I fish from the bank almost exclusively for the last 10 years.

From the boat

Bank all the time now. Almost all the time in my youth.

100% boat.

Mainly bank. I have a friend who is kind enough to take me out on the boat from time to time. Boat is in the long term plans but I'm not looking to buy a second vehicle to tow it any time soon.

Right now I feel like my time is split between the two.

If I only want to fish for 2-3 hours I’ll throw on my waders and hit the river or local lake.

If I have more time, I’ll take the boat out.

yes

100% boat

It's likely I wouldn't even participate in fishing if I had to fish from shore.

3 minutes ago, gim said:

100% boat

It's likely I wouldn't even participate in fishing if I had to fish from shore.

Really? I have a hard time believing this unless you don't care about fishing that much, and are only doing it to waste time. Spots from the bank can be amazing, and not because of the quantity of fish you can catch, but the scenery.

I do a lot of short trips from the bank, usually less than 30 minutes before or after work.

My boat trips have been cut down significantly since I started kayak fishing. It use to be my main way of going fishing, but now I probably fish from a boat less than 10 times a year. My kayak trips are by far where a majority of my fishing hours are spent.

12 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

Really? I have a hard time believing this unless you don't care about fishing that much, and are only doing it to waste time. Spots from the bank can be amazing, and not because of the quantity of fish you can catch, but the scenery.

Owning, operating, and maintaining a boat is a huge selling point for me. None of that exists fishing from shore. I grew up fishing in our family boat and dreamed of the day when I could have my own. I didn't dream of days when I could stand on shore and fish.

The other issue here is that the majority of bank fishing options are very limited, even though I live in the land of 10,000 lakes. It's almost nearly all private property.

I understand that not everyone has the ability, space, towing vehicle, or finances to own a boat though too. It does not appeal to me.

Saltwater, from shore, not exactly a bank.

Freshwater, boat. Very limited access for bank fishing ponds or lakes around here. If it’s not someone’s yard it’s covered in rhododendrons or some such scrub.

2 minutes ago, gim said:

The other issue here is that the majority of bank fishing options are very limited, even though I live in the land of 10,000 lakes. It's almost nearly 100% private property.

Unfortunately this is also true where I live in Florida. However, where I lived in Pennsylvania before retiring was even worse. At least here I have a couple spots not too far away. Naturally the fishing pressure from shore is still heavy here. Probably anywhere in the country is the same. I consider it a good day to catch one or two. It's the reason I own so many rods and reels. They are what kept me from quitting.

I prefer to fish from a boat but since I do not own one that kind of limits it down.

3 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

I fish from the bank almost exclusively for the last 10 years.

I’ll scrabble over chunk rock to get at a 10 foot wide stream. I’ve waddled all over the east TN river system chucking and winding. I fished years out of a kayak in tournaments across the southeast. I spent last year as a co-angler in a bass boat club in MD.

I just want at water where green fish with big mouths live. How I get to or on that water has always been secondary.

Even with access to boats/kayaks I still spend half my trips on the bank. There is a pure feeling I get while bank fishing the other methods don’t impart. I carry less tackle which weighs me down with less need. I don’t need to have 30 different jigs, or need to bring all my topwaters. It’s just me and some water wrapped up in peace.

Probably 80% from a boat. Either that’s my canoe or the back deck of my tournament partner’s bass boat or a 17 ft outboard during my annual fishing trip to Canada.

I’ll go where the bass live though and won’t hesitate to fish from the bank or wade a creek.

Sometimes there’s just no other option for a particular body of water.

Sometimes it’s a nice break from the logistical burden of loading up the canoe, all my gear, and then portaging or dragging it all through the woods.

Locally I wade as all of our lakes are lined by trees right up to the shoreline and no boats are allowed anyway in my county. Wading gets me out just far enough that I won't snag tree limbs on the backswing, so I'm basically a glorified shore fisherman most of the time. Otherwise, I get out with my brother on our john boat every other weekend if weather and schedule allows.

The majority of my very best fish have come while wading or bank fishing. My best numbers sessions have come on the boat.

Almost exclusively I fish from my boat. If I’m walking the bank, it’s because I am having mechanical issues with either truck or boat, or I don’t have enough time to take the boat out.

Boat and kayak.

100% bank.

Boat

Bank, boat and kayak. Anytime I can.

Boat 100% minus usually one ice out trip to the local ponds when they are the first thing open.

Had some serious health issues a couple years ago. Since then, I fish the bank more often than any one of my boats.

Grew up fishing a sandpit from the bank. Walked a lot, tried many different spots...didn't catch many fish. Always wanted to be on the water...seemed like so many more opportunities.

Got a belly-boat and it was GREAT! Then a buddy asked me to fish in his canoe...even better! We would rent john boats with 15HP tillers at the local lake.

Got my own boat in ~2000. Game changer! About the only time I fish from the bank is the occasional stop on my way home from work. There are a few small lakes and ponds that prohibit boats, and have fair access from the bank.

99% from a boat...1% from the bank.