How to Fish from Shore (Complete Bank Fishing Guide)
Leave a comment after this article and let’s talk more about fishing. I’d love to read your feedback.
To successfully catch fish from shore, use live bait such as worms or minnows, which are effective for a variety of freshwater species. Cast your line near areas with natural structures like logs, rocks, or weed beds, as these spots often shelter fish, and maintain a steady, sensitive feel on your line to detect subtle bites.
Table of Contents
How to Fish from Shore
In order to catch fish from shore, you need to get as close to the water as you can and make 45-degree angled casts in order to locate roaming fish. Bait selection, stealth, and finesse are very important for shoreline fishing.
Fishing from the bank or shore can be a great way to fish. It actually has some advantages over boat fishing that we’ll cover later in this article. Likewise, it also has some glaring weaknesses. I will explain how you can maximize your fishing success even if you don’t have a boat.
Pros & Cons
| Aspect | Details |
| Pros | Accessible without a boat |
| Can explore various spots along the shoreline | |
| Generally less expensive | |
| Offers a relaxing experience | |
| Good for learning and practicing fishing skills | |
| Cons | Limited access to deeper waters and certain species |
| Crowded in popular area | |
| Limited in techniques and areas to fish | |
| Shore obstructions can hinder casting | |
| May encounter more regulations and restrictions |
The major benefit of fishing without a boat is obvious. You don’t need a boat! You can also access water than doesn’t have a boat ramp. You fish small rocky streams. Lastly, you can fish right after work or en-route to a get-together.
If you are limited to shoreline fish because you lack a boat, you cannot access at least 60% of the water. You are limited to as far as you can cast and as much of the lake as you can walk.
Boats give you virtually unlimited access to the entire water body. You can fish shallow or deep. You cannot fish “vertically” baits like plastic worms or jigs from shore.
And of course, you can’t troll without a boat. Not having a boat can be very limiting but it is doable. Read on to learn how to best fish from shore.
Bank Fishing for Beginners
Bank fishing is an excellent way for beginners to start their fishing journey, as it requires minimal equipment and provides easy access to various fishing spots. It’s important to start with basic gear, such as a light to medium rod, suitable bait for the local fish species, and a small tackle box with essential items.
As a beginner, focus on learning about the fish’s habits, the best times for fishing, and practicing casting techniques, all while enjoying the relaxing environment by the water’s edge. Fishing from shore can really help you hone your skills and catch a lot of fish with minimal investment.
Shore/Bank Fishing Bodies of Water
Stream
You can likely cast all the way across these. Most small streams are filled with boulders and rocks. Watch your footing. Focus on short, pinpoint casts. This will help you place your bait appropriately without snagging it in branches behind you.
When possible, fish deeper pools, slow water, and under banks. This is where you’ll find trout congregating.
Small River
These are often too wide to cast across. You can use spinning tackle but I recommend you bring out the fly rod. Cast into slower water and deeper pools. Cast upstream and let the bait be carried to fish by the current.
Big River
Cast as far into the river as you can. Skip the 45-degree angle advice here. Just get your bait as far out as you can. River fish don’t linger in shallow water.
Farm Pond
Use live bait in farm ponds. These ponds are usually stocked with bullheads, panfish, bass, and even trout. These are also too small, in most cases, to waste your time fishing lures. Stick with live bait and a good bobber.
Small Lake
Work with 45-degree angle casts if using lures to determine at what depth/distance from shore fish are. Once you find out, you can target the whole lake this way.
If using live bait, forget casting at 45-degree angles. Just launch your bait as far it will go. Fish will come to you.
Large Lake or Reservoir
Just like small lakes, the same applies to large lakes. 45-degree angles to find fish with lures or long casts to catch them on live bait.
Saltwater (Beach)
Get your baits out as far and deep as you can. This requires a weighted sinker and a strong rod. Most sandy beaches are gently sloping. You’ll need to launch your bait to get it in deep water.
Saltwater (Jetty)
Be very careful fishing on jetties. The rocks and structures can be dangerous. You are also at risk of slipping on mist-covered rocks or getting hit by a strong wave.
Cast your bait between 10-50 feet away from the jetty. Jetties attract fish on their own so casting too far will waste your time. You’ll end up casting beyond the radius where fish are.
Saltwater (Rocks or Cliffside)
Just like jetties, you need to be very careful fishing cliffs and rocks.
I would argue this category is even more dangerous since falls can often be much further and edges could give out under your weight.
Stay at least a foot away from any edge you are standing on. Be very careful casting long distances. Resist the urge to shift weight from foot to foot.
Plant both feet and don’t move them until after the bait hits the water.
Rocks and cliffs attract fish on their own. You not need a far cast to be in the strike zone. Look for pockets of slower or less agitated water.
These are great spots to find fish.
How to Fish Various Fish Species from the Bank
Bass
Target Location: Fish near lily pads, boat docks, or logs. Bass may also cruise open-water or between cover features in search of prey targets of opportunity. Any bass within 30 feet of shore, you can potentially catch.
Time of Day: Mid-to-late afternoon; evening until sunset. Morning will be slower but can be great too.
Season: Late Spring until Late Summer. Bass will be on their beds during the late spring spawn so they will be very shallow. Bass will be more active feeding in summer and may be out near the outer range of your casting ability. Put some muscle into your casts.
Suggested Bait: Live bait like worms, minnows, yellow perch or bluegill (check with your state’s laws about using these as bait), and frogs. Lures are also huge for bass. Thousands and thousands of lures are marketed to bass fishermen. Swimbaits (a bit pricey), crankbaits, spinners, and soft plastics would be my recommendation for summer bank bass fishing.
Bass fishing from shore:
Bass fishing from shore is both accessible and rewarding for anglers of all skill levels. Beginners should focus on using the right lures, such as plastic worms, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits, and cast near structures like rocks, fallen trees, or weed lines where bass are known to hide. It’s also crucial to pay attention to the time of day and weather conditions, as bass tend to be more active during early morning or late evening and in overcast weather, making these ideal times for shore fishing.
Table: Bass fishing from Shore
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Time to Fish | Early morning or late evening, and during overcast conditions |
| Recommended Lures | Plastic worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures |
| Ideal Casting Spots | Near structures like rocks, fallen trees, weed lines, or docks |
| Important Techniques | Slow retrieval, varying retrieval speeds, and frequent lure changes |
| Weather Considerations | Bass are more active in overcast or slightly windy conditions |
Crappie
Target Location: Focus your efforts in medium-depth water (8-20 feet deep) along the shoreline. Crappie prefer cooler water pockets and this medium-depth affords them cooler water with plenty of nutrients to drawn in aquatic insects and baitfish. Crappie also stack around cover like dock pilings and timber. If you find cover near drop-offs, that’s where you should fish.
Time of Day: Late Morning or late afternoon until sunset. Crappie will bite after dark but the bite will slow down considerably.
Season: Summer & early fall
Suggested Bait: Live bait (minnows, worms, and crayfish). Artificial baits and lures work well for crappie more than bluegill. Soft plastic jigs are your best bet in my opinion.
To learn what bait and gear can help you catch more crappie, click here.
Yellow Perch
Target Location: Shallow to medium-depth water (3-10 feet) is preferred by most yellow perch during the summer. You may see truly large yellow perch in even deeper water. Adult perch swim around solo or in small groups. Younger perch are usually in bigger schools. Perch love dock pilings and timber.
Time of Day: Midday-Late Afternoon
Season: Year-Round; Ice fishing for yellow perch can be very action-packed.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (small minnows, worms, mealworms, wax worms, small crayfish) are great starting choices. Small lures like jigs and spinners can be great too. PowerBait usually work really well for yellow perch. Jigs and small spoons dressed with a wax worm or mealworm are ideal for ice fishing.
Click here to see my complete yellow perch gear list.
Bluegill
Target Location: Shallow-deep water. You’ll visually see bluegills in water as shallow as 2 feet and you’ll also catch them deeper than 20 feet. On really hot, sunny days, bluegills will be down way deep or hugged tight to prominent cover like docks and lily pads. You can a lot of fish from shore since bluegills are abundant, voracious eaters, and they won’t be far from shore.
Time of Day: Afternoon until sunset; late morning can be decent
Season: Year-round; late spring is spawning season so you’ll see bluegills aggressively defending beds (nests) in shallow water. Ice fishing can be good. Summer bluegills live in medium-to-deeper water.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (worms, grasshoppers, mealworms, wax worms, small crayfish, small minnows) are best. PowerBait works really well too. Some small lures can be effective.
To learn which bait and gear you need for bluegill fishing, click here.
Walleye
Target Location: Medium-to-deep water. Walleye don’t come into shallow water often. Your best bet is to fish in water 15+ feet deep. If you know of underwater boulders or structure, you could see walleye there. Walleye is the toughest fish on this list to fish from the bank since they are so reliant on deeper water.
Time of Day: Early morning or late evening/nighttime. Night fishing is especially hot for walleyes.
Season: Year-round. Fall seems to be the season where the biggest walleyes are caught. Some of those monsters can be caught from the bank.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (minnows, shiners, yellow perch (if legal), bluegill (if legal), suckers, and nightcrawlers). A single nightcrawler can be a dynamite bait for large walleye. Lures like spoons, plugs, swimbaits, and spinners can be worthwhile baits. The major issue with lures for walleye is they are best used trolling with a boat. Fishing from the bank, trolling is not an option. Stick with live bait from shore.
Catfish
Target Location: Medium depth water. Fish baits in water 8-15 feet deep. Catfish aren’t dependent on cover as they’ll often be found on the bottom patrolling muddy flats or gravel bottoms. If you are fishing a reservoir or river, locate the channel on the bottom. This is where channel catfish will be congregate.
Time of Day: All day but late afternoon and nighttime are best.
Season: Summer and early fall; believe it or not, catfish are caught through the ice on occasion but you can’t ice fish from the bank.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (worms, minnows, bluegills (if legal), suckers) are really good. Perhaps the best baits though are cut or smelly baits like chicken live, cut pieces of bluegills, and specially formulated catfish baits that are permeated to smell bad but really draw in the catfish. Lures are borderline useless for catfish in my opinion.
Bullheads
Target Location: Shallow to medium depth water. Usually in water less than 15 feet. Bullheads are more likely to hunt near the surface than catfish too. Bullheads will congregate around cover since this a great hunting spot for food. They will also patrol flats and gravel beds looking for aquatic invertebrates.
Time of Day: Nighttime is the best. At night, bullheads are very active feeding. You can also do really well in the afternoon and near sunset.
Season: Summer and early fall. I personally have caught bullheads on tip-ups ice fishing but, again, you can’t ice fish from the bank so that doesn’t pertain to this article. Stick to warm summer nights for your best bite.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (mostly worms and minnows). The biggest bullheads I’ve ever caught were on minnows. Dead baits, cut baits, and stink baits can work well too. Hot dogs are a really good bait for yellow and brown bullheads. I’d go with worms, minnows, or hot dog chunks honestly.
Carp
Target Location: Shallow water. Carp hang out almost entirely in shallower water and rummage their heads in the mud in search of food. You can often spot carp as the produce large mud clouds with their face in the mud and their tail fin barely sticking out the water.
Time of Day: Morning-early evening. Occasionally nighttime carp fishing can be quite good too.
Season: Summer and fall are the best from everything I’ve read.
Suggested Bait: Dough baits, corn, cheese, bread, worms, and cut bait work well. Dough baits are the most proven baits in Europe and is growing in popularity in the US.
For my complete carp fishing gear list, click here.
Chain Pickerel
Target Location: Shallow-to-medium water especially near cover. Pickerel love weeds – probably more than any other game fish. Lily pads and weeds will be the key locations. They’ll also hunt around wood too. Chain pickerel are ambush predators and love eating frogs. Wherever you’ll find frogs, you’ll likely find chain pickerel.
Time of Day: Late afternoon and evening I’ve found the best. Some anglers do really well at night too.
Season: All year. Ice fishing is great for pickerel but not as a shore fisherman. Summer and early fall I think are the best seasons to catch pickerel from shore.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (minnows, yellow perch (if legal), bluegills (if legal), suckers) work really well. Frogs are the best bait you can use for chain pickerel. I think most states allow frogs as live bait but check with your state fishing laws to confirm. Lures work great too and frog mimic lures are the best again. Perch and minnow presentations work well from shore.
Trout
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Time of Day | Early morning or late evening, avoiding bright midday sun |
| Recommended Bait | Worms, small minnows, artificial flies, or spinners |
| Ideal Tackle | Light to medium rod with 4-6 pound test line |
| Key Locations | Near natural structures like rocks, fallen trees, or stream inlets |
| Fishing Technique | Cast near structures, allow bait to drift naturally, frequent re-casting may be needed |
Target Location: You can catch trout in reservoirs and lakes but I think you’re best off fishing trout from the bank I streams and rivers. Look for slow water first. I mean pockets of water (pools) where the deeper water slows down the current. This is where trout will hold. Under banks can be great for brook trout too.
Time of Day: Early morning or late afternoon seem like prime times.
Season: All year long but to be mid-to-late Spring is trout season.
Suggested Bait: Live bait (minnows, worms, mealworms, grasshoppers) work well. Some small lures are good too. The best way to fish for trout from the bank is likely to fly fish. Trout will consume dry flies, wet flies, and nymphs. If you don’t want to fish with worms, pick up a fly rod. It will be the most fun. My only caution regarding fly fishing from shore is if there are a lot of trees on the bank. Fly fishing will result in a lot of snagged tree limbs if you aren’t very careful. In that event, spinning tackle with live bait is your better option.
For a complete breakdown of catching trout from shore, please check out this incredibly useful guide I wrote.
Bank Fishing Tips
- Wind Direction Awareness: Fish often swim with the wind, so cast into the wind for better chances of catching them.
- Natural Camouflage: Wear colors that blend with the surroundings to avoid spooking the fish.
- Use Polarized Sunglasses: These glasses reduce glare on the water, making it easier to spot fish and underwater structures.
- Scout the Area at Low Water: Visit the spot when the water level is low to identify structures that fish might frequent when the water rises.
- Study Water Currents: In rivers and streams, fish often hold in areas where the current is slower, like behind large rocks.
- Silent Approach: Walk softly and avoid heavy movements on the bank to prevent vibrations that can scare fish away.
- Fish During Feeding Times: Dawn and dusk are prime feeding times for most fish species.
- Chumming (Where Legal): Tossing small amounts of bait into the water can attract fish to your area. Check local regulations first.
- Vary Your Casting Angles: Don’t just cast straight out; try different angles to cover more area.
- Watch for Birds: Birds diving into the water can indicate where schools of fish are feeding.
- Keep Your Gear Organized: Efficient tackle management saves time and reduces noise that can disturb fish.
- Use the Right Size Hook: Match the hook size to the bait and target species for better hook-ups.
- Learn Local Fish Species: Understanding the behavior of local species can drastically improve your success rate.
- Practice Different Retrieval Techniques: Vary your retrieval speed and pattern to find what works best in your fishing spot.
- Monitor Weather Patterns: Fish behavior can change with weather changes; for example, they often feed more aggressively before a storm.
Concluding Thoughts
There you have it folks. Everything I know and stuff I’ve learned researching this topic. I didn’t know about the 45-degree angle trick. That’s good stuff.
Don’t let a lack of boat ever be an excuse to skip fishing. You can still catch a lot of fish from the comfort of shore. Use the tips and tactics in this article next time you are heading to the lake or stream.
Frequently Asked Questions
River fishing from shore
River fishing tips from shore can help anglers catch more fish. One important tip is to cast upstream and allow the bait or lure to drift naturally with the current. Additionally, using live bait such as worms or minnows can be highly effective. It’s also essential to choose the right fishing spot and be patient while waiting for the fish to bite.
