Back to Basics

[D.W. Verts]

The title says what bank fishing a pond does for me. When I came back to more serious fishin' last year (serious for me, anyway), it was ponds, and mostly standing on a bank, that got me back into the swing of things. And while I use a Jon boat and my Kayak a lot, it's also sometimes far easier to just hop out of the truck and start to roam.

The "basics" thing is just that. You're probably not throwin' a DD-22 on a ledge while walkin' the bank of your favorite pond or lake. Pond fishin' is about simplification- bringing it down to the most basic terms is what generally works best. And ponds are a great place to work out new techniques, sort out a new rod and reel, and generally refine your abilities.

Let's face it- you're standing on the bank of a pond, creek, or small lake. There you are- you can see the whole thing. You can't be in the wrong creek, fish too deep, or too shallow. Nope, you can cover it all given a little time. And taking your time is maybe one of  the most important aspects of bank fishin'. Because you truly are, in many cases, leaving fish every time you go to look for more fish. Getting in a hurry has killed a lot of anglers' day on the water, but the guy traipsing all over the pond bank, making a cast here and there without working an area out, is many times destined for failure.

It's all about the basics.

Like any body of water techniques change according to the season, but ponds tend to be a little more forgiving as to lure selection and presentation than a 50,000 acre reservoir. I carry a SMALL tackle bag with me, and I may carry two rods (but generally one gets it done). I always have spinnerbaits in the bag, although more so in Spring and Fall. I generally have a few topwaters 'cuz there just ain't nothin' better, and they work in most ponds in all but the coldest of water. Plastic baits such as worms are a staple in the summer time, as are lizards in the spring. Soft plastic grubs in all their different versions, as well as crawdads, are a for sure addition to my bag. Maybe a chatterbait or two... And I ALWAYS have jigs, every month of the year. No matter what. But that's about it. Simple.

Keep the colors simple too. Two different shades of everything, depending on water clarity, will get the job done. A white spinnerbait has accounted for more bass for more bass for me over the years than maybe anything else. Chartreuse, or at least some chartreuse in the skirt, is always a good choice. Blue, white and chartreuse is a tremendous combination for some reason, but again- four spinnerbaits with different blade combinations in your favorite colors is by far enough. A white buzz bait and a black one, and you're done. A bag of black worms, and a bag of watermelon seed. Get it?

The Catch-22 of pond fishin' however is the fact that the fish are right there, right in front of you, all the time. And on the days that you're not catchin' them can be a humbling experience. This is where the go-to-basics approach works. This is where you can become a better angler. Generally it means slowing down, maybe down-sizing your baits and using a "finesse" approach. Sometimes it's all about the angle of the retrieve for a pond fish. And sometimes you don't catch them no matter what you do.

But that's what makes us grow as fishermen, accepting the losses and trying to take something from the experience. I strive, even after all these years, to learn something every time I fish, no matter how simple it may be.

I hope you do too.

[Lipripper]

Good read and so right on. Most of my fishing is done from the Banks in small ponds and water holes.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Great post DW, thank you for sharing.

[analfisherman]

DW, great post.

I wade, bank and Kayak fish.
I always got two rods....usually three.

I am extremely fortunate and have access to 3 ponds, two major rivers, a dozen lakes and multiple creeks that I can bank, wade and kayak in within a half hour of my front porch. (God's Country, WI.)
Many fish completely different from one another and I, being anal, have at least a half a dozen 'small' carry along softsiders in my trunk (set up for different waters). (along with six rods, minimum, all different powers to cover anything I care to toss)

Now EVERY ONE has your basics and then what I've found to work in that particular BOW.
Sometimes I'm fishing smallies, sometimes LM, some times both.
Sometimes weed infested sometimes rock and often both in a days time.


Now the only exception/variance is I use Plastic Toads instead of Buzz Baits. (Ribbit Style Plastics)
Worked fast, I get a buzz bait effect.
Fished slow, I can buzz them just below surface as well as let them sink into pockets of weeds/pads.
Plus they can be rigged weedless and still accomplish the effect that I want from a buzz bait.

Again, GREAT POST.....GREAT ADVICE.......and the part of thoroughly working an area is ABSOLUTE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!! 

Thanks again!

[SFL BassHunter]

Fantastic post! I enjoyed reading that very much.

[zippyduck]

D.W. you are dead on with this great read.  And a great reminder for some of us older guys. 

[D.W. Verts]

Well, you got me, sir. I fish a bunch of different ponds and small lakes (up to 115 acres), from off the bank, out of my Jon boat or Kayak, and my bass boat. Every body of water is different, plus I may fish more than one at an outing. Some are very clear, some are always stained. Some have grass and lily pads while others are barren. I adjust to the conditions every trip (exactly the way I would do it on a major reservoir in the bass boat).

However, the "basic" thing sets in once I get there. K.I.S.S.... Of course, there are very different levels of "basic"!

[SFL BassHunter]

I like to keep things so basic that yesterday I had 1 hook and one bullet weight with me.

Ok ok, that had nothing to do with basics, it was more like I forgot to pack my terminal tackle (small plano) in my fanny pack lol.

[basss]

Great stankin' post!  So true too.

Bet if we all talked to our 12 yr. selves before we had the boats, electronics, multitude of poles/reels; our 12 yr. old selves would be amazed at all we go through to get the same rush we got just fishing ponds.

[jwtiger69]

Sorry to bump this...


I am starting to get back into fishing and most of that is going to be just like you in here.  As far as the basics for bank/shore fishing what is the most basic gear that one would need?  Where I would spend most of my time it is pretty murky water with lots of grass/Weeds.


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[D.W. Verts]

Basics. One rod & reel (millions of feet of input here!), but I'd do a 6-6 or 7' MH rod myself to handle a multitude of baits & techniques.

A handful each of spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, bass jigs, and maybe a frog or two. I go nowhere without the old Johnson Silver Minnow (weedless spoon).

A bag of soft plastics, and the hooks and sinkers to use 'em. Included would be (seasonal choices here too) lizards, worms, and the "creature" type baits (like the "Beavers")...

All in all maybe a $100 worth of lures. You'll add more.

No shake up on colors. Light and dark shades. They all work. The murky water will simplify your selections.

Give me three lures to fish like you're talking about, and it'd be a spinnerbait, a live-rubber jig, and a Texas-rigged worm. I could fit all the tackle that I would need in a Plano (plain 'ole brown bag). It is NOT complicated.

[jwtiger69]

Basics. One rod & reel (millions of feet of input here!), but I'd do a 6-6 or 7' MH rod myself to handle a multitude of baits & techniques.

A handful each of spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, bass jigs, and maybe a frog or two. I go nowhere without the old Johnson Silver Minnow (weedless spoon).

A bag of soft plastics, and the hooks and sinkers to use 'em. Included would be (seasonal choices here too) lizards, worms, and the "creature" type baits (like the "Beavers")...

All in all maybe a $100 worth of lures. You'll add more.

No shake up on colors. Light and dark shades. They all work. The murky water will simplify your selections.

Give me three lures to fish like you're talking about, and it'd be a spinnerbait, a live-rubber jig, and a Texas-rigged worm. I could fit all the tackle that I would need in a Plano (plain 'ole brown bag). It is NOT complicated.

Thanks for the reply.   I will probably be taking a trip this week and start buying few things. 


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[Lightening Rod]

Very good read.
 

[HTTR]

Spoken from experience D.W. Verts, truly words of wisdom here. I can't count the number of times I have missed fish because I couldn't cast around cover at a certain angle or messed up the hook set by forgetting that I was standing under a tree. I sometimes carry a pack with gear in it but most of the time I just walk the banks with one rod and a mixed bag of soft plastics in my pocket.


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[TrueGritAngler]

I learned how to bass fish 2 years ago on urban ponds (inner city). Refined a lot of techniques on ponds and even learned how to use my first baitcaster. I bank fish exclusively and put a lot a miles on my feet beating the banks to find a good spot, dodge snakes, trees. Being a bank angler requires having some Grit. Fishing ponds gave me that attribute. There were days when I would go to a spot and the only clearing was covered in heavy mats, lily pads, and I had to learn how to adapt to those environment changes. Fishing a pond taught me theses things. I'm a well rounded angler now because of it.

[HTTR]

I learned how to bass fish 2 years ago on urban ponds (inner city). Refined a lot of techniques on ponds and even learned how to use my first baitcaster. I bank fish exclusively and put a lot a miles on my feet beating the banks to find a good spot, dodge snakes, trees. Being a bank angler requires having some Grit. Fishing ponds gave me that attribute. There were days when I would go to a spot and the only clearing was covered in heavy mats, lily pads, and I had to learn how to adapt to those environment changes. Fishing a pond taught me theses things. I'm a well rounded angler now because of it.

I like you're story, I can relate. Except for the well rounded part haha, I have a LOT to learn. The hard part for me is finding legally fishable ponds. It doesn't bother me too much because I don't read stupid signs but then I can't enter them in any tournaments on here. So I'm stuck with my neighborhood pond and a few public ponds nearby. The parks have too many people for me though.


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[TrueGritAngler]

I like you're story, I can relate. Except for the well rounded part haha, I have a LOT to learn. The hard part for me is finding legally fishable ponds. It doesn't bother me too much because I don't read stupid signs but then I can't enter them in any tournaments on here. So I'm stuck with my neighborhood pond and a few public ponds nearby. The parks have too many people for me though.


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Easiest way to learn is by limiting what you take with you. I never fished jigs so one day I went fishing and that's all I took. A Plano box filled with jigs. That day I caught my first ever jig fish and I remember like it was yesterday. Pitched right into the shadow of low hanging tree ( I honestly didn't know how bass relate to structure back then, I just thought it was good spot to fish) and as soon as it hit the water that bass smoked it!! Scared the living crap outta me because I wasn't expecting such a violent hit. One thing I also discovered about pond fishing is that it helps you become an "instinctive angler". Not able to rely on fish finders but gut instinct rather is something else I gained from my pond experience and bank fishing in general.