I fish from shore like many guys....when I don't feel like getting the boat loaded up, or like Zach when things are hectic around the house, I tell the wife and THREE daughters, "I am going to wet a lure." I throw a rod in the truck, grab my small "emergency" tackle box, and head to my local "piece of heaven".

PS Zach,

If you caught that wearing a suit, I am renting a tux for next weekend!!!!  

i fish from the shore to but usually at night during the summer. There are a couple of small ponds near me w/ rip rap by the loading ramps. When I get out of work I sometimes head over there and fish for about an hour before heading home.

With buzzbaits and a colorodo spinner i'll always catch 3 or 4 decent bass and it's a nice way to relax after work (sometimes I don't get out till midnight so I'm usually fishing at about 1 am)

I do ... Ponds, Lakes and Reservoirs. 

 

Good Fishing

Count me in as a bank fisherman. Been doing it for 50+ years. Probably can’t add to whatever’s been posted but when fishing small bodies of water and coming upon a corner, toss your lure slightly upon the bank and gently drag it into the water. I think a bass can actually hear/feel the lure hit the bank because it seems many times they’re waiting on it. Some of my very best bass have been caught doing this. 
Of course if your out in a boat you could do this all the time so a kayak may be in my future.

 

John

On 3/31/2008 at 11:30 AM, ithink_2020 said:

I don't have a boat and I'm just wondering who else here does most of there fishing from the bank?

If you do, any tips for a beginner who fishes from the bank?

Thanks!

I do fish from the bank, Complete your profile, So we know more about you location and body of water you fishing at.

 I bank fished back when this post started 16 years ago. Got a kayak now and don’t leave home without it. 

I always fish from the bank AT FIRST when I arrive at water. I love bank fishing because I get to stand. I can cast farther, set the hook better, and move up and down the bank to play the bass. It isn't unusual for me to catch a bass or two from the bank before I launch.

Urban Bass Fishing | The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide® LLC (bassresource.com)

 

Once lived in Houston, TX. Spot on.

 

Good Fishing

Love bank fishin until I get stuck on bottom and can’t go get my hook back. Then I say bad words 

I don't own a boat or kayak so all my fishing is from the bank. I do just OK. Summer is tough because of the people, low water and heavy vegetation.

I and the wife have put alot of time into river banks the past 2 years and it produces all species of fish and its relaxing when using a jig, minnow and bobber. Bring a chair and relax, get up walk the bank and sit down again, watch the scenery, break open the cooler and eat lunch. Bring lots of jigs and minnows.

 

21 hours ago, JGD said:

Count me in as a bank fisherman. Been doing it for 50+ years. Probably can’t add to whatever’s been posted but when fishing small bodies of water and coming upon a corner, toss your lure slightly upon the bank and gently drag it into the water. I think a bass can actually hear/feel the lure hit the bank because it seems many times they’re waiting on it. Some of my very best bass have been caught doing this. 
Of course if your out in a boat you could do this all the time so a kayak may be in my future.

 

John

Ditto ... once that Yum Dinger gently slides into the water my experience has been the bass immediately strikes the Dinger and, if not, it's over. Next cast.

 

Good Fishing

i assumed folks stopped fishing from the bank ---- in 2008. that's when this thread was last replied to  .....  that's 15 years!  

I occasionally do some from the bank - even get lucky once in a while.

 

Caught from the bank..

Stay quiet when walking up to the ponds, banks because fish are usually lying close to shore where you are walking.  Expect to catch a fish on the first throw, you should have your lure of choice already tied to the line, and don't drop your tackle box, bag, etc on the ground sit it down softly back a few feet from the bank.  In ponds fish according to the weather, use lures you're confident with, if you don't catch anything then go buy some live bait and come back and learn!

I fish from the bank all the time, ponds mostly, occasionally from creeks and rivers.  I've owned a boat and it is fun but bank fishing is much easier and lots cheaper, no boat to launch.  Make the fishing trip fun, pack a lunch, invite someone to go with you.

I still fish from the bank most of the time from smaller sized ponds.  There are a few lakes over 30 acres that I like to fish from the boat.  Most of these lakes have areas along the shore that you just can't reach by walking around the lake.

I fish from the bank very early almost every day and most evenings after work.  A lot more often when it's not freezing which it is right now so sadly landlocked again this weekend and not even able to bank fish.  Gonna be a long weekend.

 

I've caught a lot of really big fish from the bank and this time of year is my absolute favorite to bank fish at small ponds.  With a lipless crankbait I can fish just about every inch from the bank and if I catch one, it's usually a doozy.

 

Jig bite should be firing back up very soon.  That first blast of consistent warm weather with warm light rain accompanying a full moon usually gets the crawdads moving around and the bass start looking down for a meal more.  The swim jig got my biggest pre spawn bass in early Feb - a 9.1 lber caught right when a warm rainy front hit just before sunrise.  Caught her in 1 foot of water and nearly lost her in 4 feet of dead vegetation between where I hooked her and the bank.  It was a truly memorable experience.

 

I have a boat and friends with boats, so most of my fishing is from boats. But I do some bank fishing around ponds too. I like it all.

I echo what someone said about fishing parallel to the bank. I like to throw down the bank before I walk down the bank. Then it’s a lot of sight fishing and around structure.

I fish the big lake from shore, and somewhat ironically I stay confined to a few hundred yards.  The smallies crowd the harbors in early spring, and give me one of my only chances to chase them.  Accessing some deep water and current is where the money is that time of year and the bank alongside a big city doesn't have many areas/times where it works.

 

scott

 

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

I fish from the bank very early almost every day and most evenings after work.  A lot more often when it's not freezing which it is right now so sadly landlocked again this weekend and not even able to bank fish.  Gonna be a long weekend.

 

I've caught a lot of really big fish from the bank and this time of year is my absolute favorite to bank fish at small ponds.  With a lipless crankbait I can fish just about every inch from the bank and if I catch one, it's usually a doozy.

 

Jig bite should be firing back up very soon.  That first blast of consistent warm weather with warm light rain accompanying a full moon usually gets the crawdads moving around and the bass start looking down for a meal more.  The swim jig got my biggest pre spawn bass in early Feb - a 9.1 lber caught right when a warm rainy front hit just before sunrise.  Caught her in 1 foot of water and nearly lost her in 4 feet of dead vegetation between where I hooked her and the bank.  It was a truly memorable experience.

 

Nice catch!!

Most of my bass fishing now is done by kayak. But my first few bass of the year are usually caught from shore in the spring, before I get the kayak out.  Usually I'll make brief stops at one of the rivers, as lakes are thawing out; 30 min to an hour, when i have some spare time.  And in summer I'll go bank-hopping a few times for an afternoon and hit several spots, with a brief stop at each one. 

 

A few years ago, my wife wanted a kayak. She got one and then my kids got one and then I had to find a cheap used one on Facebook to keep up. I really don't like it and wish I had bought a small jon boat or something else- so the majority of my fishing is done on the bank. Like others here, I like to get up and move around, it's easier to set the hook for me, etc. 

 

 My daughter still likes hers, my son has gotten into my mindset and usually fishes the bank, too. Here was his big catch a few weeks ago. 

 

My local river has alot of current and alot of smallmouth bass. 

I can pick it apart better from the bank than my canoe.

My biggest last season was around 20" and a bit over 4#

@OmegaDPW: Please tell your son, "Sweet smile for a sweet fish!"

 

Also tell him, "Big head on that bass!"

 

 

at least once a week....couple hours after work. sometimes when weathers not great will bank fish over taking out the boat. just gotta fish......