Scouting bank fishing spots

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here's a quick tip that I feel will help many new comers to bank fishing.

As I have mentioned before, my main bank fishing locations consist of urban canals. However, I have found that this same tip can be applied to ponds as well.

Sunny blue bird skies and clear water for the most part usually means for slow fishing in my neck of the woods. However, by having a great pair of polarized sunglasses, a hat, and using the sun, a unique opportunity as presented itself.

By taking the time to walk bank during this time of day, it allows the angler to take key notes on structure and cover that we normally wouldn't see if the conditions were different. This unique situation helps identify key areas where bass can stage, ambush, or spawn during different times of the year. For example: Identifying submerged vegetation and/or wood, ledges, rock formations, rocky and sandy bottoms make for key bass spots. Although the bass may not be there at the moment you are fishing, I bet when the conditions change that area will become a high probability spot in the near future.

Over the years, these type of days have given me valuable insight where I have capitalized and caught fish on later dates because I knew ahead of time where I was casting at without being able to see what was there.

Hopefully I was able to shed some light ...    and provide some of you with a helpful bank fishing tip. Good luck and happy fishing!! 

[Lipripper]

That's a great tip  Sort of like getting out in the boat when the water is down and studying the exposed shore line to see what is there.

[Smallie_Stalker]

My thoughts exactly Lip.

And since we are on the topic of bank fishing, take lots of pictures when the water is down like that. Sometimes you will see stuff a long cast distance away that you never would have known was there, or might realize you just need to change your angle just a bit and a whole new world of stuff opens up to you. 

[analfisherman]

  Polarized sunglasses
Sometimes you will see stuff a long cast distance away.

Polarized sunglasses.........I wear mine almost always regardless of the sun.
I even have yellow tone Polarized lenses for dawn and dusk.
I have green lenses, yellow, copper and three other lens colored glasses....all have a purpose based on water clarity etc and I fish so many different waters.
Now BY NO MEANS am I saying others should have multiple colored lenses but remember....I'M ANAL and Make It Simple Stupid........I'm the STUPID part.

I hate low water but the one value is EXACTLY what smallie said, you see things you don't when water is high.
On that note, be sure to check out close to the bank because as you all are aware, parallel bank casting is a great shorebusting technique!
Also be aware of the bank you are standing on because that WILL BE THE SHORELINE WHEN THE WATER IS HIGH.....AND IT WILL BE HIGH SOONER OR LATTER.

Structure when fishing small waters is so very very important and subtle structure is so important to find......the fish will.
The different angles to fish that structure is so important.
Based on wind direction or current fluctuations different angles will out preform others on certain days and conditions.
Plus structure supplies 'some' shade and that shade will move with the sun.
I can not tell you how many rock piles I fish that others aren't even aware are there.

GREAT TIPS Lou and SMALLIE! 

[SFL BassHunter]

I personally don't "scout". If I'm going to go out I'm going to fish. But if i do go to a new place I pay more attention to the area and what's in the water with the polarized glasses. Most my scouting is done as I drive past places and see something that catches my attention to bank fish.


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[analfisherman]

Rick, guess I never 'scout' without a couple of rods in hand either.

But I DO scout while I fish ALWAYS.
Often checking the bank on opposite side or the banks while I walk to intended destination.
I wade frequently and many spots have extreme 'soft' bottoms and wading I usually only carry one rod while in the water with numerous baits tucked into the pouch in front.
The clay bottoms act like a vacuum when you step into it so the going is slow and a lot of time to ponder.....maybe I should start elsewhere or concentrate on different baits/techniques.

But I also must confess......I can't drive so much as by a 'puddle' with out analyzing whether there could be fish in it.
And ya I usually end up getting out of my car to check the bank for structure and accessibility.
And ya if I have even 30 mins to spare.....I head back and grab a rod seeing I always have at least 5 different set-ups rigged up in the car.
And yes......fishing in a tie and dress shoes has gotten me more than one amazed 'STARE' from passing motorists. 
Actually had to see a referral once and had 45 mins. to kill so I hit a pond in a park to kill time.
Seeing I'm time limited I concentrate on the task at hand and pay no attention to anything else.
I got to the gentlemen's house and after introductions the first thing he asked me was, "Didn't I just see you in the Park fishing?"

Well he became a client and seeing I was an hour or so from my town he gave me some pointers and other spots to shorebust from.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I personally don't "scout". If I'm going to go out I'm going to fish. But if i do go to a new place I pay more attention to the area and what's in the water with the polarized glasses. Most my scouting is done as I drive past places and see something that catches my attention to bank fish.


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For me, scouting an area without a rod and reel present,forces me and allows me just to walk around and take mental notes of areas that may be new or simply missed in the past. Most of the time these trips are time killers and I make the best out of the situation by taking a walk and observing the area. If I had an outfit with me, I wouldn't be able to cover as much because I would be too busy fishing. Although, I still observe when I'm fishing. Lol...

[SFL BassHunter]

Yeah you'll never catch me wading down here lol!

Lou exactly when your fishing you slow down. Hence why I don't scout. I just fish the section I can and next time I'll maybe try another section of a body of water if I didn't have a lot of success. The other thing is I won't remember where stuff is in the the water till I fish it a few times anyways.

I do see how scouting could be helpful though and could give you an advantage next time you go out and fish that spot. Your advice can certainly be useful to anglers that don't go out and scout.


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