Bank fishing
Also called shore fishing
Fishing on foot from the shore rather than from a boat. It rewards walking and accuracy over gear.
Most fishing in the world is done this way, and nearly all pond fishing. You are limited to what you can reach, which sounds like a disadvantage and mostly is not, because the shallow margins hold a large share of the fish for most of the year.
What changes is the priorities. Rod length matters more, because casting distance is the resource you are short of. Stealth matters more, because you are standing on the fish's ceiling rather than floating over deep water. And mobility matters most of all: the angler who walks the whole bank and makes ten casts per spot outfishes the one who sits in a chair.
Carry less. A sling bag, one or two trays and a rod is a better setup than a full pack you are unwilling to move with.
Fish the water at your feet before you cast to the middle. Most people spook the closest fish by walking straight to the edge.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use bank fishing and show it on real gear.
Bank fishing is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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