I think my catches are about half and half.  It doesn't matter if I'm in a boat or walking the bank, if I start seeing sunfish swimming out in the open and catching them, then I change locations.

On 3/28/2024 at 4:08 PM, gimruis said:

  If I was to bank fish, I would try to pick a river, not a lake.

 

This is my take too. There are a number of lakes in my area with public parks and open space areas that can be bank-fished, but with rare exceptions, I'll greatly prefer one of the rivers if I'm limited to shore.  

2 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

There are a number of lakes in my area with public parks and open space areas that can be bank-fished, but with rare exceptions, I'll greatly prefer one of the rivers if I'm limited to shore.  

 

There are a few public fishing piers or docks I could fish but people flock to them like stink on a monkey.  No thanks

I prefer a boat for its range, but I've caught many fine fish from shorelines too. Before I launch at four in the morning in the summer, I always cast a few times from the shore and usually catch at least one. I caught a 48" musky once a few feet from my tent and have caught many other muskies from shorelines. 

10 hours ago, gimruis said:

There are a few public fishing piers or docks I could fish but people flock to them like stink on a monkey.  No thanks

Depends on when you go - I don't think I've ever been crowded at any of the piers I've fished on Tonka...sometimes I'm alone.

 

Far as bank vs boat - depends on the day/time/whatever.

Boat caught

 

Shore caught

I love my kayak, but I also really miss hopping from lagoon to lagoon and bank fishing where I lived in SC.

 

I do fish most every morning for a few minutes off my dock while my dog does his business. I also will fish off the dock and along my backyard after work if I don’t feel like hauling my kayak over the seawall then loading batteries and gear.