Fishing Off The Bank 2024
clayton86 reply :
Im cursed with not owning a boat and fishing from the shore line the prob is in this early season it seams no fish are close to the banks. i did have some luck last sunday in a stream about 20yards from the mouth of the resivor but it was also in the 70s for 4days. now its back down in the 40s and 50s. am i wasting my time fishing or just going about it all wrong. iv been throwing jigs,traps,flukes(caught the 10 last sunday on this),husky jerks,spinners. the water temp of lake ontario is 41* so the tributarys i fish are slightly warmer id guess and a local man made lake is prob the same temp. if it was like last year they would be in prespawn now and i couldent NOT catch em if i tried they were every where attacking everything. this year it just seams dead and i might also add there is NO cover no trees no stumps nothing just barron flats and occasional sand bars one spot has a good point i used to sleigh smb on but no luck this year.
AndyPlaysDrums reply :
It's tough here in CT from the bank this time of year, too. However, a week ago today, I caught my new personal best largemouth off the bank of my favorite local pond. Temp was in the mid 50's, bluebird sky, lots of sun, but the water temp was surely still in the 40's. I was throwing an X-Rap and probably just got plain lucky. I fished from the same spot (and others) the next day and got nothing, and then spent six hours in a boat on there this past Monday and got nothing, though my partner boated one little dink. We didn't see anything cruising the banks, so it's still way early here, so again I know I just got lucky, and I'm not overly frustrated with the lack of fish right now. As much as I was shocked to land such a big fish (for me) to begin with, it was all the more shocking that it was so early in the year. Just keep hitting it and it'll come.
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/84701-1st-time-out-in-11-new-pb/
Jigfishn10 reply :
I've been out 3 times this year all from the bank. The first time was a week after iceout and I got 1 that was 2lbs and 1 at about 1.5 lbs. 3 Days later I got my new PB. The third time I blanked. That's just fishing. You have to go out there with the mindset that you're gonna catch fish and be confident while doing it. I've had the "perfect" fishing days during the summer and blanked. Again, that's fishing. Like AndyPlaysDrums said, just keep hitting it and it'll come.
Keep your chin up my friend. 
KenG85 reply :
This is the time for bank fishing!!!! I live in NJ, so I also fish the northern cold water, yours may warm up slightly lighter then mine. But still, fishing is awesome. Whenever we get consistent warm weather these bass can be right on the bank hanging out in 6 inches of water. It's almost like they're dying to get shallow but only can when conditions allow it.
Throw 1/2 oz and 1/4 rattlebaits, my suggestion is the red eye shad. The fall of this bait separates from fall others and the fish destroy it. One big benefit is if they're not right on the bank you can still toss it 50 yards. Use a MH cranking rod and 12lb+ flourocarbon. I use a Dobyns 765cb glass, with 15lb berkeley 100%, on a revo.
If you can get em that way, second choice would be a slow-rolled spinnerbait 3/8 to1/2 oz. White/chartruese/green's work for me. Find out what they're doing. Are they in shallow grass, lilley pad remnants, timber etc....? A spinnerbait is great for all this.
Lastly, if necessary, during a bummer cold front switch to plastics like power worms and lizards. Carolina rig is a great way to go. But not the traditional 1oz. weight giant plastic type. But rather 1/4 to 1/2oz. weight, 4-6" worm/lizard with a 12-18" leader. And definately don't count out the T-rig.
My last resort from the bank is a 3-5" grub in white, pumpkin, or chartruese on a 1/8 -1/4oz. jig head. Creep this thing as slow as you can with out getting hung up. Tick the grass, wood, rocks, etc.
If they're not biting by the end of all this, find another location/pattern.
Here's a few of my cold water bass from the bank this year.
KenG85 reply :
Hope that helps!
BassThumb reply :
How's the footing in the stream? Have you considered wading? If the fish won't come to you, go find them.
I used to wade my local rivers and streams almost every day during open water, but before that, I fished from shore. Wading opened up a lot of opportunities and I caught many more fish than I would have had I stayed on shore.
SirSnookalot reply :
All of my freshwater fishing is done from the bank and I have caught quite a few great bass this year. I included my last boat as part of the sale of my home in Michigan on an inland lake, 29' sea ray for pleasure boating and I fished from a rowboat with 10hp outboard.
TheLastRodBender reply :
This time of year will test your confidence in your fishing. Weather conditions are like something out of the movie "2012" and water levels go up and down more often then you can imagine. I've been out a lot from the bank so far this year and it's been spotty. 1 day their hitting slow, the next day its fast, the next day they wont hit anything. Just keep at it. When you go out, vary your speeds EVERY cast. 1 cast do a faster retrieve all the way back. Then cast to almost the same spot, and do it slow, til you figure out what they're after.
Missouribassman95 reply :
I beat the bank and I've had great sucess with Brush Hogs.
clayton86 reply :
thanks guys hopefuly the weather starts to level out and get consistant we just had some rain yesterday and now sun today and tomorrow i'll be out both days. plus i got the next week off of work so ill get em figured out. the rivers are very wadeable thats usually what i do. there are tons i mean tons of gobys and craws in the river already right up to the first barrier so im thinking smallies shouldent be far behind. hopefully some lilly pads start sprouting soon to provide cover cuz one of my closest spots is just a big soft bottom resivour above a d**n but theres nothing for cover but pads when they grow. its pretty shallow to 1-4ft makes up 90% of it with a 12ft channel right inline with the falls and that channels only 15ft across maybe. you can cast clear across is and drag threw it just collect alot of dead leafs on the hooks or weight
AndyPlaysDrums reply :
On 4/14/2011 at 8:20 PM, Missouribassman95 said:I beat the bank and I've had great sucess with Brush Hogs.
Thinking I might go try this today.
KenG85 reply :
On 4/14/2011 at 9:06 PM, clayton86 said:thanks guys hopefuly the weather starts to level out and get consistant we just had some rain yesterday and now sun today and tomorrow i'll be out both days. plus i got the next week off of work so ill get em figured out. the rivers are very wadeable thats usually what i do. there are tons i mean tons of gobys and craws in the river already right up to the first barrier so im thinking smallies shouldent be far behind. hopefully some lilly pads start sprouting soon to provide cover cuz one of my closest spots is just a big soft bottom resivour above a d**n but theres nothing for cover but pads when they grow. its pretty shallow to 1-4ft makes up 90% of it with a 12ft channel right inline with the falls and that channels only 15ft across maybe. you can cast clear across is and drag threw it just collect alot of dead leafs on the hooks or weight
I bet if you can find any gravel or rocks. That's where they'll be. Rocks warm up really fast and supply food.
clayton86 reply :
lake alice is nothing but rocks but its crazy deep the fishing hotline said there getting alot of crappie and rock bass by the bridges though. then glennwood is sand and rock im heading there for lunch in a few. then the rivers are all rock and occasional soft muddy spots that are just big sink holes.
clayton86 reply :
well i went out for a few casts on lunch and well i got 1 hit and hooked and landed that fish. it was in bout 6ft of water caught it on a storm crawfish crank looking thing cant remeber the name. i tried chatter baits and spinners befor that then switched to the craw lure made a few casts. on the last cast of this outing i let it sink well looking at the time started my retreive after 2 jerk pauses i felt that old feeling from last year set the hook and bam first SMB of the year his belly was loaded full of what felt like crawfish kinda crunchy feeling. id throw a pic up of it but the email is down here at work so i cant get the pic onto my work computor.
ChiCityBasser reply :
Got these 2 on two outings to small ponds/lakes with one being on a jerkbait and hitting after the pause. The other was caught on the Rapala clankin crank in the helsinki shad color on a pause and then retrieve again. Both were from the bank and the fish caught yesterday was one of many that were cruising the banks. The lake is upto 20 ft deep in some places one of the few places I can fish from the shore that is that deep.
Gangley reply :
On 4/15/2011 at 12:24 AM, clayton86 said:i felt that old feeling from last year set the hook and bam first SMB of the year his belly was loaded full of what felt like crawfish kinda crunchy feeling.
That right there should tell you to start throwing a jig.
Bankbeater reply :
I have had good luck fishing around weeds with jigs and spinner baits. Plastics not so much.
clayton86 reply :
got that one on lunch break deadsticking a craw crankbait around what felt like football to basketball sized rocks spread all over a crushed pebble bottom. threw a jig later that night in the same area no luck threw the crank and hooked into another but he threw the lure on the first jump. so im heading back there today at 11 on lunch.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I had a similar scenario last weekend. Sat was sunny and 65* we pounded them from the banks. Decided to take the small boat out Sun and really put it to them. Well Sun turnout to be overcast with falling temps. I believe that shallow water was warmed by sun on Sat and brought the bait and bass up shallow. Check the Noth shore for warmer water when he sun is out. Slightly stained water is sometimes a degree or two warmer also.
clayton86 reply :
i hit the lake today on lunch and it was more misreable then my first time ice fishing. 39* 24mph E winds right in my face cuz i can only access the west and north ends so i stand right on the NW corner. next time i go there im heading right to the falls that feed this particular lake all the local old timers said thats where ppl are laying into the SMB and eyes with occasional northern.
splitshot00 reply :
Granted fishing is a helluva lot easier from a boat you have a better advantage seeming they have all the good technology now(which i call cheating) but the bank aint so bad i've caught bass off of spoons, spinners,crankbaits just gotta move around and look for them. I wish i did own a boat lol.
WdyCrankbait reply :
two words. Paca Craw Good luck!!
MJB_215 reply :
On 4/14/2011 at 8:20 PM, Missouribassman95 said:I beat the bank and I've had great sucess with Brush Hogs.
Same. I was having success with alabama craw color.
I even had a big crappie take one of the baby brush hogs. I would understand it hitting the tiny brush hogs, but I was suprised it inhaled the baby brush.
OHIO reply :
On 4/21/2011 at 9:08 AM, MJB_215 said:Same. I was having success with alabama craw color.
I even had a big crappie take one of the baby brush hogs. I would understand it hitting the tiny brush hogs, but I was suprised it inhaled the baby brush.
The Baby Brush Hogs are the small version.
MJB_215 reply :
On 4/21/2011 at 1:26 PM, OHIO said:The Baby Brush Hogs are the small version.
Yeah well there is the Brush Hogs(6"), then Baby Brush Hogs(5 1/2"), and then Tiny Brush Hogs(3"). So I thought it was different that the crappie hit the 5 and 1/2" brush hog.
OHIO reply :
On 4/21/2011 at 10:38 PM, MJB_215 said:Yeah well there is the Brush Hogs(6"), then Baby Brush Hogs(5 1/2"), and then Tiny Brush Hogs(3"). So I thought it was different that the crappie hit the 5 and 1/2" brush hog.
Oh I didn't even realize there was a 4" version.
MJB_215 reply :
On 4/22/2011 at 1:30 AM, OHIO said:Oh I didn't even realize there was a 4" version.
I didnt think so. Its so hard to keep up with all the different plastics out now
OutdoorsBen reply :
My advice would be to find small hidden ponds off the beaten path and try fishing those. With little pressure and a smaller body of water you can work more of the water.
clayton86 reply :
i went out yesterday after dinner and must of kicked 100 fish off the banks didnt catch a single one but i seen em and got some bites
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