Tested Bank Fishing Tips for Catching Bass

Bank fishing is an excellent way to catch lots of bass. You don't have to mess with loading and unloading a boat, so it's a perfect way to wet a line when time is limited. To maximize your results, Managing Editor Walker Smith shares his most trusted tips that have led to numerous trophy bass catches while fishing from shore.
Equipment Listing:
-Flambeau P50BP Portage Backpack: goo.gl/9J1zwH
-Gene Larew Punch Out Craw: goo.gl/o21zGJ
-Lew's Custom Speed Cast Rod 7' Med Hvy Worm: goo.gl/njcG5J
-Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool Casting Reel: goo.gl/ePvaRq

[@shellyvogler2139]

"The bank fishermen always wanna get closer to the middle, boat fisherman always wanna get closer to the bank." So true...

[@Wired2Fish]

We all want what we can't have, I reckon ;) - Walker

[@TitanBeats]

I mean I don't want to be close to the middle I just want a boat so I can fish more cover than 2 small fishing spots in my area the rest is all private property unless you buy a boat

[@JoseLara-uc9uf]

Shelly Vogler - he's got "it" when it comes to speaking and teaching. Very humble. I think this is the first video of his that I've viewed and I had to subscribe. Awesome dude

[@avitaknighten982]

omg ur right!

[@telefunkenyou47]

Bank fishermen always wanna get a boat.

[@Jiraiyashouse666]

Like others said...this guy is a knowledgeable and classy dude...love the respect he had for that big HOG at the end.

[@TrevorMcElhannon]

Thank you for saying,"Quit watching watching videos, and get out there and fish." Hands down, best advice out there. Grandpa would always say,"You won't learn, or catch a thing without getting the line wet."

[@gabemartinez2558]

I've been trying to fish my local lakes for the last 5 years with not even a bite. I know I'm doing something wrong but I don't have any fishing friends to help me learn. I keep going because I enjoy fishing but catching something would be nice too

[@TrevorMcElhannon]

@gabemartinez2558 I think a different lake is going to be the best bet. I love to fish but I couldn't stand a 0 batting average for that long. Good luck, tight lines!

[@argentiquenoborentino6780]

Finally a video with sense, substance and easy to understand (and my first language is not English) I’ve been looking videos for the past couple of weeks And they either have no substance or they are so deep into the info that they don’t say anything. This video is like a friend is explaining things with normal words. Thank you guys keep up with the great videos

[@keithwalker1780]

Very good advice. It's hard to believe how many people think that just because they're on land the fish are oblivious to them. Some of my biggest bass have come from quietly working a bank.

[@JoseLara-uc9uf]

"quit watching videos and get out there" down to earth man. Had to subscribe to this. Very knowledgeable. I appreciate your advice bud

[@commanderthorn3466]

One of the tips I always tell myself is that even if I go out and fish for a few hours and catch absolutely nothing, no bites or nothing I always remember to keep my head up and tomorrow is another day

[@jonathansevel1757]

Bad day of fishing still beats a good day working

[@gaildevera5482]

Definitely classy and knowledgeable...love the respect he showed for that big mama bass..

[@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879]

The worst thing about my area: most fishing access points are boat launches on lakes that are otherwise private. The constant noise from boats mixed with crowded fishing.....its hard to catch anything without a boat up here and thats not in my future. I appreciate the video! I'm jealous beyond belief, honestly.

[@bpfyre1882]

You have to travel or fund a river to drive down maybe 30 mins away im sure you can find some good holes even creeks you can catch smallies and rock bass. You have to fish where few people fish, and you gotta go out and explore to find em

[@jasonsfishingagain312]

I spend my evenings wading in my local river, music playing on my phone and certainly not being stealthy. My favorite are the comments from others watching me release fish listening to Clutch. 😁

[@norcalbassnwithrioblanco4799]

Thanks for givin us bank yankers some key knowledge! appreciate that👊👊👊

[@jeremyowen1]

I bank fish a river with a 6ft 6 rod. I only bring one all arounder baitcasting setup and one spinning rod. One thing I desperately need is a way to easily stow my spinning rod while still having easy access to it. I love the point of being stealthy, I honestly haven't noticed my voice cause any sort of disturbance in the water but footsteps most certainly have. I could see how your voice may play a role in areas with less human activity though. I fished a new pond with a friend a few summers ago and we struggled all day. On our way out, we walked a trail closer to the bank that lead into a small shaded cove with tons of structure that I never saw because I wasn't moving enough. We spooked so many fish that I felt a combination of sickness and elation. We went back a few days later tip toeing along that same bank making long casts and crushed it.

[@Grogers70426]

I bank fish 99% of the time, it has it's ups and downs...don't have to worry about how bad the boat launch is, but have to carry rods, tackle boxes, and snacks. I can fish off the bank and hit that hole that only other way back there is a kayak. But I fish farm ponds and gravel pits so it a battle figuring out what baits they want. I might use a real shallow running square bill in the pond but the gravel pit can handle a 7-11' crankbait without getting into the grass

[@tommymorris8918]

Geaux Tigers!!!!

[@isaacsutton1319]

This is the kinda guy i wanna be like when i get alittle older, great video man, kinda video that motivates you to get out there asap, thanks

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for watching, Isaac! Good fishing. - Walker

[@caderudiger4038]

Famous words "quit watching fishing videos and get out and fish"

[@Wired2Fish]

I don't beat around the bush! - Walker

[@lovefishingalwaysaddyson911]

I do 😂 I just watch this for some reason 😂

[@treyalexander7256]

Sadly there are no fish at work

[@fiveforfishing2366]

Earned a sub here. Excellent tips and this dude is knowledgeable and humble. Good traits to have while Bass fishing! 😃

[@Wired2Fish]

Good deal. Good looking fella too with that red beard ; ). Bass find it hard to resist.

[@angelolvera6269]

Almost cried watching this. You said quit watching fishing videos and go have fun. I keep coming home without a story of catching a bass. I’ve spent a good bit on lures and an okay bait caster. I can’t catch my bass. I’m not gonna quit tho and ima go out there and have fun. Thanks man

[@nekaneka-lo2js]

Another thing you need to understand is these people in fishing videos go to STOCKED PONDS AND LAKES. Alot of it is private areas on someone's property. I use to get jealous when watching them then I had to ask myself "is my wrist work or lures any different than theirs or is it the location??? Trust me,you'd catch a hog too if you had access to film in a trophy pond

[@greenghostman174]

Good video. Have this guy do more vids.

[@Wired2Fish]

GreenGhostMan A bunch more from Walker already in the queue.

[@dannycurtis1939]

I agree! I've recently come across the videos Walker is in and I love them all so far... great teaching style!! I still have a lot to watch but please keep them coming W2F/Walker!!!

[@Pr3lude9]

Thank you for explaining being quiet. As a lifelong hunter, I recently picked up fishing. Still have a lot to learn.

[@tylersims6264]

Another great video. I’m learning that bank fishing is a win-win. Fun, low-cost entry to fishing. The walking is good for me. And the silence helps with the stress. Ok....that’s a win-win-win. Lol.

[@FishxScale]

These are great tips. Stealth is always a key when fishing.

[@Wired2Fish]

Glad you found them helpful. Thank you for watching. - Walker

[@ButhOfLamb]

Stop watching videos and go out!!! Great video!!! I am a bank fisherman. Got lucky and found a pond for $5(farm pond) that I can walk or donate another $5 and to use a small aluminum boat and paddle!!!

[@ericb37]

Long time catfish fisherman. Decided to start Bass fishing while catfishing to be more active. I think these tips will help. Thanks.

[@arseniorosaiii3508]

Great tips. Anything with bank fishing tips is greatly appreciated

[@Wired2Fish]

We will definitely add a lot more to the bank fishing library this year!

[@FishHawk]

Great tips and helpful information! Not everyone has a boat and there are a lot of bank fishermen! Nice job!

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks. We'll be adding a lot more bank-fishing pieces this year.

[@FishHawk]

Good to hear!

[@ipreferfreedom7752]

I would love to see more bank fishing videos! Thats about all I'm able to do right now and it's a little tricky.

[@Wired2Fish]

Any specifics on what your challenges are and we'll try to address those in upcoming videos for you. Got a lot of bank fishing stuff coming.

[@ipreferfreedom7752]

Well I find myself at a lot of different boat ramps and docks so traffic and noise isn't the best lol. So maybe a video on that(more less on limited space)? Also on a side note, not sure if you ever come to the central Florida area but we have a place called Saddle Creek; it's a great place to fish both bank and off a boat and would make for great time and video.

[@chrishimstedt9542]

This is the LAST fishin' video I'm watching. Time to go fishin'! Great advice. :-)

[@Wired2Fish]

Walker nailed his sign-off with that comment. Good advice for all of us in this digital age!

[@pumbanation2434]

love it! hahaha

[@bassboundtv7602]

Very good video. Full of useful information. I always like to see people helping others get started in our wonderful sport of fishing.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks BassBound TV. Appreciate the words.

[@bassboundtv7602]

No problem keep up the good work and thanks for the subscription.

[@raygissendanner1476]

Great tips I have to bank fish at this time don't have a boat or a kayak and will be trying it also new at bass fishing thank you

[@sixsixpks]

Very informative and a great video. I especially like the mini fridge strapped to your back.

[@SteveB357]

My North Carolina raised mom learned to fish from another woman, using a cane pole and bobber. Mom told me they used to crawl the last ten yards or so to the shore. Stealth indeed, in the Dismal Swamp.

[@outdoor_lifestyle_0149]

First of all I wanna say I love all the videos on this channel but he does them the best! And also I wish there was a Wired2Hunt with him in it 😂

[@alvertovasquez3346]

I’m not lying but this has to be the best vid yet in my opinion great job

[@Th3Acc0mplice]

Not sure why I watched this video but im glad i did! I enjoyed the host and how he presented everything. Yall earned a new sub. Get out and fish!

[@thelowmein9143]

I wish he’d talked about what kind of baits to use when.

[@jbinnebose]

Try using a swimbait jig with a soft crayfish bait on it like he had showed at the end. Try using a pumpkin green or black and blue color

[@thedinneris]

This is one of the best videos I have seen. Thank you.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@zachb5803]

This man couldn't be more right amen sir you are a bank fish master

[@jamespannell8228]

No such thing as a bad cast if your lure is in the water. I've caught them casting over trees, I play it where it lays like a golf ball!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Great video... I've been having trouble determining my weakness but seem to be more efficient at pitching in cover. Which would mean everything else is my weakness.... I hate fishing deep and rarely use crankbaits unless it's a 6xd.

[@haroldcale4767]

Apartment living no boats aloud. So I bank fish most of the time. Using 8 to 12 lb test. Works for me.

[@GabooNx]

Great tips, stealth is key.

[@Michaelb2127]

Awesome video thanks for the tips

[@althor9997]

I just got back into fishing again. I've got that same lure, and I've been catching bass like crazy on it.

[@Ricehatasian]

"Stop watching videos and go fish" It's 54 degrees.. or I would

[@Wired2Fish]

Put a jacket on!

[@CentralCoastBass]

Great video thanks. - Scott.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for watching, Scott. - Walker

[@julianwall3261]

Could you do a video where you cast along the grass or weeds and race a weightless plastic worm back towards you ? Bass don't hit that often , but when they do , watching them run that lure down just under the surface is priceless !..

[@billsutorius2753]

Great advice, I learned some things. Thanks 👍🎣🇺🇸

[@hermanjlyons]

Great video. Simple tips go a loooong way!

[@Wired2Fish]

Appreciate that Herman, very important to cover many topics, beginner and basic to experienced and advanced.

[@AddictedAngler]

good tips, i always cant few feet from shore my 1st cast near the shore always check :D

[@mathteacher2651]

Great tips - thank you very much!

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks Math Teacher! Assume you're a math teacher? If so, enjoy your well-deserved summer and good fishing to you.

[@ScottRoseFishing]

Awesome video man. Very cool tips!

[@Wired2Fish]

You bet, appreciate it Scott.

[@vincentlivoti4184]

Great tips!

[@cecilmoreno9736]

You absolutely right.

[@huntermcfish]

Best line was "quit watching fishing videos" I'm headed to my local river bridge NOW!

[@cc-ty3gg]

great video!! I fish from the bank 90% of the time..any tips I can get are greatly appreciated!! very helpful.. thanks!

[@Wired2Fish]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching! We'll be adding a lot more bank fishing pieces!

[@cc-ty3gg]

Thanks!! I look forward to watching more bank fishing videos..Good luck on the water!

[@CAMEO1955]

THANK YOU

[@readyreckoner1592]

Good on you Brother. Never even heard of you all. I like the cut of your jib.

[@thatshowyoutravel]

Well, it's what I do. while waiting for patients, I watch bass fishin' videos. 🎣

[@ianyoung5750]

Excellent tips. Thank you 👍

[@solesolace]

I bank fish almost exclusively and have been trying to get better with a baitcaster, but every time I got out all I can think about is how much easier it would be to fish it with a spinning set up. Nothing worse than tagging a branch in the middle of a cast and blowing your reel up on the first few casts.

[@wesvan6]

solesolace maybe carry a pocket knife and cut some branches down. If you know the land owner.

[@davejeon02]

solesolace keep practicing, and mind your surroundings. there's a lot more lures, techniques, and presentations that you can utilize or maximize using a baitcaster over a spinning setup. so keep mastering it and it'll pay off big time, I promise. my bank fishing setup consists of 6 baitcasting setups and 1 spinning, although ideally I'd like to add another spinning setup to my arsenal (my UL is a spinning too, obviously). spinning setups are best for finesse techniques; I won't throw anything over 1/8 oz. -- MAYBE 1/4 oz. sometimes -- on my spinning setup. all the 'fun', moving baits or power-fishing presentations are most effectively used on a baitcaster

[@Wired2Fish]

Fish with whatever you are comfortable with and have the most fun with. I don't care if it's a push-button reel. Everyone's preferences are different! Thanks for watching. - Walker

[@willgabriel1564]

Thanks👍

[@theangrybass3389]

Great advice! It definitely works....

[@epicmassacre64]

i love this guy

[@Wired2Fish]

+hydrate claypool he's as charming in person as he is good looking, plus a load of fun to give sh*t to. Very reactive. Makes for a good co-worker.

[@anthonymcclerkin3713]

I feel like he made this video for me because I stay watching videos because I never catch anything when I go out to fish maybe 1 or 2 fish a month after fishing for hours each day but I’m gonna take his advice and move around a little bit more to find the fish before I just decide to sale all my rods and tackle lol

[@The_Great_White]

Great video!

[@chrisg2282]

Great video. Very motivational.

[@jdunningtonbland]

Good video, thanks! Gonna try my hand at it, though I do love fishing for bluegill. :)

[@FirstcastFishing-gz5gd]

Last summer i wrnt camping at brilee campground in ct and i caught 3 the first day 0 the second day, and 8 the final day, the third day was my bday and i caught a 8.56 pound bass witch and is my PB large mouth

[@Wired2Fish]

Sounds like an excellent camping outing! Congrats on the giant birthday bruiser!

[@StutzOutdoors_Nebraska_Fishing]

Nice video, some good tips

[@Wired2Fish]

Appreciate it, and looking forward to some more shore fishing videos in the near future.

[@kameronkimble2960]

Good tips!!

[@caryrobinson1533]

Very informative but how do you feel about the channel reel outdoorsy?

[@jamesnaruke8647]

Thank you. I took notes.

[@1979coyote]

ware i'm at we have this thing called winter, I'm always waiting for Bass to open, chomping at the bit 2-3 days prior to opener, you can catch and release but can't keep until opener, but i'm in it for fun not a trophy C.P.R.

[@Wired2Fish]

The world needs more anglers like you Mike. Release to fight another day. Our northern MN office is dealing with your pain. Ice until mid-April, then still can't legally chase gamefish (bass, pike, walleye) until May 13th.

[@osvaldoumana4494]

great vide...any tips on best time of day to go fishing for hot summer days? bait....hook size....thanks again for the video!!!!

[@Wired2Fish]

Best times are whenever you can get out! Although, hot days you'll find the fish cooperate a little better early morning and late evening into night. Thanks for commenting!

[@osvaldoumana4494]

@@Wired2Fish wow.....THAT'S a fast response......thanks a lot !!!!

[@tommymorris8918]

Need a southern muddy water video.I've never seen one.

[@Wired2Fish]

We just shot some last week. They will be published soon!

[@timjustus7831]

great video, just what i needed to see this morning, all though here in ohio were gonna have snow all day and 40 mph winds and sunday its gonna be 75 lol. no serious i 99 % of the time bank fish and use that type of bag but i do take 4 or 5 rods with different setups maybe that's a mistake? just being lazy and not wanting to retie all day. we had a cold front and it had pushed all the fish back off and i fished the deepest hole in the small quarry i was fishing for two hours straight just thinking they had to b deep with that cold snap the whole country had a few weeks ago, so thanks for the info next time i wont b fishing the same spot for two hours without a nibble.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for the feedback, and sounds like you have a solid bank fishing program. We're glad the info was helpful.

[@baileycobb4735]

Where did you get that top water frog lure shirt? thats awesome

[@Wired2Fish]

You can order it here: www.spro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=P0062%2DB%2DALL

[@howarda4227]

when it is hot how can I catch deep-water bass from shore? what lure and rig?

[@TitanBeats]

how should I fish when I can only fish in 1-2 spots on the whole pond/lake bacuse of privacy and weeds

[@matthewdean7507]

honestly find another pond.. the #1 thing I see amateur's do is stand in one spot.. If I'm not able to walk around the whole pond then I won't fish it.. you gotta cast and move, constantly covering water and land

[@TitanBeats]

Slight problem every pond where I live is drainage ponds that have no trespassing (not to mention theres only 2 or 3 of them within my city and no car either I've tested my luck a few times but still never caught any fish in about 5 or 6 of them I've tried) only place I've ever caught fish is the lake that only has one spot to cast from hell its now been like 2 years since I've seen a bass I literally live on lake simcoe the worlds best smallmouth fishery but no boat=no point in even trying lake simcoe unless for perch.

[@basscasters2185]

Can u guys make a big swimbait vid in ponds?

[@Wired2Fish]

Bass Casters Yes. Actually have the shoot scheduled for next month already.

[@benzerzanek5837]

Wired2Fish can't wait!!! I'm a huge swimbait fisherman!!!!!

[@frankybaby8997]

I live by lake Erie so having a boat nice ! All the Pearls full if people get crowed it at times

[@athusdelima2439]

How does your bait go so far specially when you cast it at those 45 angles? I have a bait caster reel. What kind of rod and line do I need to for it to go far without me having to use a lot of power to cast it?

[@Wired2Fish]

A lot of practice and the right gear! The gear I used in the video is listed in the description above. I was also using 17-pound Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon line. - Walker

[@kipperwhite2976]

Good intel TY !

[@bluettpaul82]

I enjoyed that video I'm going to subscribe

[@beyondtheview9668]

Gotta hook em before you cook em

[@kabuskagames6145]

the bass usually spawn at lake pockets and there was one behind him then he went there caught a big one

[@seancurtin6572]

Ive watched all the videos and know all the techniques, but I can't find a good place to fish. What should I look for in the body of water im fishing?

[@Wired2Fish]

It's tough to say without know more about the place you're fishing. This time of year the bass are a lot tougher to catch at least in the mid-section to northern part of the US because cold water has them feeding a lot less. So they are not as active and not as willing to eat a lure. As it gets further into spring you will start to piece it together a little easier. But if you can figure out if there are deeper areas, breaklines where it changes from shallow to deep or vice versa, maybe isolated cover in the lake like a laydown tree, brush pile, rocks, etc. Those can all hold fish. Irregular features like a point of land or grass, a high spots or a ditch or little creek running into the lake. You're basically looking a lot of times for changes. But the search is definitely a lot harder when the water is so cold. As it warms up those fish will move shallower and bank fishermen have a lot more opportunities. - Jason

[@seancurtin6572]

Jason, thanks for the reply man. I live in the Potomac River area on the Virginia side. Thanks for the advice, after I read this I immediately thought of a place. Its a laid down tree with part of it submerged and it falls into a bunch of lily pads, I might go try that sometime this week. Thanks alot for your help!

[@pumbanation2434]

okay, ill quit watching fishing videos. bye! hahaha joking. I subscribed xD

[@Wired2Fish]

Haha thanks!

[@rickomatic4914]

2:49 is how I fish. Cast is all in the hips from what KZbin says.

[@lintonknowles7880]

I fish the bank everyday and I catch bass in the middle and close to the bank.

[@leftoverspaghetti4u]

Clothing options such as a light blue or white tshirt and darker pants help break up your profile. Fish might not be able to see you as well.

[@Wired2Fish]

Great point. I agree. - Walker

[@cameronbullock737]

Wired2Fish was he using a bobber stopper? I couldn't tell if he was or not?

[@regularjoe3658]

leftoverspaghetti4u maybe a helmet, face paint, and a bullet proof vest also?

[@regularjoe3658]

leftoverspaghetti4u what are you a navy seal??

[@regularjoe3658]

Its just a fish lmao

[@rorylittleraven185]

Another tip - Check your self for ticks and stickers afterwords.

[@Wired2Fish]

Walker relies on his fishing partner to do a good inspection for him ; ).

[@enotaloka]

What rod & reel combo was that?

[@joestrummer9507]

Bass get spooked by your truck and walking on the bank because they feel vibrations and they make swirls so you have to be stealthy. I find it mildly humorous that so many dudes in these KZbin fishing videos think Bass are that smart or perceptive. They're fish and they have fish brains which is why they're skittish. They do everything based on instinct: flee, swim, eat, spawn, and that's about it. If a fish near the bank gets spooked where do they go? The other side of the pond? No, they swim a few feet or yards away max. and forget about what spooked them 2 seconds later. Fish don't have cognition, reasoning, understanding, etc. which means you can catch them after you spook them just as easily as if you didn't spook them. Make a few casts to the general area. Cast left and right along the bank, everywhere in between (fan cast), walk to another spot, repeat. It ain't rocket science, it's Bass fishing and it certainly is nothing like hunting.

[@milkywhalegalaxy9980]

i need more of this walker txas ranger

[@TheGolem105]

How do you find a break line?

[@Ethanx-bn5wc]

God I love fishing

[@christopherworkman9070]

There are fish right underneath or in front of me when I go to a local lake, but they won't bite. I've tried spinners, flies, swimbaits, & poppers. They'll all gather around my lures, but not bite them. Any tips?

[@solarfishysticks4496]

Throw a nightcrawler and its over

[@evanallen7428]

Almost 100 k subscribers

[@Wired2Fish]

Yes sir. Thank you! ;-)

[@nickiribarren7728]

Evan Allen almost 200k 🔥

[@mitchelllandreth3428]

I wish i could do that... And what i mean is ive said im going to go fishing for 30min or an hour and wind up staying all day or atleast 4 hours

[@donpepeho4534]

Damn maybe i needtobe quite. I catch some ok sized LMB, but i am listening to music and bs'n with my fishing buddy. Guessing that's why most my bites come from 30 plus ft away from me