AS AN AVID ANGLER, I have found bank fishing is some of the most fun you can have. It’s easy, affordable, and accessible to anyone, with all the benefits of fishing without having to make a daylong event out of it.
Last updated on March 4th, 2025 at 03:14 pm
Small Waters is an occasional feature where we explore the personal side of bass fishing and the pond fishing life. ~ Editor
So Darn Convenient
You don’t need a boat or fancy electronics or sponsorships or top-of-the-line equipment. You can fish alone or with a friend. Or make a new friend right there along the bank. And catch fish. Yes, bank fishermen catch bass and other fish of a size and quantity that would leave your brother-in-law with the $30,000 boat drooling in his live well.
Bank fishing for bass is an excellent way to catch bass easily any day. It allows you to cover more ground, sneak into hard-to-reach places, and land a big bass that boats wouldn’t reach. What’s not to love?
There’s something truly special about casting a line from the shoreline and feeling that tug on the other end. But there’s more to bank fishing than just the thrill of the catch.
One of the great things about bank fishing is its convenience. Fishing small waters near you means less money on gas and less time on the road. There’s probably a pond or small lake within a mile or two of your home. You may even be within walking distance of a neighborhood pond. When I work from home, which I do most Fridays, I can clock out at 4:30 p.m. and be landing my first bass before 5.
Bank fishing can happen in a wide variety of locations, including rivers, lakes, and even urban ponds. And since you’re not limited by the size of your boat, you can cover a lot more ground and explore new fishing spots. Many of these spots experience little to no fishing pressure. The more you fish, the more you’ll learn that fishing pressure is possibly the most important factor there is when it comes to catching bass.
If a body of water is full of fishermen every weekend, you can be sure that the fish are wary and on alert. They’ve seen it all. An out-of-the-way pond, however, is likely home to a lot of big, uneducated bass who happen to be fairly indiscriminate feeders. Because of the pond’s small size, it’s less of an ordeal to locate the fish. Find ’em and, in the right conditions, they’ll eat whatever you’re offering.
So Much Fun
Yes, bass fishing can be frustrating. Just when you thought you figured it all out, everything you thought you knew flies out the window. Still, there’s no greater feeling than reeling in a largemouth bass.
And anyone can do it, at any skill level. Bank fishing is a more low-key type of fishing. The only competition is between you and the bass. Learn the basics, fish often, and practice persistence, and you will catch bass. And when you do, brother, hang on! If you like action and an adrenaline rush, you’re in for it.
Bass are an aggressive species that will attack a lure and put up a ferocious fight on the way to the bank. They’ll make a mad run to the deep water, bending your rod into the shape of a question mark. They’ll leap from the water in a spectacular display. (You’ll want to minimize that, but enjoy the first few times.)
Once you land them, they’ll glimmer in the sunlight like a precious jewel. You’ll feel like you’re holding something special, and you will be. And if you release him, he’ll linger in the shallow water a few extra seconds before meandering into the murky depths from which he came.
Not So Complicated
I like to read about bass fishing, and there’s a lot out there to read. But lord, can it get complicated. So many lures in so many colors can be fished in so many different ways. it’s paralysis by analysis. When I’m reading an article or watching a video, my main concern is simplicity. Can I do this from the bank of my favorite pond with the gear I already own, without carrying 50 different variations of plastic worms? Bank fishing allows you to do that.
If you showed up with only a Texas-rigged worm, a spinnerbait, and a topwater bait, there’s a very good chance you’ll haul in one or more bass by day’s end. And since you’re not limited to one spot, you can move around and try different techniques to see what works best.
Another benefit of bank fishing is the ability to catch a wide variety of fish. Depending on where you’re fishing, you may be able to catch everything from bass and trout to catfish and panfish. That’s great when, for example, you want to bring along a child who doesn’t yet have the patience for bass fishing. Set him or her up with a stopper, hook, and worm and they’ll have a blast catch bream.
But Complicated Enough
Bass are somewhat unpredictable, which adds to the challenge and requires that fishermen build their knowledge and skills to consistently catch them. There’s always something new to learn, even for the most senior bass fisherman. That challenge makes bass fishing addictive, leading casual bass fishermen to form a lifelong devotion to the species.
If that happens to you, you can be assured that you’re in good company, part of a large and thriving community of bass fishermen across the nation. That means hundreds of books and websites devoted to the species, numerous tournaments across the country, and lakes stocked with bass just waiting for you to catch your personal best.
Nature, Solitude, and Togetherness
But perhaps the best thing about bank fishing is the sense of connection it provides to the natural world. When you’re fishing from the shore, you’re immersed in the environment, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. You can watch as birds fly overhead, see fish jumping out of the water, and feel the sun on your face. Over at that lunker lake, nature certainly is present, but it might be drowned out by jet skis, wakeboarders, racing boats, party barges, and crowds. Fun, for sure. But there’s just something special about pond fishing.
For me, pond fishing equals family time ― Muted laughter. Sandwiches on a tailgate. Friendly banter. Sitting patiently and silently pondering mysteries beneath the surface. Knowledge passed down through generations. Memories. Contentment. A little piece of Heaven. The sights, sounds, and smells that stay with us all of our lives.
I don’t think I could write it any better than Walker Smith of Wired2fish did in 2013 in his essay, The Heart of a Bank Fisherman. Read it for yourself; you won’t be sorry. Meanwhile, I’d like to end with a quote from Smith that captures the heart and soul of the bank fisherman:
These anglers don’t have sponsorships, fiberglass bass boats or tackle boxes full of expensive tackle. … It isn’t a competition to them ― only a deep, binding brotherhood spurred by a shared passion and reverence for the creatures we seek.
― Walker Smith
Sources:
- iOutdoors: Why Is Bass Fishing so Popular?
- Wired2fish: Five Summer Pond Fishing Tips
- Freshwater Fishing Advice: 5 Reasons Why Bass Fishing is So Popular Among Anglers
