Banks vs Boats: It's Really 2 Different Sports 2024
Koz reply :
I was watching a repeat of MLF on Discovery Channel this morning and it suddenly dawned on me how completely different fishing from a boat is than bank fishing. I mean really different. Take lure presentation and working the bait, for example. There are a lot more things you can do standing on the boat above the water than you can on the bank. Granted, if I was 6'4" instead of 5'8" that would be a help as well.
Then there are things like covering water. Obviously you can cover a lot more water by boat than walking along the bank. But lets take any given 150 foot stretch of shoreline. I cast 150 feet down the shore and hook up with a fish almost immediately. While reeling that fish in chances are I scare away every fish that was between me and my cast. On a boat, you work your way down that shoreline and have the opportunity to pick off those other 3, 4, or 5 or more fish along that same stretch of bank. I can tell you this - for now on when fishing parallel to the shoreline I'm going to work out instead of making multiple long casts.
Then there's that 150 foot cast. By the time I make that cast and work it back, the guy on the boat can make 4 or 5 casts. On a boat there are also better angles to fish rocks, stumps, or fallen trees. Fishing from the bank also means minimizing movement so vibrations from walking don't scare off the bass or the baitfish.
And of course, fishing from the bank there's almost no chance to cover deeper water when the bass are out of the shallows. We also can't see a lot of what's going on under the water be it vegetation, schooling fish or bait, or most structure - even with polarized glasses. And don't get me started about the advantages of electronics.
On this board I see guys saying they catch 50+ bass in a day and unless I'm fishing a dink pond there's no way I'll come close to that. Of course, I only fish for 2 or 3 hours at a time and if I come out with 8-10 fish that's a pretty good day for me.
Don't get me wrong - I do OK fishing the banks and I catch enough 5-6 pounders to keep me happy. But frankly, with the limitations of bank fishing it's almost a miracle to stumble upon fish that big when fishing from the bank. I'm beginning to realize that the chances of catching anything bigger than that are really, really slim at best. That won't deter me from trying. But those of use beating the banks day after day are at a real disadvantage.
By the way, I'm not saying boat fishing is easier. There are challenges there as well. Heck, it's an art form to control the boat and fish at the same time. It's also a heck of a lot more expensive. Boat fishing just offers so much more in the way of opportunity.
So, all you boat guys - take pity on us bank beaters. We're doing the best we can under the circumstances ????
Sam reply :
Koz, other than for the Osborne Landing, Follow the Dead Fish to Hopewell, and Ancarrows ramps on the Historic James River in the greater Richmond, Virginia geographical area, we do not encounter bank fishermen very often.
There are a few docks where people will be fishing and sometimes we find individuals fishing near other boat ramps, like Morris Creek on the Chick River, but for 99% of the time we don't see any bank guys or gals.
When we do, we give them a wide berth so they can also enjoy fishing from the bank.
And yes, fishing from a boat gives you much more latitude in your presentations and techniques than fishing from the bank. This is why we have an explosion of kayaks as they are the most economical way to fish from a boat without breaking the bank.
You made a great post. It is a reminder to all in a boat to give way to "bankers."
Merry Christmas!
BassWhole! reply :
No! Same thing.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
No poison ivy in a boat. I always seem to find it when I walk the banks.
haggard reply :
Boat also makes it easier to recover a snagged lure.
Most bank beaters do better than I do in a boat. Hoping that will change in 2019.
jimmyjoe reply :
I've been a "banker" too, since '63. Koz put it perfectly. In rivers, boaters just go anywhere. Well, almost. Me? I have to beat the brush and weeds, search for rocks in the mud, ask landowners' permission, avoid breaking my rod on the overhanging branches and lose lots of lures that I snag and can't get free. And yes, as Dirtyeggroll said, I gotta watch out for the poison ivy. The only place I'm on a nearly equal footing with boaters is right below the dams. In fact, I can fish some tailwaters much easier than a boatman can, especially around the rocks. That's why I have so many spoons; they survive the rocks much better than crankbaits.
As far as lakes go, I can access productive water somewhat easier, but boaters still have an advantage. (I'm learning to like lake fishing; I had been 90% river-oriented until the last year or so.) The one advantage I have in lakes is flooded timber. If the wind is against the boaters, I can throw a weightless Senko or jig under a slip bobber and pull stuff out that the boaters can't reach. That doesn't happen very often, though.
The last advantage boaters have is acquiring the fish. A bank fisherman has to deal with rocks and shallow water the last 8-10 feet before he can get a hand or net on the fish. I've lost a good few in that 8-10 feet. Boaters just lean over and scoop'em up.
Old habits die hard, though. I'll be a shorecaster 'til I die. jj
greentrout reply :
I fish by bank most of the time by choice ... a nice bass boat is like a wife you care about -- needs some money and attention.
At 65 yrs. plus old I find fishing from the bank at this point in my time here better suits me...I do have access to some nice private waters from time to time where a pond hopper and jon boat are used...and will use a nice inflable on public waters in the spring of the yr. a little... each to his own...
merry christmas
A man's got to know his limitations. Dirty Harry Callahan
Russ E reply :
On 12/23/2018 at 10:30 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:No poison ivy in a boat. I always seem to find it when I walk the banks.
And ticks.
I can handle snakes, lizards, and spiders.
When I find a tick, I panic like a little girl. They are little blood sucking demons.
Permethrin and Deet is my friend.
scaleface reply :
A lot of places its near impossible to fish from the bank .
WRB reply :
There is a solution to you issues; buy a boat. There is a reason kayaks are very popular, low cost and easy to transport.
Tom
MN Fisher reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 1:13 AM, scaleface said:A lot of places its near impossible to fish from the bank .
Or impossible to get to the places where you CAN fish from the bank. Lots of the towns around Lake Minnetonka have instituted No Parking anywhere near where the DNR designates Bank Fishing. Public land on the shore - usually alongside roads. But for a mile or more in any direction - No Parking Anytime signs have gone up. So even where there's decent places to bank-fish, you have to trudge alongside the road for a long distance to get to them.
Koz reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 1:18 AM, WRB said:There is a solution to you issues; buy a boat. There is a reason kayaks are very popular, low cost and easy to transport.
Tom
I'm not complaining. Plus, I get a ton of exercise bank fishing. MY point is that it really struck me how bank fishing versus boat fishing is so different it makes it almost like two different sports sort of like baseball and cricket.
If I was younger and not a full time single parent I'd probably buy a kayak. But at my age I'm honestly too scared to be that low in the water with the abundance of alligators we have down here.
On 12/24/2018 at 1:21 AM, MN Fisher said:Or impossible to get to the places where you CAN fish from the bank. Lots of the towns around Lake Minnetonka have instituted No Parking anywhere near where the DNR designates Bank Fishing. Public land on the shore - usually alongside roads. But for a mile or more in any direction - No Parking Anytime signs have gone up. So even where there's decent places to bank-fish, you have to trudge alongside the road for a long distance to get to them.
We have a few places like that here. That's when we load up our bikes and ride those the rest of the way. The only issue with that is I have yet to get a cart or trailer for my bike. Carrying the tackle bag and one rod combo is no big deal, but I'd like to be able to bring more than two bottles of water in with me especially on those hot days.
Glaucus reply :
I'd say most landlocked fishermen could leave the bank behind if they really wanted to. People who can afford an arsenal of rods and tackle can afford a 500 dollar kayak or a cheap Jon boat. Nobody needs 60,000 dollar plus bass boats to fish, they're a luxury item. I think a lot of people get so caught up on not being able to afford a bass boat that they forget about other legitimate options.
scaleface reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 1:35 AM, Glaucus said:I'd say most landlocked fishermen could leave the bank behind if they really wanted to. People who can afford an arsenal of rods and tackle can afford a 500 dollar kayak or a cheap Jon boat. Nobody needs 60,000 dollar plus bass boats to fish, they're a luxury item. I think a lot of people get so caught up on not being able to afford a bass boat that they forget about other legitimate options.
I have a 22 foot Lowe and dont use it that much . I fish from a 14 foot jon boat the most. Also have a canoe and a plastic Bass baby with built in wheels . I can fish anybody of water my truck can pull up to . One of my best spots is an irrigation ditch that I have never seen another boat fishing . Heres one caught from the ditch .
BigAngus752 reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 1:21 AM, MN Fisher said:Or impossible to get to the places where you CAN fish from the bank. Lots of the towns around Lake Minnetonka have instituted No Parking anywhere near where the DNR designates Bank Fishing. Public land on the shore - usually alongside roads. But for a mile or more in any direction - No Parking Anytime signs have gone up. So even where there's decent places to bank-fish, you have to trudge alongside the road for a long distance to get to them.
Wow, that was well thought out. Can you Uber to a good fishing spot? Hey! There's a money-maker! Bassin'Uber! Or FishLyfts.
Mobasser reply :
We have a wide body 17ft canoe that we fish from often. It's made by Osagian, here in Missouri. Easy to launch and tow. We use a Hummingbird portable depth finder, and can fish most anywhere. I can stand and walk in this canoe. 4ft wide in the center, so very stable. Works great for fishing smaller waters.
WRB reply :
Bass fishing is bass fishing from a boat or from the shoreline. The difference is you are limited to where you can fish when walking along the shoreline. I have made that statement on this site dozens of times and always ask anglers if they fishing from a boat or from shore when answering questions regarding bass fishing so I can determine how to answer the question. Most obvious are questions regarding off shore techniques and sonar.
How lures are presented matters, angles the lure approaches bass matter, depth the bass are actively feeding at matter, everything matters and anyone fishing from shore is limited to casting from shore or a dock attached to the shoreline.
Shore fishing has some advantages like access to remote locations, private ponds and small lakes restricted to shore fishing only. Shore anglers can be stealthy and some presentations are very effective like soft plastics, especially plastic worms. IMO shore fisherman are generally at a disadvantage for reasons mentioned.
I would be far more concerned walking the shore with alligators and poisionus snakes then sitting in a kayak or other type of portable boat with the exception of a belly boat with your legs in the water.
Remember you don't necessarily need to own a boat to fish from it. Large lakes usually have rental boats, local fishing clubs have team fishing partners. Some folks prefer fishing from shore. Chief who is a local bass pro that fishes team and pro am events doesn't own a boat and prefers shore fishing. Chief gas dozens of rods and reels along lots of tackle he keep in his truck, selecting what he plans to use that day.
Tom
OCdockskipper reply :
My experience makes me agree with the OP. On my home lake, there are a dozen or so association areas where people can fish from the bank. Nearly each home (about 300) on the lake has a dock as well, albeit that most homes don't have a large waterfront presence. Before I had my boat, catching over 15 bass in a day was something I only did once or twice. With a boat, my average is nearly double that with dozens of days over 40 fish. It is just a matter of access.
In regards to smaller bodies of water, I have a sister in Georgia with a pair of ponds on her property and another sister in Texas who lives by a section of the Blanco river. I love fishing both of those, but am limited to bank fishing. The Georgia ponds have a lot of brush on the shoreline & a few gators, so bank fishing is less productive than it would be out of a boat. The Blanco river section is small enough that I can cast from one side to the other, so in this case, a boat wouldn't be that much of an advantage.
The OP is correct in general, although it does depend on the body of water.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
I’m also 90% bank fisherman and I do have jon boat and kayak. @Kozhas a good point in differential between bank fishing and boat fishing. Also @WRBwe applicate your comment regarding bank fishing or boat fishing, some boater just comment as they used to on boat but not suitable for all Bank fisherman.
I just adjust accordingly if I Bank fish. I work around shoreline first if no take I would cast out further and further. I choose lures or plastic that suitable for bank fishing not by hype. I always prepare to get skunked. I down size my lure to be able to fish weedy and shallow area. I learn all my spot deep and shallow and learn when fish would be there. The last I don’t mind catching DINKS when bank fish (you can’t just pick and choose) unlike those boater that only target the big one.
I do see some benefits of Bank fish, I don’t have to prep, I can just go out a couple hours come home and be happy. I can work the are throughly where boater just cast and go. I also learn that most of shallow fish, they don’t stay put but roaming around. I enjoy fishing from bank as much if not more compare to boat.
greentrout reply :
Koz reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 9:41 AM, OCdockskipper said:The Georgia ponds have a lot of brush on the shoreline & a few gators...
That's the thing about the areas I fish - there are plenty of areas along the bank that have heavy grassy vegetation or woody vegetation that are technically fishable but I choose not to fish them because of the danger they present. I don't want to get ambushed by an alligator either hiding in the grassy vegetation or using that cover to stalk prey. Likewise, I stay away from heavy woody vegetation (i.e. dense saplings and occasional bigger trees) because if I wedge myself in there I might not be able to escape quick enough.
That's too bad, because I'm sure some of these areas would be productive. Also, many of these lagoons are in residential communities that do not allow kayaks or other watercraft so I can't access them from the water either.
Again, for those following this thread my original post wasn't a complaint or lamenting that one was harder or easier than other. It just struck me that the ways anglers fish boat and banks is completely different.
But my my personal takeaway from this is instead of bombing casts either along the shore or in open water to cover a lot of water may not be productive. Instead I plan to start with shorter fan casting and work my way out.
Crestliner2008 reply :
On 12/23/2018 at 10:30 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:No poison ivy in a boat. I always seem to find it when I walk the banks.
And no ticks either! 
B-Dozer reply :
It's all good. When hiking, I carry a fly rod, or spinning rod. Can usually find a river, stream, or small pond out in the middle of nowhere. I also carry a rod in both of my trucks, in case I come across a pond or reservoir.
I also have kayaks, canoe, rowboat, and pontoon boat. Can't say one is better than the other.
the reel ess reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 10:28 AM, greentrout said:
I just watched this a while back. It seems the trick to catching giant bass from the bank is to go to a private pond in FL where the bass are enormous and have never seen a lure. AWWW SON! Who'd've thunk it?
B-Dozer reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 9:25 PM, the reel ess said:I just watched this a while back. It seems the trick to catching giant bass from the bank is to go to a private pond in FL where the bass are enormous and have never seen a lure. AWWW SON! Who'd've thunk it?
THAT'S NOT A BASS!!!! Bill Dance fell in the water again, Roland's just trying to fish him out ????
Big Rick reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 9:45 AM, JustJames said:The last I don’t mind catching DINKS when bank fish (you can’t just pick and choose) unlike those boater that only target the big one.
Nearly all the 6# puts bass I have caught have been in less than 6ft of water. The first 6 pounder I caught was while I was bank fishing...
j bab reply :
Make friends with people who have boats ????
Sam reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 12:56 AM, greentrout said:I fish by bank most of the time by choice ... a nice bass boat is like a wife you care about -- needs some money and attention.
At 65 yrs. plus old I find fishing from the bank at this point in my time here better suits me...I do have access to some nice private waters from time to time where a pond hopper and jon boat are used...and will use a nice inflable on public waters in the spring of the yr. a little... each to his own...
merry christmas
A man's got to know his limitations. Dirty Harry Callahan
Green, in Mississippi you have great places to fish all year.
The rest of the country above the Carolinas and the Mason-Dixon Line and then heading out west have issues with finding enough ponds and small lakes to fish. So you and the bank guys and gals in the deep south can enjoy a smorgasbord of fishing locations as long as you avoid the snakes, wild boars, alligators, and the Rougaroux if you slip into Louisiana.
And remember, when entering Louisiana from Mississippi you have to use the 1972 football rule and set your clock back one second. 
Geaux Tigers!
the reel ess reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 10:23 PM, Big Rick said:Nearly all the 6# puts bass I have caught have been in less than 6ft of water. The first 6 pounder I caught was while I was bank fishing...
Come to think of it, same here. Some of them have been right on the bank. So close, I'd spook them if I walked up from the other side. The thing about the boat is, even if you just beat the bank, you can beat all of the bank from the boat. Most of the time, you can't beat all the bank if bank bound.
Sam reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 11:11 PM, Sam said:Green, in Mississippi you have great places to fish all year.
The rest of the country above the Carolinas and the Mason-Dixon Line and then heading out west have issues with finding enough ponds and small lakes to fish. So you and the bank guys and gals in the deep south can enjoy a smorgasbord of fishing locations as long as you avoid the snakes, wild boars, alligators, and the Rougaroux if you slip into Louisiana.
And remember, when entering Louisiana from Mississippi you have to use the 1972 football rule and set your clock back one second.
Geaux Tigers!
Here is why you set your clock back one second when entering Louisiana:
1972: Bert Jones sets clocks back 4 seconds
Technically, it wasn’t a two-minute drill. Bert Jones took over the ball with 3:02 on the clock with the Tigers down 16-10, needing 80 yards to score. Jones tried to squeeze a pass to Jimmy LeDoux on a play that began with four seconds on the clock, but the ball fell incomplete. Unaware of the clock, Jones pleaded with the ref for pass interference, not more time. He didn’t get the call, but he did get one second. More than enough. Jones got off the snap and hit Brad Davis for the score. Ole Miss is still mad at the refs about this one.
greentrout reply :
I have bass fished in New Orleans, La. City Park with its many creeks, lagoons and bayous...very urban...some nice bass ... still hold an annual tournament for biggest bass... all from the bank ... short drive ...
Fished Houston, TX. with its many bayous and creeks ...flood detention/retention lakes..you can be landing a 5 lb. bass underneath a busy interstate overpass ... really ... very very urban ... bass are caught in the downtown business district vicinity with regularity... clean enough water and the bass can live just about anywhere...
LSU gets another QB like Bert Jones and I'd be worried ... pure passer ...
Merry Christmas
https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/urban-bass-fishing.html
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New Orleans City Park ...
TOXIC reply :
Ever wonder why bank fishermen try to throw to the middle of the lake and boat fishermen try to throw as close to the bank as possible? ????
Seriously though even though I now spend the majority of my time in my 21 foot floating tackle box, some of my best fishing and memorable fishing came from wading the Shenandoah river and the rappahanock river headwaters. We have state parks where access isn’t a problem and once in the water you can go miles zig zagging in between rock formations and deep pools. I did it year round and had many 100 fish days.
soflabasser reply :
Interesting subject. I mostly fish for bass from the shore but have fished for bass on boats for many years now. I got almost 2 decades experience in deep sea fishing from a boat, have driven a boat in ruff seas, know how to read a depth finder and use a GPS to find locations very well. Both boat and land based bass fishing have their advantages but it is safe to say that fishing for bass on a boat is much easier than fishing from the shore, especially from public waters. Private waters is a different story since bass from private waters tend to be much easier to catch (often like shooting fish in a barrel easy) than highly pressured public waters. With a boat you can easily cover more distance than fishing from the shore, use a fishfinder to locate the fish, get closer to prime fishing locations, and fishing is much less of a workout when you are in a boat. There are devices that many tournament bass fishermen use that emits sounds from a boat and those sounds attracts fish to the boat. You still have to find the bass and convince them to bite but it is easier to find fish when you reach more locations and fish them more comfortably like you do in a boat. With that said, I have lost count of the +8 pound bass I have caught from the shore and have caught a few double digit bass so I feel anyone can do very well fishing from the shore if they put in the time needed to improve as a bass fisherman.
hoosierbass07 reply :
Well, a few years ago I bought a small two person john boat for $50.00 at a yard sale. Thing does not leak, very light to transport and can take a small trolling motor. So keep your eyes open for those kind of deals. But you are pretty right about it being two different sports. A guy in a big bass boat can zoom across a lake, turn on the trolling motor, and make cast after cast while trolling down the bank. In a way it seems like a really lazy/cheating way to fish. Zooming from place to place then trolling down a bank until you land bass? Is that really skill? I do like watching bass competitions on TV (MLF and sometimes BassMasters) but still I recognize it's a whole different ballgame. It's a free country though, so fish how ever you like as long as its legal. And yes, I don think some pro fisherman are skillful, like KVD, etc...
Koz reply :
On 12/25/2018 at 2:52 PM, hoosierbass07 said:In a way it seems like a really lazy/cheating way to fish. Zooming from place to place then trolling down a bank until you land bass? Is that really skill? I do like watching bass competitions on TV (MLF and sometimes BassMasters) but still I recognize it's a whole different ballgame. It's a free country though, so fish how ever you like as long as its legal. And yes, I don think some pro fisherman are skillful, like KVD, etc...
I think there's a lot of skill and some luck involved no matter if you're fishing from the bank or a boat. It's one thing to do well fishing a pond or lake that you know, but it's another when you can go to new bodies of water, break down the situation, and catch a ton of fish that day.
Another thing is that if you're using a boat you have a TON of choices to fish and that can cause issues as well. How many times have we seen a pro angler on MLF get skunked for a round or two because they have so many choices yet choose the wrong one? Meanwhile, another pro bags 15 pounds of bass during that same round.
Side note: Yes, I'm posting on Christmas morning. Now that my son is a teenager he'd rather sleep on extra hour or two than get up early and open gifts.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
My legs are covered in scars from all the thorns, they are everywhere I fish. Especially the secluded spots deep in the woods!
greentrout reply :
Have the highest regard for the bass tournament fisherman with his 21ft. fiberglass boat with 250 - 300 hp engine attached ... thing of beauty...competing against the best of the best ... with tremendous pressure to do well for a paycheck ... learn a lot from them.... great for the sport ...
MERRY CHRISTMAS
scaleface reply :
On 12/26/2018 at 2:31 AM, greentrout said:Have the highest regard for the bass tournament fisherman with his 21ft. fiberglass boat with 250 - 300 hp engine attached ... thing of beauty...competing against the best of the best ... with tremendous pressure to do well for a paycheck ... learn a lot from them.... great for the sport ...
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I think the average fisherman is better than the average guy 40 years ago . There is so much info on the internet . Even on the small lakes I fish I see more and more anglers out fishing the deep points that use to receive little pressure .
j bab reply :
@Koz awhile back my friends and I held a small, bank-only "tournament" at Grand Lake in Oklahoma. We used our cars as "boats" to hop around to different bank accessible spots (mostly marinas) throughout the day, and we used the MLF app to keep a live scoreboard. It was fun!
MIbassyaker reply :
The limiting factors in bank fishing are access, location, and positioning. If you can walk to locations that put you within casting distance of good bass habitat, at good angles, you can be just as successful fishing from the bank (or wading) as from a boat. If you can't, then you won't be as successful. I'm not sure it's more complicated than that.
the reel ess reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 1:35 AM, Glaucus said:I'd say most landlocked fishermen could leave the bank behind if they really wanted to. People who can afford an arsenal of rods and tackle can afford a 500 dollar kayak or a cheap Jon boat. Nobody needs 60,000 dollar plus bass boats to fish, they're a luxury item. I think a lot of people get so caught up on not being able to afford a bass boat that they forget about other legitimate options.
I bought the bass boat (a very old used one) only to discover it was more complicated than it was useful. There was always something that needed to be fixed or replaced. It's sitting there with a new(ish) tire that won't stay inflated now. I then bought the $500 kayak and used it for 5 years and caught more and bigger bass than I ever did before. And I am able to put it into places I could never put a boat in. Some places I fish are so small, if you put a boat in, the water level would rise noticeably. And they have areas in them you couldn't take a boat. But they have better fish on average than the nearest hydro lake. Before the kayak, I never knew big bass could be so shallow, year-round. No competition, bigger and more bass and exercise. It's a no-brainer for me.
I just bought a better kayak, pre-rigged with a fish finder. I can use it year-round without ever getting wet. It seems like it would be more work to lug the kayak, but it's way less work. I kept the $500 kayak for when company comes along (rare).
BassNJake reply :
When I only bank fished I would say, I wish I had a boat so I could access all the water.
After getting a boat, having access to all the water has become the new "problem".
My home lake has 800 miles of shoreline and almost 53 sq miles of water surface.
Where to start, what depth, what presentation, how long to stay, how far to run, main channel or in the creeks???
The questions related to location have now increased by (insert large number here) and the amount of my patience has decreased due to having so many places to fish that I can easily access.
When I bank fished I had a limited amount of techniques I could use.
Things like a drop shot, spoons, deep diving cranks, A rigs ... .... just didn't make it into my arsenal.
So now not only do I have access to all the water, I also have the ability to fish anything I want.
So not only was I happy to get a boat so was the bait monkey.
Catt reply :
Same sport different approaches ????
Access is the limiting factor when bank fishing, some places I fish have well manicured shorelines while other are a jungle.
I've been skunked in a boat & I've been skunked on the bank.
Bank fishing I've caught em by my feet & I've caught em 30 yds away from the bank.
Operator Error
GReb reply :
On 12/24/2018 at 11:11 PM, Sam said:
And remember, when entering Louisiana from Mississippi you have to use the 1972 football rule and set your clock back one second.
Geaux Tigers!
Not funny
I love bank fishing local private lakes and ponds. Have caught many good fish that way. However my local large fishery basically requires a boat form an access perspective. And there are 10-12 foot gators in every fishing hole. Some will swim right up to you.
greentrout reply :
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
I like to watch other people fish, whether it's a stranger near me on the bank, or a friend of mine who was kind enough to invite me onto his/her boat. Regardless of what we have, or don't have, afford or can't afford, or if we are on the bank or in a boat, the biggest observation I've made is how little time some people are actually IN the water. For the best chance of success, whatever you deem that to be, we have to maximize the amount of time our presentation is in front of the fish.
We all know the guy who makes 3 casts with a lure, and immediately grabs his scissors and digs through his bag for a new presentation because "they must not want that one today". He spends half his time looking for baits and tying knots, and I've never seen anyone catch a bass with a dry line.
We can also prepare off the water, too. Tackle organization, checking our equipment (loops in a spool, rod guides, fresh knots, etc) that help us to minimize headaches on the water. I took a trip this spring that we were supposed to have a full weekend on the water. By lunch time of the 2nd day we had 2 fish in the boat, a completely toasted trolling motor battery, 2 9.9 motors that were on the way to the shop, and had to row back to the launch. (Ok that might not be you, but I had to let that one go! Lol).
Anyway my point is, whatever situation we are in, as long as we are ON the water, we should be focused on maximizing our time IN the water!
A late Merry Christmas! And a safe and blessed New Year.
Rob
CybrSlydr reply :
Man, wish I had the money - just saw this one!
https://athensohio.craigslist.org/boa/d/new-haven-vibe-sea-ghost-130-angler/6768791537.html
This one, too - https://huntington.craigslist.org/spo/d/prestonsburg-feelfree-lure-sale-or-trade/6753194949.html
WRB reply :
One of the most innovative shore anglers I know of are the ladder fisherman at Pyramide lake. The ladder is used to get out of the water near drop offs on flat lake bottom areas so they can see and cast better. Back in the 60's this was also common practice with lake bass anglers targeting spawning bass at lake Lower Otay. The angler wades out to about 3' of water with his ladder on sandy bottom areas and stands on the ladder steps so they out of the water. The ladders may use a milk crate or baskets on the paint tray to hold their tackle. More then 1way to skin a cat (fish) as they say.
Tom
Mobasser reply :
Sometimes it's fun just to grab a small box, one or two rods, and go! Good fish can be caught from the bank too
OCdockskipper reply :
On 12/27/2018 at 2:19 AM, rtwvumtneer6 said:We can also prepare off the water, too. Tackle organization, checking our equipment (loops in a spool, rod guides, fresh knots, etc) that help us to minimize headaches on the water...
This is huge for me. When I am out on the water, I want to fish (or at least have the choice to either fish or check out the wildlife). I don't want to be forced to work on tackle or the boat. The prep that goes on the night before is all time saved while out on the water. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy tinkering with tackle, just not at dawn with a short-lived topwater bite going on.
It is similar to golf. The time to practice is the unlimited time when you are at the range or putting green. The time to play is the limited time while you are on the course.
Bankbeater reply :
Sometimes when I go fishing I just want to catch numbers, and sometimes I want to catch the biggest bass in the lake. It doesn't matter if I'm in a boat or off the bank those are my goals. I'll adjust my gear and tactics for the day according to how I will be fishing.
hawgenvy reply :
I do a lot of bank fishing in the evenings after work, usually for an hour. I also fish club tournaments with a local club about once a month, usually at Lake Okeechobee or in the Everglades. My biggest catches have been from the bank, usually from waters with little pressure and walkable banks. I consider myself very lucky to have such places nearby. They give me lots of hook setting experience for tournaments, and have allowed me to become reasonably proficient in most categories of bass lures and techniques. I guess I prefer the bank over the boat.
The Bassman reply :
On 12/27/2018 at 7:41 AM, Mobasser said:Sometimes it's fun just to grab a small box, one or two rods, and go! Good fish can be caught from the bank too
My typical outing consists of one rod, a few baits in a velcro lure wrap, scissors, forceps (instead of pliers), and a rag. Sneakers dedicated to trampling goose poop and mud and I'm good to go.
FishDewd reply :
I'm 99.9% bank fisherman. There are very few occasions I get the chance to actually fish from a boat. The biggest differences I find between bank and boat is that in a boat there you have certain advantages when it comes to finding fish, covering water, and using techniques. If you watch videos that teaches how to fish certain techniques, they are almost always boat based. Which is fine, but some things are better suited to a boat vs. from the bank. So when banking, you have to make some changes in order to get similar results. And when on larger bodies of water with a lot of depth transitions, there is the major disadvantage of having areas you just simply cannot get to from the bank. When limited to the distance of a cast, it often pays to pick outings carefully. The hotter days they pull out into deeper waters where we can't reach them... although there are normally some resident bass that still stay relatively shallow except for during extremes. So yeah... they're different sports in a way. Bankers and boaters have the same goal, but the manner in which we approach accomplishing those goals are significantly different.
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