslavian (I think) surplus battle pack; not huge but very durable. In it I carry some dehydrated food, coffee, a Trangia alcohol burner and stove, a 1qt canteen, canteen cup, spoon, and canteen stove (backup to the Trangia stove). There's flint and steel in there, some Trioxane tabs which back up the alcohol stove and double as fire starters. A TP, sunscreen (SPF 50) and DEET wipes are in another pocket.

If I think I'll be out overnight, I'll snap on a military light backpack nested in its bivy bag. I also add a Ka-Bar belt knife if I'll be out longer than four hours or anticipate the need.

Once the backpack is on, I sling a 2-qt military canteen (or two, depending on how far I'm going/how long I'm staying out). I clip a Thermacell to the canteen strap.

Three or four fishing rods go in my left hand, and a Plano two-shelf tackle box I use for bank fishing goes in my right.

I wear a hat and sunglasses, of course.

There are still a couple things I'd like to add for long hikes when I can make room. I have a Sawyer Mini water filter, and will be getting a charcoal filter to go with it. A gallon of water weights about 8lbs.

I've come to really enjoy the hikes I take to bank fishing locations. I'll go so far as to say I enjoy these fishing hikes as much as I enjoy fishing on a boat. Even if I get skunked, I enjoy the time spent hiking.

Does anyone else do this sort of thing?

Josh

Rhino68W reply :

I do not. When I bank fish it is at local ponds. I don't go on trips that are this intricate.

scaleface reply :

yep .

Jake the Cake reply :

I take my Bass Pro XPS backpack. it's got everything I need, a cooler, pockets for baits/lures, pocket for 4 plano boxes, my net-stringer-and rope, filet knives, needle nose, and just about anything else I can think up. Oh, and 3 poles because that's all you're allowed to actively fish in St. Louis. Usually 6' and 6'6" light/medium bass/catfish poles, and an ultralight 5'6" Crapie/Bluegill pole. AND MY 5 GALLON BUCKET!!!! Can't forget that bucket!

scaleface reply :

When I hike to fish I usually carry a S&W 38. Always have a Leatherman. Usually a fixed blade , hatchet , machete or something just to play around with. A pocket knife of some sort . I might have a half dozen knives . Camera , 5 gallon bucket . I like to just hike somewhere get some lines in the water and play like a mountain man .

MassBass reply :

I have found a machete valuable for making trails and getting thru brush to new or reclaimed spots on the river. Also pliers and a bottle opener and my trusty scissors.

Heron reply :

Nope. When I bank fish, it is always at places where I can park the car within fair sight of the shore line.

No need for any additional gear.

rippin-lips reply :

That sounds more like a weekend adventure in the woods then going fishing from the bank.

Bruce424 reply :

I hike when I fish too. But only day trips for at most 12 hrs. those hikes are mainly for a bigger lake I fish. Besides fishing tackle like rods and my tackle back pack. I carry only a few extra things like a folding knife a multi tool a couple granola bars and a drink. I keep some extra clothes in my car.

S. Sass reply :

On 9/5/2015 at 6:14 AM, rippin-lips said:
That sounds more like a weekend adventure in the woods then going fishing from the bank.

That sounded more extreme for me, more like a weekend setup for me as well.

I usually "rough it" when I go on these type outings. No stoves/burners/water filters although a good Zippo lighter is with me. Ill clean n cook my catch/kill on open fire. I also carry .45 to for protection have a few bottled waters, jerky, fishing hat, prescription shades, and knife. I use one of the small Okeechobee Fats tackle bags and 2 or 3 poles. Im sure depending on where and how long I am going I will take more or less.

Most of my bank fishing is within eysight of the vehicle as well though.

lindac reply :

Aa a female bass fishergal. I am always a bit over packed but my husband and I will hike out a bit so I like to be prepared. I have a backpack for all my tackle, water bottle, baby wipes incase I need to go, bug spray, bandaids and antiseptic cause I am super clumsy. Which is all in packable size. I also bring a pair of small branch cutters cause I have cut my way into some great bases areas. Which my hubby should be thanking me for that 7lb largemouth. I also have a small fanny pack for my phone and stuff I want access to quicke, like hooks and plastics I think I'll use most. And of course my license and sunglasses.

lindac reply :

Oh and I always have a pair of braid cutters clipped to my fanny pack so I'm completely geeked out.

hatrix reply :

d**n so of you just get straight silly wth it. It sounds like you pack with the possibility of never making it back. I like to just brjng a tackle bad and some fishing poles. It seeks to work pretty good for me as long as I remember those two things.

scaleface reply :

On 9/23/2015 at 6:13 PM, hatrix said:
d**n so of you just get straight silly wth it. It sounds like you pack with the possibility of never making it back. I like to just brjng a tackle bad and some fishing poles. It seeks to work pretty good for me as long as I remember those two things.

...and I carry a lantern if I'm staying after dark .

garvin reply :

If you don't want to pack it all on your back, there's always a solution like this:
Available at Academy for $200. A little pricey, but I was there the other day and they had some simple canvas carts for like $50. Note this one from Berkley has pole holders built in.

blckshirt98 reply :

Some of you bank fisherman are hardcore, but I've never been fishing in an area where there's remote access that requires much hiking to get to the water. I pretty much fish only man made reservoirs in California so there's always parking nearby and no real dangerous wildlife to worry about. I'll take a water bottle, some snack bars/beef jerky, a small 4.5" knife, sunscreen/neck buff/hat, and then my fishing gear. I try to stay as lightweight as possible so I can walk along the bank efficiently, and try to keep my gear to a minimum so if I need to change tackle I don't have to dig through piles of gear to find what I want.

PS say what a gun!?! what for, bear country?

bigbill reply :

A 9606 tackle box full of topwater baits, A 9606 tackle box full of crankbaits. My car is close by with a plastics, weedless, frog tackle box. 3-5 rod setups.

We have bears, mountainlions, bobcatss, big monster coyote there more like wolves. Night fishing at 4am alone my buddy and his 18 Freinds is with me. I had a bear at my car already. It's the stalking cats I don't like.

dumfish reply :

Cheap lures I don't mine losing and a LCP.

Alonerankin2 reply :

PS say what a gun!?! what for, bear country?

Um, no bears.. But, I always pack a .357 or some type of handgun. For the criminal type, you know.

No shortage of criminal types in the world..

scaleface reply :

I dont think the intent of the O P was going to the pond and fish awhile .

Now a hike and a fishing trip for me is more about enjoying time outdoors than bass fishing .You see in my photo some morels I harvested . iI'll set up a camp , collect and cache firewood , cut a path ... I'm lucky to know a few places to hike to . I just got off the phone with my brother and we were discussing building a foot bridge to make it easier to hike to one fishing hole . Its all good .

Evan K reply :

I take my backpack (Bass pro shops) with about 18 lbs of tackle and 2 rod setups. My line clippers is on my belt loop and my Fish Grip Jr. and digital scale are in my back pocket.

My setups are a MH *** Black with a Lews LFS Speed Spool, 65 lb. P-Line braid, and a St. Croix Premier M with a BPS Pro Qualifier spinning reel and 15 lb. P-Line braid. I'd like to start carrying a third, cranking rod when I get it but we'll see how easy it is first.

I.rar reply :

Everything I take could probably fit in my pockets if I packed em good. I prefer a small fanny pack slung over my shoulder or the plano crappie? soft tackle bag (I'd have to check which one I have) if I'm bringing more than one rod.

I'm rarely out more than a couple hours and only fish baits/techniques I'm most confident in. This has worked best for me once I found my most productive baits and only bring what I think will work in that days conditions and location.

I'll also bring some water.

nicksmurf111 reply :

For bank fishing, I always take a gasoline/Coleman fuel lantern.

Mwelder28 reply :

What do you need a pistol for when your fishing

Mwelder28 reply :

I guess with the amount of money we spend on are setups we should carry a gun when fishing

nicksmurf111 reply :

On 9/30/2015 at 3:55 AM, Mwelder28 said:
What do you need a pistol for when your fishing

Nut jobs, especially if you are a female or have one with you. And vehicle theft. I've had issues with both. We used to do a lot of evening/night bank fishing while I was in college.

bigbill reply :

On 9/27/2015 at 3:02 AM, Alonerankin2 said:

PS say what a gun!?! what for, bear country?

Um, no bears.. But, I always pack a .357 or some type of handgun. For the criminal type, you know.

No shortage of criminal types in the world..

I'm a big guy, I could put 400lb parts on the machine. It's not people that I fear nor the bears it's the mountain lion.

bigbill reply :

On 9/30/2015 at 3:55 AM, Mwelder28 said:
What do you need a pistol for when your fishing

My 9606 two tackles boxes are full of every topwater bait and the other is full of crankbaits. Lots of $$ invested.

I still fear the big cats.

Josh Smith reply :

Around here when bank fishing, any place that produces is going to be out of sight of the the vehicle.

The best spot for river fishing is about a mile out through a corn field. You get cut going out and cut coming in. You get to leave your vehicle by the side of a country road.

If you get hurt, a mile is a long ways to get food, water, or first aid.

Josh

S. Sass reply :

You can always tell the city dwellers or at least folks never raised in the country. When they see gun they are

Its not like this when we go fishing.

I take a single hang gun in case it is needed. It is much better to be prepared than to not be and wish you had. We have large cats, wolves, coyoties, and an ocassional bear (very rare) that could possibly show up early morning or late evening. Not to mention this is redneck country and who knows what idiot will show up.

scaleface reply :

I have been beat up and robbed while camping ,.

nicksmurf111 reply :

I've been robbed by a drunk while camping with a gun. At least it was funny to accuse him of it in the morning.

8141

What Do You Pack When You Bank Fish? 2024

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