boat fishing vs. shore fishing 2025

plowertj reply :

What do you guys do? I've never fished off a boat for bass. I walk the local golf courses for the big girls.

Nick B reply :

The same thing you do only with less shoe leather lost

mtangtong reply :

I enjoy fishing off a bank, but I can't wait till I can get a boat someday.

huskertko reply :

I'm with the rest of you, strictly a shore fisherman, although , I am planning on joining a fishing club, so hopefully I will get to do some boat fishing soon.

fishingaddict reply :

only fishing i can do is shore i mean its great

but i live in a gated neighborhood and i dont live on the lake so i fish behind one house cuz no 1 lives there. so i cant really walk around the lake much.

i want to get a small boat for the lake

Shad_Master reply :

I have a boat, but it has been in dry dock all season with mechanical problems of one sort or another. I am still able to get it out and use the trolling motor, but spend most evenings at the local pond fishing from the bank (and I have the mosquito bites to prove it). The biggest advantage to fishing from a boat is that you can cover more water and take advantage of changing conditions. I do recommend joining a club. I have been in a club for 3 years now and have fished as a non-boater most of the time. I learn a lot from the back seat and don't have to worry about fighting the wind that always seems to blow here in Nebraska. But I am looking forward to getting my boat up and running and plan to make the switch next year if it is.

Rattlinrogue reply :

I fish from a boat and love it.Sometimes I fish off the bank before I go to work(to save time launching and loading the boat) and I love that too.Although I think you can cover a lot more water using a boat,My best day this year was a morning that I fished off of the bank.

spotaholic reply :

I always fish from my bass boat. I like being able to move when conditions change. I fish on a 17,000 acre lake and there is always fish biting somewhere.

BASSMAN1301599783 reply :

I just started fishing from a boat after being a shore fisherman since i was a kid. I like it bettter on my boat because it gets kind of crowded on the shore some times and with the boat you can get to alot of places that you wouldnt be able to by foot cause the brush is to thick or something like that.

Will reply :

When fishing for fun I am stuck on the bank, but I am looking at purchasing a small pond prowler or jon boat for many reasons...

1) So I can get to more lures that I get snagged (Especially deep running crankbaits)

2) So I can get to more places on a lake to fish that are not accesible from land

3) Fishing deep water and off-shore structure with the help of a depth finder.

4) Get practice running a trolling motor

CJHooker reply :

I know how some of you guys feel.I fished from banks from before I could remember until 3 years ago I bought a 14 ft. johnboat.The one thing I can say about wading small rivers,getting chiggers trying to get to that one small opening in a pond to hang in some tree,or running down the bank to keep up with a big un' and get her in is I had prepared myself in certain ways for taking on the big water by boat.I learned how to place my texas rigged worm right where I wanted it anyway I could get it there.Once I got on a boat and was able to get whatever angle I needed it was a peice of cake.There was alot of things I learned in the creeks and the ponds.I still like to go back now and then just to remind me where I came from and to catch that big un' of course.Fishing from a boat does give you a better oppurtunity for better bass fishin' in my opinion.

Okeechobee_Cracker reply :

I LOVE fishin on my boats....but when i dont have time to take them to the lake ll fishin on shore ;D

Rebbasser reply :

The biggest benefit is I can fish areas that are otherwise unfishable. I prefer to fish out of the boat, but I also enjoy fishing from the bank. Heck, I just love to fish-boat, bank, it doesn't matter ;D

JPost reply :

I have fished from the shore all my life so far, but I'm only 18...so I got time. ;D

GobbleDog reply :

Once yall get a boat, you won't find much time for bank fishing.

Ahhh, I remember my old bank fishing days when I first started bass fishing. Caught a bunch of lunkers in some little ponds... good times.

guest reply :

The best thing about fishing from a boat -

(besides the obvious of access and better fish landability)

Is you can bring everything. Drinks, food, all your tackle, as many rods as you own, its like fishing from your living room. If you are fishing with a buddy it also gives you a chance to talk without yelling across the lake.

SA_Mountaineer reply :

My uncle made a small (prob about 6 foot) fiberglass johnboat that he uses on the river. Her just loads it on the luggage rack of his wife's van, lol.

It's a nice lil boat, it can fish 2 people all afternoon

el_jewapo reply :

where i live there is just no comparison between the two. unless you've got access to a good private pond where they keep it mowed, you just can't fish off the bank very much. little holes in the brush or the boat ramp.

a boat is a requirement everywhere i fish. i'm not at all too proud to fish off the bank, i did it for years and still do if i find a good spot. i've caught big fish from the bank.

el_jewapo reply :

oh, and you will pay for a boat after a couple years just by not losing lures.

i can count on one hand the lures i've lost this year in a boat. the lakes i fish aren't real deep though. i can usually reach with the rod to free snagged lures. fishing off the bank i expect to lose atleast 3 lures in a day.

Fishin_Ace reply :

I usually fish from shore. Once in a while I'll rent a boat or go on my cousin's.I can't wait till I have my own some day though.

utser reply :

i recently got my boat back in the water. when possible i sit in the boat just to be rid of the nitwits on shore. certain places i fish like the susquehanna its better to wade. other places too far to carry a boat.

Kana reply :

i usually shore fish as i dont have a boat. but i am fortunate to be able to join freinds on their boats occasionally. i have to say that being a non-boater, manners often decide who goes on boats and who gets left at the shore. limiting rods, and tackle is often a nice gesture. but sometimes you cant beat the peace and quite of hitting a small pond early in the morning by yourself.

PowerBass reply :

Well,

Im only 15 and have no boat. Im tryin to get one though. But so far I am only a shore fisherman. I have caught quite a few nice one though. Ill take fishing anyway I can get it.

dodgeguy reply :

you guys who don't have boats should try to at least get a rowboat.you can pick a used one up for a few hundred bucks.you will find that it blows bank fishing away.i only have a rowboat but i also go out with guys who have bass boats and that's a pleasure also.

Pa Angler reply :

UP UNTIL LAST YEAR I WAS SHORE ANGLER POUNDING DOCKS AS WE CALLED IT. THE LAKE WE FISH HAS FLOATING DOCKS AND SOME OF THE FINGERS FOR THE SLIPS WERE LIKE TWIZZLERS SO STANDING ON THEM WAS AT YOUR OWN RISK BUT NOW THAT I HAVE A BOAT I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO SHORE FISH AGAIN.

rodknocker reply :

having a boat is great i have always boat fished and rarely bank fished ive had a small 12ft jonboat for some years now but just recently found a 14x42 that was a fixer upper i gave 500 for the boat trailer and foot control trolling motor and man i tell ya that motor makes all the diffrence in the world in having a good and not so good outing not having to steer with one hand and try to fish with the other to all yall that dont have a boat im telling ya u dont know what youre missing the places that i can get into and fish that a bank fisherman couldnt even dream about i would encourage any one without a boat that was serious fishing to get one

fishintriton reply :

if you love fishing like I do it dont really matter about shore vs. boat. Cause as long I'm doing one or the other i'm happy

mtangtong reply :

I'd like to say it really doesn't matter, but fishing in the only few spots there are to fish from on the bank really gets old after a couple years.

fishinfan reply :

Re: boat fishing vs. shore fishing

Simple answer...YES!!!

I enjoy both and anything that can get me out on the lake and away from work/bills/etc...is fine with me. I have a boat and I also fish from shore.

Mike

SBM-RL reply :

I do both shore and and boat fish but i like finding little private ponds/lakes bc its exciteing and risky

we have had some close encounters with farm animals and land owners if we are lucky though we might get invited back

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