ABC's of Canal Bank Fishing in South FL Part I

[Capt. BassinLou]

We have not had a "How to bass fish a ..." topic in quite some time. I have had several "How to bank fish South FL canals", ideas floating around inside my head for at least 2 years. With over 35 years of South FL Canal bank fishing experience under my belt, choosing a starting point for this idea has been very challenging. I have decided to present these ideas in a multi-topic format, and the first topic I'm kicking off with I'm calling the ABC's of Canal Bank Fishing in South FL.

Before I jump into these ABC's however, a little bit of history might help one understand what canals are and the purpose they serve.  Canals are man-made dredged water systems, dating as far back as the early 1900's.  They can vary from a few feet wide to several hundred feet wide, and from a few feet deep, to over 35 feet deep. Their purpose is/are to serve multiple types communities with drainage, flood control, irrigation, and transport. All the while however, these canals have also been the go-to water systems for hundreds of thousands South Florida bank fishing anglers.

South FL canals are home to multiple species of Fresh/Saltwater fish, but for the purpose of this thread, I will only be discussing fishing for Large Mouth Bass (LMB).  Look here --> FWC Freshwater Fish ID however, to see all the fish species inhabiting our canal systems.
ABC's of Canal Fishing in South FL.

For someone who has never fished a canal before, where to start fishing can be a daunting task. As I mentioned above, canals can be anywhere from a few hundred feet wide and up to and deeper than 35 feet deep. My canal bank fishing experience started a very long time ago on an urban canal. These types of canals are the ones seen running along our streets, cities, and metropolitan neighborhoods. These types of canals are anywhere from 10 - 20 yards wide and can be anywhere from 6 - 15 feet deep, and are miles and miles long, and eventually connect with larger canal systems.

Understanding the purpose of a canal will help narrow down where to begin bass fishing on one. Remember in the beginning of this thread, I mentioned drainage is one of the purposes canals serve? Where there is drainage, there is current, and home to a specific structure that helps connect one canal to another. These structures are called culverts. A culvert is the structure that allows a canal to run underneath a roadway or railway. A culvert can comprise of either a pipe(s) or reinforced concrete and as water is drained due to rain run-off, or flood control discharges, currents will flow out of these culverts.
A culvert or the area around a culvert is usually my main starting point when bank fishing on a canal.  Several pieces of key information can be gathered around a culvert when bass fishing.  The presence, mood, and quantity, of bass can all be determined by carefully observing what's happening around these locations.





Once a starting point has been established, an angler can begin to break down the water and begin solving the bass catching puzzle of the day.  Taking careful mental notes walking along the canal, identifying key types of cover and structure will increase your chances of successes. Focus your attention on these "fishy" areas, and keep moving along until you come across another "fishy" area. Canals will have many dead zones, and the quicker one can identify these dead zones, the quicker one can find an "active zone".

My last bit of information on this topic, is SAFETY.  The bank (ground) around a canal will vary a lot!! Some areas can be flat and level to the water, and the ground will consist of pebbles, sand, and short grass. (This is the most ideal starting location for a beginner, child, or seasoned angler imho).  Hazardous areas like, but not limited to:  proximity to roadways, railroads, construction zones, heavy vegetated banks, and lastly dangerous neighborhoods, are areas that I consider should be strictly avoided. Use your best judgement, and always remember safety first!

I hope I was able to shed some light on how and where to begin your canal bank fishing adventure in this piece.  Have fun, be safe, and stay tuned for more canal bank fishing "How to's..." soon!!

Thanks for reading.

[Lipripper]

That's a great introduction to Canal Bank Fishing in South FL Lou. I will be reading all the good information.  Canal fishing sort of reminds me of Ditch fishing up here over in Indiana.

[FlatsNBay]

Wow, that's a lot of helpful information. Make sure to go over key pieces of fish holding structure like shopping carts, irrigation pipes and submerged stolen cars!

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[Capt. BassinLou]

Wow, that's a lot of helpful information. Make sure to go over key pieces of fish holding structure like shopping carts, irrigation pipes and submerged stolen cars!

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Thanks Flats, funny enough my next piece will be on type of cover and structure one should look for when canal bank fishing.

[Canesfan]

I'm sure George will chime in as he's gotta be the King of Bank/Shore fishing.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I'm sure George will chime in as he's gotta be the King of Bank/Shore fishing.

I agree Dave, I'm sure George will come along soon and provide a few gold nuggets information. 

[big g]

Great segment Lou!  If you could move the segment I did for Bank Fishing over here I would appreciate that.  I put down ten things I do when putting a game plan together for fishing the banks.  Looking forward to your other segments.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Remember I mentioned be careful of hazards when bank fishing on canals?

Well...check this out!!

While focusing my attention hunting a Peacock bass, I tripped and almost fell on this ...



Yep... a 4" piece of re-bar sticking out of the ground. I have fished this stretch of canal and spot for years and never saw it til today. Smh.

Florida Bass Fishing Reports , Dobyns Rods , Lockett Lures

[Capt. BassinLou]

Great segment Lou!  If you could move the segment I did for Bank Fishing over here I would appreciate that.  I put down ten things I do when putting a game plan together for fishing the banks.  Looking forward to your other segments.

Thank you George!! I remember that post, but I will have to search for it. 

[big g]

Lou, it's in Florida Bank Fishing techniques, (January) and it is locked!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Lou, it's in Florida Bank Fishing techniques, (January) and it is locked!

Ok, I will find it tomorrow.

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[SFL BassHunter]

Great how to! Very informative!


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[Capt. BassinLou]

Great how to! Very informative!


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Thanks Rick.

Florida Bass Fishing Reports , Dobyns Rods , Lockett Lures

[Jacobguy]

Love this how-to! Great write up thanks for sharing, I usually go to my grandmother's in florida every year for spring break but because of Covid I couldn't. I plan to head down somtime this summer with T-Bass1 and will be referring back here!

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[Capt. BassinLou]

Great segment Lou!  If you could move the segment I did for Bank Fishing over here I would appreciate that.  I put down ten things I do when putting a game plan together for fishing the banks.  Looking forward to your other segments.

Found it George, here it is:

For the last 40 years I have fished from both the Bank and the boat every week.  At least 4 days a week I fish from the bank and have a pattern I always use to try to figure them out for that day.  I am fortunate to have 7 man made lakes that surround the area I live at.

1). I always check the wind direction and wind speed before going.  If it is howling I always keep the wind to my back to make things easier and keep slack out of the line for better bite detection.
2).I will then chose a body of water that meets the conditions.
3).I will look for structure that is available at that location.  Drop-offs, underwater boulders, points.
4).I look for green veggies within casting distance.  The greener the better.  Two or three types of veggies together are better then just one type.  Always look for unusual movement of water plants.  This is a tell tale sign of a hunting predatory fish.
5). Some these lakes have big flats that go out from the bank 30 or 40 yards.  I look for isolated clumps of vegetation on these flats.  If the sun is bright these isolated clumps are better then massive fields of weeds, because all fish near the isolated ones will seek shade from these clumps of pads and other grasses.  These a magnets for bass once the sun gets high in the sky.  An isolated clump may hold four or five bass all seeking shelter.  Never pass up an isolated clump.
6).Changes in water temps I will concentrate on ledges and drop-offs.  Bait fish and Bass will move up and down these ledges seeking changes in water temp, and O2 levels.  Early and late in the day the ledges will also provide shade from a low sun in the sky.
7). I always look for Happy Water with subtle ripples of bait fish in open water.  Bass and other predators are often under the bate fish ripples, with the predators herding them.
. These lakes have large open water areas, and often have skimmer birds flying at surface level with their lower beaks in the water.  These are bait fish signs.  Bass are often below, always try hunting bird signs.
9).Because of all the shore vegetation treble hooks are out for me from the bank.  Texas rigged, wacky jig heads are what I throw the most.  If its slow I will always down size, and then slow down, sometimes just slow pulling a Texas Rig up the drop off, stopping close to the bottom.  Over the years, many big fish have been caught all times of the year at the base of a drop-off.
10). With limestone rock everywhere in these lakes a light weighted plastic will cause a lot less headaches than a heavier bullet weight.  Heavy weighted lure will hang up on the jagged rock walls and ruff boulders that are everywhere in these man made lakes.
11). I am a firm believer in 15 to 20 pound floro in these crystal clear lakes.  Braid will get torn-up on all the ruff rock and not as good with real clear water.  Believe me I have tried an array of different lines.
12).Always move slow when walking the bank.  There are snakes and gators even in places you would think are free of them.  If you see them, they see you, and that goes for the fish too.  No sudden moves.

Just a few observations over the years.  That's the game plan for almost every bank fishing trip.

[big g]

Found it George, here it is:

Thanks Lou,I appreciate that!

[Lipripper]

Remember I mentioned be careful of hazards when bank fishing on canals?

Well...check this out!!

While focusing my attention hunting a Peacock bass, I tripped and almost fell on this ...



Yep... a 4" piece of re-bar sticking out of the ground. I have fished this stretch of canal and spot for years and never saw it til today. Smh.

Florida Bass Fishing Reports , Dobyns Rods , Lockett Lures

Glad you didn't hurt yourself on that thing. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks Lou,I appreciate that!

You're welcome sir, that was an excellent guideline to follow. Thank you!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Glad you didn't hurt yourself on that thing. 

Thanks Lip, me too!! That piece of re-bar, can cause a real serious or fatal injury. 

[Lipripper]

Thanks Lip, me too!! That piece of re-bar, can cause a real serious or fatal injury. 

It sure could of. Just think you have been fishing there for so long and never noticed it before. Maybe because you we busy watching the shoreline for any 

[Capt. BassinLou]

It sure could of. Just think you have been fishing there for so long and never noticed it before. Maybe because you we busy watching the shoreline for any 

.. not for alligators, but that spot is situated by an important piece of structure in the water. So if I'm distracted I can easily trip over it. I might even consider bringing a hammer along and try to remove that re-bar. But then I would like a crazy guy walking on a public road way with a hammer in my hand. 

[Lipripper]

.. not for alligators, but that spot is situated by an important piece of structure in the water. So if I'm distracted I can easily trip over it. I might even consider bringing a hammer along and try to remove that re-bar. But then I would like a crazy guy walking on a public road way with a hammer in my hand. 

Yelp that walking on the roadway with a hammer in your hand might get a few calls to the 

[big g]

Thanks Lip, me too!! That piece of re-bar, can cause a real serious or fatal injury. 

Lou if you look at that rebar the top is flat.  That is a tent spike to a big tent.  They hammered that thing into the rock, and couldn't get it out.  It might have been put up for some special activity on the water if it's at A/P.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Lou if you look at that rebar the top is flat.  That is a tent spike to a big tent.  They hammered that thing into the rock, and couldn't get it out.  It might have been put up for some special activity on the water if it's at A/P.

Thanks for the info George. That re-bar was probably left over by work crews that deploy those yellow barriers on top of the water to help contain construction run off. That re-bar probably fastened that tarps rope to the ground.

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