Bank Fishing Talk (Winter 2023)

[Capt. BassinLou]

New for 2023!  Bank Fishing Talk. These seasonal threads will be our virtual hang out spot where we can talk about our daily bank fishing experiences. Every season I will open a new thread. For example this will be our Winter Season thread. We have a similar format over on the FL forums called FL Bass Talk, and its a pretty cool thread where we talk about all kinds of stuff. I figured the bank fishing forum needs this too. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

As I mull over what my next bank fishing video topic is going to be about. We have another major cold front approaching as I'm literally typing this post. Our temps are going to dip into the 40's again for a couple of days, and as result our water temps are going to dip as well.  Our water temps are currently in the mid to upper 60's.

As the front approached I took a drive to Walmart to get my hands on my favorite winter lure that I hardly talk about. This lure is responsible for several nice catches during this time of year for me.

Ok, enough of the suspense. I love fishing with the bitsy/mini jig from Strike King during the winter months. Walmart carry these for very cheap. Don't say anything, but they can be had for $1.75 



One of my nicest bank fishing bass came years ago while fishing with one of these jigs. Stay tuned, as I will be taking you guys out on a very cold fishing adventure with me really soon. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

Found the picture of the bitsy jig bass. This picture was taken over 6 years ago when my son was 10 yrs old.
  Wow, how time flies.

[big g]

Went out tonight right after the front passed.  Temps dropped quickly, but the wind got ridicules.  I was lucky to catch four in an hour.  Could not fight the wind, just went to the west side and kept it at my back.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Went out tonight right after the front passed.  Temps dropped quickly, but the wind got ridicules.  I was lucky to catch four in an hour.  Could not fight the wind, just went to the west side and kept it at my back.

Nice! The temps dropped very quickly.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Question for the bank fishermen lurkers.   

When you can't resist the fishing bug during this colder weather and you HAVE to go fishing. What are some of your cold bank fishing strategies?

Big G touched on one on his previous post.

What say you?

[big g]

Slow down, super slow!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Went out for a couple of hours today. Fishing was tough for the first hour.
Finally saw my first bass at the beginning of the second hour. Slowly swam the stick bait over to its general location, and it made a beeline for the worm. One second later the worm was gone.



The next bass I caught I was swimming the stick bait parallel to the bank, and a nice wake gave chase. After a momentary commotion felt the weight and stuck my second bass.



A short while later, stuck my 3rd bass when I cast the stick bait on the other side of the canal. Felt a couple of ticks, and it was game on.



And that was it. Short flurry and the fun was over. I'll take it. It's been a tough few days fishing-wise.

[chrisD46]

Capt. Lou & Others : Providing your lake / river banks allow you decent cast lanes from shore without constant snags , etc.  - what would be your top five winter lure to use for bass ?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Capt. Lou & Others : Providing your lake / river banks allow you decent cast lanes from shore without constant snags , etc.  - what would be your top five winter lure to use for bass ?

I would say my Top 5 winter bank fishing lures would be (in no particular order):  Stickbait, jig, fluke, centipede, speed worm.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Productive evening. Went out for a couple of hours and fished my neighborhood canal. There are primarily 4 individual stretches to it. Each present differently.

Today I focused on stretch number 2 and 3. Right off the bat it seems I stuck 3+ lbr but lost it as I was pulling it up  from the high bank. High banks are not my favorite locations to fish due to the high chances of losing fish.

Short while later stuck another bass. Smaller but noticed they were holding close to the limestone ledge line in about 5-6 feet of water.



Spent the rest of the outing fishing the wall line with a weightless stick worm.

Ended up catching my limit. Still adjusting fishing with just mono. Need to pick up all the slack and lower that rod all the way down before setting the hook.






Fun outing!

[FlatsNBay]

Just found this post. Great idea Lou! For my winter bank fishing, my favorite techniques don't vary much from my boat fishing. Small jerkbaits fished slow. I've fallen in love with the small 13 fishing Whipper Snapper jerkbait. The 3 colors in order of success for me have been Lucky Charm which is more of a natural minnow for clear water, Goldilocks which is a gold color for tanic water and Casper which has more white in it when shad is the primary forage.

Next on the list is a Ned Rig fished slow on the bottom.

A stick worm fished slow has been money as well.

[big g]

After fishing my neighborhood playground for the last three weeks, I decided to change locations and fish the deep, hydrilla filled lakes in Weston.  These lakes have ample vegetation and a healthy supply of bass and peacock.  I caught 8 bass and 2 peacock in a little over an hour.  I saw no signs of dead fish and did see two wolf packs of peacock going after bait fish with violent runs.  Plastic stickbaits and flukes were used with the Peas attacking the baits after being jerked out of the thick Hydrilla after getting hung up.  Great to see the wolf packs roaming after the long cold spell.  Some pics may follow with a little help from a friend.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here you go George. Wtg!

[Capt. BassinLou]

I haven't posted over here for a spell. How's the bank fishing treating everyone? Any cool stories?
I actually checked out a new canal a few days ago. Didn't catch anything, but it sure did look fishy. I actually made a video out of the trip. If anyone is interested in watching it.
Check out --> Breaking down new water

[big g]

Numbers were good tonight after two tough days.  Size was not good, but there was action.  Had to go with quick hard jerks and then long pauses, to get any bites.  This was Different then the last few weeks.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Numbers were good tonight after two tough days.  Size was not good, but there was action.  Had to go with quick hard jerks and then long pauses, to get any bites.  This was Different then the last few weeks.

Thank you for the update George especially for sharing the pattern. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

I have a unique request for the group. I have been doing this covertly already,  but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask openly,  . If anyone has any bank fishing video ideas that you would like me to shoot, please feel free and let me know. As I mentioned I have been doing this covertly already, the , video was suggested to me by our very own FlatsNBays. Thanks again for the video suggestion Steve!! 

[topdsm0138]

I have a unique request for the group. I have been doing this covertly already,  but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask openly,  . If anyone has any bank fishing video ideas that you would like me to shoot, please feel free and let me know. As I mentioned I have been doing this covertly already, the , video was suggested to me by our very own FlatsNBays. Thanks again for the video suggestion Steve!! 

Have you tried "punching the salad" from the bank yet? I mean, let's be honest here, a majority of S FL shoreline is littered with thick pads or Hyacinth mats. There are a few of us who use that to our advantage at times. I believe you already talked about it in another thread, so how about a How-To Video for those curious.

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

[Capt. BassinLou]

I have a unique request for the group. I have been doing this covertly already,  but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask openly,  . If anyone has any bank fishing video ideas that you would like me to shoot, please feel free and let me know. As I mentioned I have been doing this covertly already, the , video was suggested to me by our very own FlatsNBays. Thanks again for the video suggestion Steve!! 

Have you tried "punching the salad" from the bank yet? I mean, let's be honest here, a majority of S FL shoreline is littered with thick pads or Hyacinth mats. There are a few of us who use that to our advantage at times. I believe you already talked about it in another thread, so how about a How-To Video for those curious.

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

I haven't specifically done that, no. Thanks for the suggestion!! 

[bowhunter63]

Our rivers here on southwest Missouri are full of Smallies. Hair jigs or Bits bug jigs with a baby Z craw Trailer. We just had an ice storm so things are warning back up. Also a three inch swim bait works great too

[Capt. BassinLou]

Just wrapped up my latest bank fishing video. Drops tomorrow around 3pm, just saying. 
When it comes to bank fishing on our South Florida waters, this particular soft plastic is an absolute MUST!! If your not fishing it, maybe after watching my video, you might change your mind. 

[big g]

Lou just finished watching the vid on Fluke fishing.  I have been using the fluke for a long time, and as you said, it's a very versatile bait. You can fish it fast, slow, deep or shallow, heavy cover or open water, jerked fast or slow bottom pulls.  You can catch Bass, Peacocks, Oscars, Mayans, Gar, Panfish, Snakeheads or Bowfins.  The possibilities are endless!!!!! 
The vid was excellent!  You look very comfortable in front of the camera and make it look so easy, which we all know is just the opposite.  Congrats again my friend for sharing this with all of us!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Lou just finished watching the vid on Fluke fishing.  I have been using the fluke for a long time, and as you said, it's a very versatile bait. You can fish it fast, slow, deep or shallow, heavy cover or open water, jerked fast or slow bottom pulls.  You can catch Bass, Peacocks, Oscars, Mayans, Gar, Panfish, Snakeheads or Bowfins.  The possibilities are endless!!!!! 
The vid was excellent!  You look very comfortable in front of the camera and make it look so easy, which we all know is just the opposite.  Congrats again my friend for sharing this with all of us!

Thank you George! Appreciate the kind words.

[hondo2doc]

Wow, what a great detailed approach to bank fishing (which is what I do) using a very specific lure and all ways to rig and use that lure. Capt. Lou thank you.

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