I´m using a sling bag because when wading I find easier and safer to just sling the bag in front of me when changing hooks or lures (I don´t need to take the bag of my back ). It´s true that I can´t take tons of stuff with me, but I can take what I really need   .

You are right, I have that problem.  Most of the places I wade, I am not to far away from my backpack (50 yds max).  There is one area I visit that you MUST wade as the bank area is unpassable.  Probably a 300 yd trip in knee deep to chest deep water.  When I go there, I use a large ziploc bag to hold some tackle and put it in my cargo shorts pocket.  I am currently looking for a small waterproof bag specifically for that area.

Listen bank fishing is perfectly fine and you can do it all year round given bank access to the best areas of a body of water.

Summer is the only issue imo and that can be solved by night fishing in the summer.

You dont need a kayak and I dunno bout u but I cannot do everything I need to do strapped in a reclining chair.. I need to stand up to work my lures right.

i always have my old plano box with me loaded with all my stuff. I've been bank fishing since my old man taught me when I was younger and that's all we do. 

 

We work our way through the "jungle"(heavy trees and brush) to get a ways up the river then start climbing over SUV sized boulders to get out to the fast water and start slaying smallies & walleye. It's fun but when the water gets up it's impossible to get out there and fishing from shore is pointless because you're getting snagged every other cast. 

I think a lot of the bank fishermen should invest in a kayak...My alternative to bank fishing is my kayak, it is by no means a fishing 'yak, only 10' long and room for 2-3 rods max. But it gets the job done and is easy to handle, I even have a fishfinder for it. In many cases I can reach fish that people fishing from boats can't, because I only need about 4" of water to paddle through comfortably, and I can get out and drag it if I need to. Many bass get conditioned to the sound of a trolling motor too and will stop feeding when they hear one (I smallmouth fish with someone who uses oars for his jon boat on the river, he absolutely will not use a trolling motor) so a kayak will put you right on top of the big ones without spooking them.

 

Some folks can't afford a boat or kayak. Also, some people are perfectly fine with bank fishing.  Would I like to have access to all structure in a lake/river/pond ? Sure.  At this time, it is just not in the cards for me.  So I do the best with what I have.  

 

One day I will have my bassmobile though!

Listen bank fishing is perfectly fine and you can do it all year round given bank access to the best areas of a body of water.

Summer is the only issue imo and that can be solved by night fishing in the summer.

You dont need a kayak and I dunno bout u but I cannot do everything I need to do strapped in a reclining chair.. I need to stand up to work my lures right.

Definitely didn't mean to come across as saying bank fishing isn't ok. I bank fish a lot but most bodies of water where I live don't have any public access other than the boat ramp. My 10' kayak was $200, a little more than what I would spend on a rod/reel (or a lot less for some), just food for thought. I can stand in my kayak, so working lures is not a problem, but you would be surprised how quickly you can adapt to fishing from a sitting position.

I've been the route with boat ownership, nothing negative about as I really enjoyed it.  Had a pleasure boat docked at a marina on Lake St Clair.  Once we moved to an inland lake the boat was at my own dock, had a rowboat there too and that's what I did much of my fishing from.  I wouldn't mind having a kayak but I do not want to drag it out and mount it on my car.  I could easily launch it in the ICW but using it in the ocean would mean I would have to drag quite a ways to the beach, then back when I'm, a lot of people do it.  Even using it in freshwater canals here still means I have to drag it, I just don't want to that any more, there are some brackish canals that kayak would be super.

I prefer bank fishing now, travel very light with only 1 rod, my method for both freshwater and saltwater is pretty much the same.  Nothing I love better than fishing a beach.

I do like my boating options, have several friends that I go out with plus I joined a boat club about 7 years ago.  I joined with 2 other guys, one passed away, initial membership was very reasonable and the monthly dues are only $100.  It's gas and go, I do have to make a reservation several days in advance.  There are quite a few center console boats available from 21' to over 30', we like a 28' Sailfish with twin engines, we may take a smaller one if not available.  I still like fishing the beach better.

... I dunno bout u but I cannot do everything I need to do strapped in a reclining chair.. I need to stand up to work my lures right.

 

Me neither...

I think a lot of the bank fishermen should invest in a kayak...My alternative to bank fishing is my kayak, it is by no means a fishing 'yak, only 10' long and room for 2-3 rods max. But it gets the job done and is easy to handle, I even have a fishfinder for it. In many cases I can reach fish that people fishing from boats can't, because I only need about 4" of water to paddle through comfortably, and I can get out and drag it if I need to. Many bass get conditioned to the sound of a trolling motor too and will stop feeding when they hear one (I smallmouth fish with someone who uses oars for his jon boat on the river, he absolutely will not use a trolling motor) so a kayak will put you right on top of the big ones without spooking them.

 

 

Some folks can't afford a boat or kayak. Also, some people are perfectly fine with bank fishing.  Would I like to have access to all structure in a lake/river/pond ? Sure.  At this time, it is just not in the cards for me.  So I do the best with what I have.  

 

One day I will have my bassmobile though!

 

Or don´t have the room to store one...

Hey guys, im matt im 17 and i live on cape cod, i just started fishing and im using an old rod and reel and i was wondering if any one had any suggestions for a new rod, i currently have a spinning reel, i dont know wether i should be using that or a bait caster, any suggestions would be a huge help! i was also wondering whatto buy for lures, i have been using shiners but i dont want to keep spending money on live bait every time i decide to go fishing, which will be quite often this summer! again, any information is helpful! thanks!

Hey guys, im matt im 17 and i live on cape cod, i just started fishing and im using an old rod and reel and i was wondering if any one had any suggestions for a new rod, i currently have a spinning reel, i dont know wether i should be using that or a bait caster, any suggestions would be a huge help! i was also wondering whatto buy for lures, i have been using shiners but i dont want to keep spending money on live bait every time i decide to go fishing, which will be quite often this summer! again, any information is helpful! thanks!

 

I'll help you out best I can...  

 

Rod:  While I am not going into rod brands in this post, I will break down some elements into choosing A rod for you.  If you are proficient with a baitcast reel, then go with a baitcast rod, if not then a spinning rod.  Length....  You have to take into account the waters you fish.  Are the banks open areas, or small pockets opened up between trees and brush?  A longer rod will be harder to cast with if you are crowded by trees and such.  A good length, if conditions allow, is about 7'.  A medium heavy, fast action blank is pretty versatile in that it works with a variety of applications, mostly texas rigged plastics.  As far as quality, do your research. You will want a lightweight rod to prevent fatigue on long days.  Hold a prospective rod in your hand.  Find its balance point (lay it across a finger and move it until it begins to balance) .  You want it fairly close to where the reel attaches to the rod (reel seat)  or a inch or two higher.  Handle materials and types are your preference, some like full grips, others like split grips.  I have both, no preference for me.  Same goes for cork or eva foam.

  

 reel:  Make up a budget, and look online for reels in that range.  Gotta do your homework and sort through non biased reviews.  This applies for spinning reels and baitcast.  Higher number of bearings is usually a good thing, makes a reel much smoother (usually).  Go to the store and hold a few of them, turn the handles, flip bails.  A good reel should have instant anti reverse(some cranking reels don't as part of their functionality) meaning no backplay in the reel handle.  Frame materials are important on both types of reels.  Nothing sucks more than to be fighting a big fish and feel a spinning reels frame flexing and gears grinding because everythings out of alignment.  

 

As far as lure selection goes... The best advice anyone on here can give you, unless they live in your area, is to find the most popular tackle store around you, and I don't mean walmart or academy and the like, I mean a mom and pop store.  Go there and ask them what most of their customers are buying that fish around there.  My experience has been that the true tackle stores are going to have more local knowledge and really be tuned in to their customer base.  Call your local DNR and gather information on the waters you plan to fish.  They can provide forage information, meaning what the bass are eating.  Making your lure selection based off this knowledge is called "matching the hatch".  

 

It's late, thats all I got for now... 

I think a bank fishing forum would be awesome also!!!

Hey guys, im matt im 17 and i live on cape cod, i just started fishing and im using an old rod and reel and i was wondering if any one had any suggestions for a new rod, i currently have a spinning reel, i dont know wether i should be using that or a bait caster, any suggestions would be a huge help! i was also wondering whatto buy for lures, i have been using shiners but i dont want to keep spending money on live bait every time i decide to go fishing, which will be quite often this summer! again, any information is helpful! thanks!

 

Hi Matt

 

Using a baitcaster or a spinning reel  is a matter of preference, but if you´re just starting maybe a spinning reel (and rod) will be easier for you.

Regarding lures, I don´t know how your waters are (lots of wood/ weeds or open water, color, etc...) but for general use and purpose I would recomend some spinnerbaits and some soft baits. With those you can cover a lot of water and pick apart some structures or weeds that you may have over there.

if anyone is still on the backpack topic its the only way i carry my tackle, soft plastics in one zipper and some filled up planos in another, but i tend to have to ride my bike to many of my fishing spots since i dont have my licence yet so i use an old baseball bag/ backpack with the bat holders on each side and throw a rod in each one and boom a hands free setup!

if anyone is still on the backpack topic its the only way i carry my tackle, soft plastics in one zipper and some filled up planos in another, but i tend to have to ride my bike to many of my fishing spots since i dont have my licence yet so i use an old baseball bag/ backpack with the bat holders on each side and throw a rod in each one and boom a hands free setup!

I do the same thing with a regular backpack.  I have some Plano boxes and a small soft plastic bag inside, then I use the water bottle holders on the sides for my rods. I tie them to the middle near the handle at the top and I can ride anywhere! It's a really good set up for us younger fisherman without cars yet.  

In my opinion, I'd have to say that one of THE BEST tools that have helped me catch more fish from the bank than ANYTHING ELSE (other than a rod and reel, lol.)  has got to be either a  gas powered weed eater or a cheap machete (well sharpened).

 

think about that one...

In my opinion, I'd have to say that one of THE BEST tools that have helped me catch more fish from the bank than ANYTHING ELSE (other than a rod and reel, lol.)  has got to be either a  gas powered weed eater or a cheap machete (well sharpened).

 

think about that one...

A big part of my success in getting access to the multiple private ponds i'm allowed to fish, has been offering to do regular weedeating and trash pickup around the banks.  

A big part of my success in getting access to the multiple private ponds i'm allowed to fish, has been offering to do regular weedeating and trash pickup around the banks.  

Yup everyone wants to fish the easy banks with no weeds/grass/trees etc. Well if its open land by the bank what do you think is right there in the water? No vegetation for the bass to hide in. When I started really hiking and making my own way and own spot to stand on the bank is when I started having luck from shore....then I got a jon boat lol

I just sold my boat due to health prolems, and gone back to bank fishing and I feel lost .

 

It was bank fishing or no fishing and I just can not give it up.

I just sold my boat due to health prolems, and gone back to bank fishing and I feel lost .

 

It was bank fishing or no fishing and I just can not give it up.

 

Hang in there man!

My PB from last year didn't have a scale but it was 20 inches. I caught it on a white chatterbait I bought a scale after that. Any ideas on the weight

My PB from last year didn't have a scale but it was 20 inches. I caught it on a white chatterbait I bought a scale after that. Any ideas on the weightimage.jpg

 

5 to 6 lbs

My PB from last year didn't have a scale but it was 20 inches. I caught it on a white chatterbait I bought a scale after that. Any ideas on the weightimage.jpg

Dude nice chunk!!

Spot I hadn't been to in about a year....same lake that I've fished (largely unsuccessfully all weekend) from the boat.....nice 16", 2 lb (fat) LMB, a few casts later in the same area, 21" northern.  Both with 1/2 oz black buzzbait with 4" Berkley Havoc Pit Boss in Green Pumpkin/Purple fleck.  Also had a first today....after reading a thread in the tackle section last night (pinned, using bobbers with senkos), I thought I'd sort of give it a try today...I only used the garden variety round bobber, and it was setup with my normal drop shot rig.  Water had a little chop to it, and so far have only had success with the drop shot if I use live crawlers.  I had multiple little nibbles in the 30 min of attempting from different spots, probably small gills, that didn't like the senko.  On the last cast of the day under a tree, had something (probably a 12" LMB or so) hit the 4" white senko, weedless, and take the whole worm off.  I expect that with a worn out plastic or a real crawler/red wiggler, but not with a fairly new senko.  

2.66 18 Inches texas rigged culprit 7.5 curly tail worm tomato color. It has a white eye