As the seasons shift, beckoning the early whispers of spring, there’s a nostalgic pull towards the simple joys of fishing from the bank. It’s a timeless venture, one that many of us can trace back to childhood days spent with family, casting lines and sharing stories. For those new to the sport or returning to it, bank fishing offers a straightforward, rewarding experience. Today, I’m taking you back to a spot that holds countless memories for me – a quiet corner of Logan Martin Lake, Alabama, where the essence of bank fishing comes alive.

The lure of simplicity

Bank fishing is an art form defined by its simplicity and the intimate connection it fosters with nature. It’s here, on the banks of local lakes, where beginners and seasoned anglers alike can pursue a variety of species—bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, to name a few. The beauty of this approach lies in its accessibility; all you need is a bit of knowledge, the right gear, and a willingness to learn.

Lessons from the bank

My early fishing adventures were guided by my father, a seasoned angler who introduced me to the nuances of targeting different species. These expeditions were not just about the thrill of the catch but also about understanding the behavior and habitats of our quarry. Focusing on bass fishing, a passion shared by many, offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of angling knowledge that bank fishing can provide.

A strategy for success

On this particular venture to Logan Martin Lake, the stage is set for pre-spawning bass, with conditions mirroring those of the ideal early spring or late winter days. The key to success lies in adapting your strategy to the seasonal patterns and the specific features of your chosen location. For me, two baits have always stood out: a 1.0 Strike King crankbait and a shaky head jig.

• The crankbait: Perfect for mimicking the small fish that bass prey upon, especially in areas where they’re feeding on baitfish or crawfish. Fishing around rocks and submerged wood can prove particularly fruitful as these structures offer ideal hiding spots for pre-spawning bass.

• The shaky head jig: A versatile option, the green pumpkin worm rigged on a 1/4-ounce jig head is a reliable choice for enticing bass. It’s a technique that has served me well over the years, offering a simple yet effective way to engage with the sport.

Embracing the moment

As the day unfolds, the anticipation of the catch merges with the serene beauty of the lake. The strategy of targeting areas where the current brings in warmer water and baitfish pays off, exemplifying the dynamic nature of fishing and the importance of understanding local conditions. The reward? A beautiful spotted bass—a testament to the effectiveness of switching tactics and the joy of adapting to the rhythms of the water.

A call to the outdoors

This experience, shared among the backdrop of Logan Martin Lake, serves as a reminder of the joys that await outside. Whether you’re revisiting familiar waters or exploring new ones, the essence of bank fishing remains the same – a celebration of simplicity, patience, and the enduring bond between anglers and the natural world. So, as the last vestiges of winter give way to the promise of spring, I encourage you to go outside, cast your line, and rediscover the joys of bank fishing. Let’s embrace the adventure, one cast at a time.

Location Coordinates: 33.52249° N, 86.29709° W

Here is a list of things you might consider packing when heading out on foot to catch a few bass.

Accessories

Tools: Pliers with side cutters capable of snipping all line types and removing hooks should be standard. Split-ring pliers help you change those hard bait hooks, but a little forethought will get you set up well before your outing.

Clip style pocket knives are handy, but I like a multitool that I wear on the backside of my belt. Here, it’s out of the way, but accessible. Most options include a blade, small scissors, pliers, hook sharpening file and a screwdriver for any reel maintenance.

Illumination: If I’m night fishing or getting an early start, I like the NEBO Mycro rechargeable headlamp for its ultra lightweight design that doesn’t feel like I have a squirrel on my head. With spot, flood and UV modes, the light unit easily detaches from the strap for a hat clip option.

For early mornings, or after-hours missions, I’ll also carry a compact, handheld flashlight. My EDC is an O-Light i3T EOS, a compact 180-lumen model that runs on a AAA battery. With low and high settings operated by a tail switch, this little dynamo has a two-way pocket/hat brim clip.

Safe and dry: A Ziploc bag in your pocket or your tackle bag/backpack eliminates moisture concerns for cellphone, wallet, note pads, etc. Adding a paper towel ensures moisture absorption.

Keep clean: If you’re on ‘em, you’ll appreciate hand towels, but don’t grab the good ones. (I’ve been reprimanded for this.) Use retired bathroom or kitchen towels, or buy the bundled cleanup rags sold at home improvement stores.

Several manufacturers such as Berkley and Rapala sell branded fishing towels with a simple belt clip. Gamakatsu offers a packable microfiber towel that packs into a small, lightweight bag with a built-in clip for attaching to belt loops or backpack connections.

Also, Elite pro Gerald Swindle is a vocal proponent of Dude Wipes — and not only because they sponsor him. If you’re unfamiliar with the product, visit dudewipes.com. I’m not explaining this one.

Power up: Leave home with a fully charged cellphone and you’ll usually be okay, but a lightweight power bank may come in handy. In the worst case scenario, maintaining power to cellphones and rechargeable lights is survival 101. But while we hope such peril never befalls you, remember one key point: When the cellphone dies, how are you gonna shoot that personal best bank fishing toad?

Lugging a shoulder-strapped tackle bag and a handful of rods isn’t necessarily wrong, but such burdens, along with the diminished mobility, can defeat the relaxed and carefree pace central to the shore fishing premise.

Starting with rod selection, we’ll keep this simple and advise lengths and actions relevant to your planned techniques and the realistic size you may encounter. For an all-around multipurpose outfit, something in the 6-foot, 10-inch to 7-foot medium to medium-heavy realm will handle a wide range of options.

Adventurous types given to traipsing through wooded and weedy areas to reach hidden gems will find shorter rods minimize entanglements and potential tip damage. Also, consider a telescoping or multipiece travel rod, at least for your backup.

Bait selection

No list will please everyone, so focus on your chosen fishery’s likely opportunities and stock your box accordingly. Consider how seasonality will influence fish positioning, look at water level and how it affects what you can reach, and check the weather to see how sky conditions and wind will factor into fish positioning/activity level and your casting ability. (Wind in your face will limit certain techniques.)

Everyone has their favorites, but a handful of dependable options are worth considering.

Texas rig: A creature bait, craw or worm with a 1/8- to 3/16-ounce weight is a good bet for flipping into vegetation, hopping over logs and laydown trunks or pitching to partially submerged stumps and rocks.

If you can reach dense vegetation with decent depth below, you might upsize your weight and punch the thick stuff.

Topwaters: Frogs for vegetation, walking or popping baits for open water; these are the memory makers. Find a mayfly hatch and it’s game on.

Swimmers and darters: Twitching a fluke style bait is a deadly shoreline tactic, particularly if you spot schooling activity or a shad spawn. For pure simplicity, rig a hollow-belly swimbait or a swimming worm on a wide-gap hook and let that built-in motion do all the work.

For the finesse look, rig a 3-inch swimbait on a ball head. When smallmouth swim within reach, this is your deal.

Wacky rig: Cast or skipped, the tantalizing motion works nearly year-round as a primary bait or a follow-up for missed topwater bites.

Crankbait: A shallow diver ticking over riprap, a squarebill bumping along any reachable wood or a lipless bait traversing open water are great options.

Float-n-fly: Do not overlook this old-school favorite, especially in river, creek or stream scenarios. Super simple and easy for beginners to quickly master, this rig comprises a small hair jig (fly) below a float. This is a good bet for kids, whose generally short attention spans can be easily focused on a surface indicator. If the float disappears — it’s game on.

Gear containers

Simple is best, and I’ve literally gotten by with soft plastics, hooks and weights tucked into a Ziplock bag. Treble hooks complicate this option, so for more advanced tackle selections, small as they may be, use a standard tackle tray. If you opt for chest waders, simply tuck your tray inside the top edge.

PLANO EDGE trays facilitate land-based missions with a one-handed cam latch design that allows you to easily open and close while holding a rod. Shorelines rarely offer convenient work stations, so functionally efficient items facilitate the process.

While lightweight tackle bags slung across the shoulders travel well, I tend to favor a low-profile backpack with space for a tackle tray, a handful of soft plastic packages (kept orderly in a large Ziplock) and a packable rain jacket because — ya know.

AFTCO’s Urban Angler Backpack fits the bill and includes a hydration pack that comes in handy for a quick sip on the go. Waterproof packs like YETI’s Panga keep your gear dry, but in a pinch, packing a heavy-duty lawn/leaf bag folded in your tackle bag or backpack provides instant rain protection.

Ideal is a backpack with a built-in rod holder. Lacking dedicated rod space, you can retrofit a backpack’s water bottle pocket with a 6- to 8-inch piece of PVC. To ensure a snug fit, trim a pool noodle’s interior and wrap it around the PVC. Duct taping a folded hand towel around the PVC also works.

I’ve been that guy, the one running around in a brand new truck and boat, with every bell and whistle, barely hanging on financially. The pressure cooker of having to pay for it all and keep up with the Joneses took the joy right out of fishing for me over time.

By the Grace of God I woke up a few years ago and hopped off the hamster wheel. Sold the boat and truck and gradually paid off all the consumer debt I had racked up over the course of 10 or 15 years of poor financial decisions.

I still plan to have nice things, just to pay cash for them in due time. I haven’t quite saved up enough to buy another truck yet, and the old ’99 Buick Century doesn’t have much towing capacity, though I do plan to purchase a kayak to strap to the top of it in the near future.

For the time being though, I find myself in need of somewhere to fish from the bank quite often. Here are some tips on how to find a honey hole, in case you’re in search of one too.

Look for a bridge

Here in Alabama, one of the best ways to find a new fishing spot is to look for a bridge crossing over a creek. We’re fortunate here to have a lot of water around us, including several large lakes and hundreds of tributaries both big and small that feed into them.

Many of these creeks have bridges that cross over them, and the public is allowed to park on the state-owned land around the bridges to fish beneath them. Even though there’s often some good fishing right there within casting distance of the bridge, there’s usually even more water accessible by wading up or down the creek a little ways, even more still if you have access to a kayak, Jon boat or other small vessel.

Just be sure to be to take necessary safety precautions as the rocks in these creeks are extremely slippery and the current is often swift. And do a little research before venturing far from the bridge, as rights to the water ways and the lands alongside them vary from state to state and even county to county sometimes.

Networking

If you are a member of any sort of group in your area, chances are someone in that community has access to somewhere to fish. I’m not just talking about being a member of a fishing club, I’m talking any grouping of people. For instance, I have had several people from my church find out what I do for a living and offer for me to come and fish ponds that they either own or have access to in their neighborhoods.

Be wary here of the Home Owners Associations though. There’s typically someone involved in the governing of a neighborhood that lives to issue fines for untrimmed hedges. This is the kind of person that loves to run off a bank fisherman who’s just looking for a bite. But, if fishing is allowed in the lake or pond, guests of the home owners should be good to fish there as well.

If you really get desperate, you can pull up Google or Apple maps and start driving around, looking for little blue blobs on the map that indicates ponds in real life. I have actually found a pond before this way in a trailer park that didn’t have “no fishing” or “resident only” signs posted.

I found a whole set of ponds the other day, with one being a really big one, that were in the middle of a giant trailer park. There was a “resident only” sign posted at this one, so I didn’t fish it and instead phoned a friend from church who put me on another pond.

But I did hatch a plan to go to the management office on that property soon to pitch the idea to them to let me go fishing. In exchange, I’d take pics of whatever I caught to give to them to use for their marketing, to try to lure other outdoorsmen to move into the community. Who knows, worth a shot.

Public lands and pay lakes

If you do a little research online, you’ll find that there are usually fisheries that are open to the public. Most lakes and rivers with public ramps allow fishing at the ramps. But there are also organizations in some states that allow anglers to fish on land they manage. Forever Wild is a land trust here in Alabama that allows the public to fish on several of its tracts of land.

You can sometimes find a decent pay lake in your area as well. These are typically fairly cheap and vary widely, from catfish ponds where you’re guaranteed to catch something to city owned lakes that simply require the purchase of a permit to fish on them.

If you get really desperate, you can actually use public records and websites to find ponds on private properties and then find contact info for the property owners. Give them a call, explain to them what you’re trying to do and offer to catch them a mess of fish from their own pond for them to eat, if they’d just allow you to come out and fish it.

I’ve never tried this one personally, but only because I haven’t gotten that desperate yet. As Albert Einstein put it, “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” So we’re just kicking around ideas here. You may have some others of your own. Feel free to share them with me on social media and, who knows, if we get enough of them we may put together a part two for this one.

It was stinking hot the other day while I was wading a stream west of Indianapolis. As I took a shade break beneath a bridge, a truck pulling a bass boat clattered overhead, and I wondered if that fisherman realized he’d just driven over some prime smallmouth water. Then I stepped back into the sunlight and continued wading downstream. I’d recently caught a 22-inch smallie weighing nearly 5 pounds from that little creek, and I was intent on hooking into an even bigger fish.

I’ve caught wall-hanger smallmouth from Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon River. But to me, nothing tops wading for stream smallies. It’s a total escape from work pressure (I’m a real estate broker) and an incredible way to connect with nature — plus, it’s convenient (I can go from a business meeting to a nearby creek in minutes), and compared to “normal” bass fishing, it’s cheap (no boat, no gas-sucking tow vehicle and only minimal gear required). Most of all, it’s the challenge of stalking and battling big smallmouth on the fish’s level — both me and my quarry in the same water — that drives me to keep wading! 

Many bass anglers have never caught an 18-inch smallmouth, but fish this size and bigger are available in plenty of creeks nationwide. My longest stream smallie spanned 23 inches. On one recent wade, my five best fish totaled 81 inches. Even though a creek may look too narrow or too shallow, I’ve found quality smallmouth are usually there. It just takes determination, the right gear and some basic know-how to catch them.

Stream smallmouth targets

Like all bass everywhere, stream smallmouth hold around submerged objects and will gravitate to something different in their surroundings, especially a sudden depth change. Here’s a breakdown of my favorite creek casting targets.

• Isolated rock and wood cover slows or diverts current and provides perfect holding/ambush spots for stream smallies. Midstream logs are especially productive and often have a washout (hole) under them where smallmouth can hide. 
• Deep holes with a hard bottom (not sand or muck) and scattered, isolated cover are reliable fish holders, especially in fall and winter. Of course, “deep” is a relative term; some streams I wade have 3-foot holes; others have 10-footers. 
• Laydowns (fallen trees) extending over the water provide shade and cover. Smallies will suspend around the ends of submerged branches where they can dart out into the current to grab a meal.
• Bottom depressions of as little as 1 or 2 feet can hold big fish, even when there’s no cover present. 
• Points and flats with mixed gravel, chunk rock and scattered wood are money; smallies spawn on them in spring.
• Undercut banks with exposed tree roots have the ideal combination of depth, shade and gnarly cover to hold big smallmouth.
• Bridge pilings provide current deflection and shade; these usually have a washout as well. 
• Water willow and other semi-aquatic plants can hold quality smallmouth, which typically prowl the edges and pockets within the cover versus the thick stuff.
• Current seams, eddies and switchbacks concentrate forage species and thus attract bronzebacks. “Reading current” is a skill that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting.

Dress for success

You’ve got to dress right to wade, regardless of the season. I fish streams from ice-out to ice-back-in. I’ve caught quality smallmouth in 37-degree water in January and when the air temp topped 100 in August. Trust me, if you’re too cold, too hot, too sweaty or if your feet or knees hurt, you can’t focus on fishing.

Unlike Bassmaster Elite Series pros, I don’t have sponsors supplying me with product. I buy my own fishing stuff, put it through the wringer and stay with what works. I’ve stomped around streams for four decades, and the best waders I’ve found are Simms G4Zs. They’re expensive (around $1,000) but worth it if you’re serious about creek fishing. Their big zipper makes them easy to get on and off quickly, and the fabric is breathable Gore-Tex, a godsend on strenuous wades. In cold water, I’ll wear insulated underwear and fleece wading pants under my waders. These layers keep me warm and negate the need for heavier and even costlier insulated waders.

Since your feet do most of the work when wading, you need the right boots. Mine are Simms Flyweights, which are super-light and durable. I also like Korkers DarkHorse boots, which have interchangeable soles — nice if you wade several creeks with different bottom conditions.

I’ll wear waders until the water temp climbs to around 65 degrees, then I’ll wet-wade with lightweight, quick-drying “guide pants” (not jeans — they soak up water like a sponge), a breathable fishing shirt with extra pockets and wading boots. Wading forces you to edit your equipment down to the necessities. Some creek anglers wear a backpack; I find these too bulky and constrictive, and I don’t need all that storage space because I travel light. Both my waders and my lightweight Simms wading vest have zippered pockets, which organize and secure my necessities: basic lures, pliers, clippers, rain jacket and cellphone (which I use only for photography). Of course, polarized sunglasses are mandatory, especially in clear streams where you’re often sight fishing for holding or cruising fish. My waders, fishing hat, shirt and vest are all a drab khaki color to avoid spooking these wary fish. 

Putting in and taking off

Most bridges offer decent stream access, but understand that any stretch of water close to the most convenient access spots invariably receives the most fishing pressure. For this reason, I use Google Maps to scope out creeks and locate less obvious places to enter the water. (Tip: Deep water shows up darker in satellite photos.) I’m also willing to approach property owners and ask permission to cross their land to gain stream access, stressing that I’m a catch-and-release angler. I’ve rarely been turned down by politely requesting access. 

Once you’re in the water, try to maintain a low profile and be as stealthy as possible. I can’t stress enough how wary stream smallmouth are. They’re highly susceptible to overhead predation by ospreys, herons and other birds of prey and are very aware of something moving above them (including you). Whenever you cast a shadow, raise your rod high or even pull a bait with a reflective finish out of your tacklebox so it glints in the sun, you risk spooking a fish. Once you understand that these fish are incredibly spooky, finding ways to keep a low profile becomes part of the fun and challenge of catching them. For example, when wading, I don’t shuffle my feet to avoid kicking up muck and debris, and I move slowly and deliberately across loose rocks to make a quiet approach. Then, when I’m within casting range of a target, I stand still, trying to blend into the background, and make long sidearm or loop casts. (The long, relatively stiff rods I use facilitate surer hook sets when I’ve got a lot of line between me and the fish.) When you’re in the fish zone, don’t move around too much. Try to be part of the landscape instead of an intrusive predator. I’ve had big smallmouth swim up to within a foot of me after I’ve stood stock-still for several minutes.

If you can access a casting target by getting out of the water, by all means go for it. Getting on the bank will reduce your chance of being spotted by the fish and will give you additional angles from which to cast. Just avoid stepping on snakes in warm weather!

Tackle and lures

I carry one spinning outfit when wading. My two favorite rods are a 7 1/2-foot St. Croix Legend Elite ES76MF and a 7-3 G.Loomis NRX+ 872; both are medium action with a fast tip. I pair these with either a Quantum Smoke S3 30 or a Lew’s HyperMag 300 reel. These are spooled with either 10-pound fluorocarbon or 8-pound mono. These combos work for every stream fishing scenario I’ve encountered.

Presentation tips

Many creek fishermen make a big effort to position themselves so they can cast upstream and retrieve their lure downstream with the current flow, believing this to be the direction in which stream forage invariably moves. This “rule” ignores the fact that stream smallmouth, like all bass everywhere, are opportunistic predators that will grab a meal when and where it becomes available and can be provoked into striking even when they’re not particularly hungry. Therefore I’ll make multiple presentations to a likely target from many different angles — downstream, upstream, crosscurrent — hammering away until I trigger a reaction strike from a fish. I once made 29 casts to a submerged rock where my gut told me a big smallmouth should be lurking, hitting it from every conceivable angle without success. On my 30th cast, I caught a 21-incher. Patience pays off.

I’ll spend considerable time probing a deep hole from every possible angle, keying especially hard on isolated cover. If the surface temp is around 55 degrees, I’ll start by twitching a Fluke or a jerkbait; if it’s 60 or above, I’ll begin with a surface bait. Then I’ll make a second pass with the Fluke or jerk. Finally, I’ll slow way down and bump bottom with a jig or Ned bait.

Even when I’m crossing a skinny shoal lacking in noticeable cover and thinking about how I’ll fish the hole or undercut bank that I’m heading for, I keep on casting. There might be a well-camouflaged lunker sitting in a subtle midstream bottom depression, or a big cruiser heading back to a current break after chasing a minnow into open water. In a stream environment, you really never know, so never stop fishing!

Lures to throw for stream smallies

Finesse jigs — I use 1/8- through 1/4-ounce jigs paired with craw trailers in realistic crawfish colors to probe deep holes and isolated midstream cover. 

Ned baits — These tiny artificials mimic worms, leeches and aquatic bugs. They’re my go-to baits for coaxing tough bites in deep holes. I fish them on homemade 1/16- through 1/4-ounce mushroom heads with stout No. 2 hooks.

Flukes — They resemble creek minnows and draw strikes when twitched across deep holes and around shoreline cover once the water temp reaches 55 degrees in spring.

Jerkbaits — I’ll work a 4-inch suspending jerkbait parallel to undercut banks and over submerged cover in deep holes.

Topwaters — Stream smallies will eat just about any critter swimming on the surface — I’ve seen ’em grab chipmunks, snakes, even small birds. This makes a buzzbait or a plopper-style surface plug an exciting option from spring through fall.

Six things you didn’t you know you needed when wading streams

Wading for stream smallmouth doesn’t require a lot of gear, but having the right stuff will allow you to fish these small waters more successfully. Here are some easily overlooked items that veteran Indiana creek angler George Verrusio wouldn’t wade without.

Boot insoles — “Wading is tough on your feet, knees, back and shoulders. I wear custom Upstep orthotic insoles (upstep.com) in my wading boots. These reduce aches and pains by promoting better posture and provide great cushioning in rocky streams.” 

Wool socks and liners — “I haven’t found anything that will keep my feet really toasty in frigid water, but thick, midcalf Alpacas of Montana socks (alpacasofmontana.com) and Smartwool sock liners (smartwool.com) sure help.” 

Wading staff — “A lightweight, folding wading staff ($50 to $150) improves your balance and helps you move more confidently in current, a real benefit when covering long, rocky stretches and when exploring places you haven’t waded before.”

Spare reel spool — “Load this with line that’s one step lighter or heavier than the line on your reel so you can adjust to varying water clarity conditions and lure weights.”

Landing net — “The reason we fish for smallmouth is [because] they’re badass. But trying to lip a hot smallie with a jerkbait in its mouth is asking for a hook in your finger. My handmade Wolf Moon C&R landing net (wolfmoonnetsusa.com) subdues feisty fish quickly and has a nice vintage look.”

Insect repellent — “Trout fishermen talk about insect hatches like they’re a good thing, but black flies, mosquitos and no-see-ems? They’ll eat you alive when wading. Repellent in moist towelette form is lighter and more compact than bulky spray cans.”

Originally appeared in Bassmaster Magazine 2023.

Well now, hold on now. I know it’s a grind, but fishing is almost always worth it. You might just have to think a little outside the box. Better yet, outside the boat. Grabbing a rod, a buddy and a handful of tackle and bailing off in a creek is a great way to keep cool and catch lots of fish. Let’s look at a few of the ins and outs of this style of fishing now, and why you may want to give it a try.

The pros

One of the things I like most about wading creeks in the summer is that it’s refreshing, in multiple ways. The trees alongside these small creeks and rivers cast shade over the fishery throughout much of the day. And the water you’re wading through is often hovering around a brisk 70 degrees. But, as refreshing as these cooler conditions are on the body, the soul is often soothed even more so by this easy and old school way of fishing.

Little creeks, streams and rivers litter the landscape of much of North America, but it seems fewer and fewer anglers bother fishing them these days. This is the style of fishing my dad and all his brothers and cousins grew up on, one of very few options they had back then. Now, with endless tournaments and ever advancing equipment options, the focus has shifted to bigger lakes and rivers. This means the bass in these smaller tributaries rarely see an artificial lure, and they attack with fervor anything in their vicinity.

The cons

There are a few negatives to consider and navigate if you’re wanting to wade a creek. To start with, you’ll need to check the applicable laws in your area to see if the waterway is considered public property and fishing is allowed. Landowners will often own the shorelines, but many of the waterways themselves are public, so staying in the water makes it a legal endeavor. You just need to check and make absolutely sure.

Limited tackle, the chance of stumbling upon a snake and the remoteness of these fisheries present a few challenges as well. But planning well, keeping your eyes peeled and dressing accordingly will help. Long and thin fishing pants do a good job of protecting against briars, but also drying quickly when you leave the water. And it’s a good idea to wear socks, even with sandals or water shoes, so that sand doesn’t rub your feet raw. Trust me on this one.

What to take

A spinning rod is typically sufficient when wading a creek. Most anglers can cast and skip well with spinning gear, and a lighter action combo like this creates more exciting exchanges with the bass and other panfish that are often a little on the smaller side. For this reason too, it’s a good idea to go with smaller baits, like Rooster Tails, Beetle Spins and undersized jerkbaits, crankbaits and jigs.

You’ll want to keep your phone on you in case of emergency, and you’ll definitely want to have a way to keep it dry. Even with phones that are waterproof, slipping your cell in a ziplock is a great way to keep water and sand from creeping into its crevices. And be sure to stay hydrated, though the shade and the moving water may keep you cool, you’ll still exert a lot of energy trudging through the sand and against the current, and so it’s easy to dehydrate.

Having some sort of wearable, small tackle bag is a great method for transporting your tackle, keeping your phone above water and holstering your tools, a spare reel or even a pistol, if you’re able to legally own and carry one. This last bit of equipment can come in handy in a pinch, if it comes down to you or a cotton mouth exiting the creek alive.

In conclusion

I’ve waded creeks off and own since I was just a boy, unable to venture more than 3 feet deep without being in over my head. Though there are some things to be cautious of, I’ve rarely felt uneasy fishing this way. Just make sure you do your research and take the right amount of gear, not too little and not too much. And, the best way to really enjoy this style of fishing while also feeling as comfortable and confident as possible, is to go with a buddy.

If you’re suffering from summer fishing fatigue, wading a creek is an easy prescription for your ailment. Just call up one of your close friends, grab your gear and bail off in a creek near you. You’ll be glad you did.

Cameron Morey rattled open the rusty hinges of his stepfather’s tacklebox, sifting through decades’ worth of weathered tackle in search of the perfect bait. He shuffled through a pegboard of soft plastics and forgotten spinnerbait blades before landing on the one — a hot pink Strike King Bill Dance frog.

Then, Morey walked across the pecan-shaded lawn of his childhood home and grabbed a boat. Literally. At 15 years old, Morey could not drive and, besides, he didn’t own a trailer for the silver 12-foot Alumacraft anyway. Instead, he simply dragged its riveted bottom along a quarter-mile of asphalt before finally arriving on the banks of a neighborhood pond. I should know because I was there. While big brother dragged a boat down the street, little brother rode around the driveway on a tricycle.

Raised in a fishing family, my time on the end of the line would soon come.

After several months of repeated abuse and repairs, big brother’s little boat had enough, and Morey, already a devoted bass angler, was relegated to bank fishing.

Armed with a Heddon Torpedo and Sonic, a Rat-L-Trap, a Mann’s Augertail Worm and a Billy Phillips Double Whammy (a weedless combination of a spoon and a spinnerbait), Morey soaked his skate shoes in the damp grass surrounding almost every blackbird- and cow pie-lined pond within reach of his family’s mailbox. Without access to distant reservoirs or even a lake large enough to run an outboard motor in, he became adept at fishing the cattails, pad fields and cypress knees composing the bottomland water holes of west Tennessee.

“It started out with my stepdad taking us out to ponds,” he says. “We would throw Rat-L-Traps and yellow Sonics, learning where the fish were positioned by the angle of our casts. We didn’t need electronics to find them. We would start by casting out far and work our way in. And we learned to be super-quiet walking the banks.”

Before graduating from high school, Morey had a quiver of 5- and 6-pound bass under his belt, an unfathomable achievement to me at the time. A particularly gruesome mount that somehow survived a house fire haunted our family tackle shop for a time.

That fish — and many like it — came from after-school trips taken by four-wheeler or mountain bike to nameless ponds and sloughs nearby. Often, the teenage boy would be out until dark, savoring the sights and sounds of miniature natural wonderlands hidden behind cattle gates and willows. “It’s not always about catching the fish,” Morey says. “You walk the bank, especially in the springtime as things are starting to bloom, and you’re going to see frogs. You’re going to hear the birds chirping. You’re going to feel the dirt and grass under your feet.”

Today, the teenager that terrorized every drop of water within a 15-mile radius of Brownsville, Tenn., is a 45-year-old father of four. He’s a regular fixture on the Fishers of Men tournament trail, deploying a Bass Cat Caracal with Garmin LiveScope, a loaded rod box and the usual array of high-end fish-finding gadgets that accompany any serious tournament angler. His regional trail covers Bassmaster Elite Series venues like Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Lake and Lake Guntersville.

But when Morey is not competing for cash, you can still find him plodding down the bank like it’s 1991. “It’s nice to get back to your roots,” he says. “There’s no pressure. No electronics. It’s just you understanding which bank is the warmest this time of year and knowing that typically, if you’ve got a south wind blowing onto a north bank, those bigger females will move up onto it.”

It’s a story played out across America, one as old as cane poles and pickup trucks. Yet somehow, in the highlight-reel glitz and glamour of competitive bass fishing, those of us who caught our first fish from shore lose ourselves along the way. We become accustomed to high-definition charts and graphs. We yearn for the thrust of a 250-horsepower Mercury beneath a Hot Foot. We obsess over waypoints, ledges and flow figures that do add up to a lot of fun but can also disrupt the daily flow of our lives.

For Morey, bank fishing has remained a staple of his life because it fits into his time. Co-managing a house of four children while juggling a longtime position as a marketing manager means the Bass Cat stays covered more often than not. It’s a trip, really, to charge up, trailer up and head out to those larger bodies of water within a few hours drive. But the bank? It’s still there, just a few miles away … like it’s always been. Morey’s children have all caught their first fish from a muddy shore beside a cattail or a cottonwood. He imagines theirs will, too.

To date, big brother’s personal best, a 9-11, came out of a large pond just a few miles away from the beige, metal tackle shop he used to smuggle his stepfather’s baits from. “I thought I hooked a carp,” he says. “I was fishing with a buddy, and we didn’t have a net or anything, but thankfully we did have scales.”

Twenty years after that catch, Morey landed three giant bass in less than 20 minutes at a pond near his new home. The largest of those weighed 7-5. That’s a fantastic day of fishing, whether your feet are standing on SeaDek or dirt — a reminder that you don’t always have to bend the budget to bring home big bass from the bank.

So what makes a great bank angler? These legends of the sport go unsung more often than not. There’s no official record book of the best bass anglers to fill bags from the bank. Instead, the answer is a little simpler than record books and weigh-in receipts.

A little bit of know-how, for sure; patience as well. But Morey says a great bank angler has a passion for the outdoors that fuels a fire to discover and explore. You need to fall in love with nature and seek out the nooks and crannies around your hometown. You need to find an afternoon spot to lay some tackle on the tailgate and soak in the fading, golden sun.

Mostly, you just need to care. “I don’t think you need to have a boat to consider yourself a bass fisherman,” Morey says. “All you need is a passion for getting out and enjoying the outdoors.”

Gearing Up For Going Out

When it comes to bank fishing, less is more. A small backpack stuffed with tackle trays and a bottle of water is indispensably handy. Instead of rigging an arsenal of rods, Morey suggests bringing just two: one for throwing fast-moving baits, like a ChatterBait or spinnerbait, and another for dragging a jig or a worm.

Footwear makes a difference here. To my dismay, skate shoes serve as a poor source of traction near water (trust me, I’ve tried). Depending on the terrain and the number of ticks in your area, a good pair of waterproof boots or grippy sandals like those made by Chaco do nicely.

Finding a place to bank fish has never been easier. Thanks to smartphone apps like ANGLR, Fishbrain and FishTrack, anglers have more resources than ever for locating likely access points. However, it’s always a great idea to start by checking around with local farmers, golf courses and wildlife refuges to see if they welcome bass fishermen. For the technologically inclined, electronic bobbers like the Deeper START Smart Fish Finder and the Garmin STRIKER Cast offer castable sonar that integrates with accompanying smartphone apps.

Apparel-wise, wear clothing that matches the habitat around your pond of choice. Fishing in the Southeast? Dark colors like green and gray are a good bet. Casting a line in the desert Southwest? Consider earth tones like tan or brown.

Bring sunscreen — always. But UV-resistant shirts like the AFTCO Reaper and Samurai offer sun protection that did not exist in the early 1990s that helps to keep anglers safe from the sun and cooler in the heat.

A Timeless Bank-Fishing Arsenal

You don’t need to bring the entire tackle department to bear on most bank fisheries. Keep it simple and keep it packable to maximize your time spent casting and minimize your time spent rigging.

1) Heddon Magnum Torpedo

Casts a country mile. Debuted in 1969 and is still going strong.

 2) Gary Yamamoto Senko

For bedding fish that just won’t chase.

3)  Z-Man ChatterBait

Reaction strikes in any water clarity.

 4) Strike King Rage Toad

Weedless topwater action perfect for dissecting pads and duckweed.

5) Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

A deadly search bait in cattle ponds.

6) Mann’s Bait Company Augertail Worm

A big worm for big bass. Texas rig.

7) Yo-Zuri 3DB Squarebill

Excellent in shallow water with fallen timber.

8) Needlenose Pliers

Forgetting these is a surefire way to catch a pickerel.

Originally appeared in Bassmaster Magazine 2023.

When I lived in West Virginia we had multiple options for river wading within two hours of my house and actually some of the best wade smallmouth fishing opportunities in the country. Rivers such as the Greenbrier River, but most notably the New River that runs from Virginia into West Virginia before connecting in the Kanawha River. In my experience of wading for smallmouth, I would say location is key, and finding the right stretch of river is invaluable.

What to look for?

Finding areas that have clear, shallow water with deeper holes around are key. What you will notice the more you fish shallow rivers is that the most productive spots will be a deeper hole that might be a foot or two deeper than the rest of the river. It gives the smallmouth the perfect area to rest from the current and ambush bait as it washes over the holes.

Keep your eye open for larger rocks and boulders in the river, large pieces of driftwood hung on shallow bars and rocks that are also excellent places to find smallmouth hiding.

Don’t be afraid to fish the bank. Sometimes the most productive areas can be right up against the bank in spots where the current has washed out the bank and created a deeper hole of water. Or there might a laydown that will be holding fish.

What to wear?

Keeping it pretty basic is key in wading for smallmouth. During a successful trip wade fishing, anglers need the ability to be maneuverable. Wading long distances and finding untouched fish can be the difference between a really bad day or a really good day. Pack light and wear material that is lightweight. My suggestions are old tennis shoes or old hiking boots, board shorts or lightweight pants, light sun shirts or thinner polyester shirts.

What to throw?

Keeping it simple for smallmouth river wading is the ticket to success. Most places you can get by with a small waterproof water tacklebox, a small assortment of hooks and two or three packages of plastics. Here is my line up I normally take.

• Small Plano Waterproof Stowaway Utility Box
• Strike King Bitsy Tube (Green Pumpkin)
• Bass Pro Shops Squirt Head with Gold Hook (1/16-ounce or 1/32-ounce)
• Z-Man Finesse TRD’s (Green Pumpkin)
• Z-Man Power Finesse Shroomz Jighead (1/10-ounce)

At least for myself, I have found that using the lightest weight I can get by with makes it way more efficient when fishing streams with a lot of rocks. It keeps you from hanging up so much, and in return you spend more time making casts to places where a smallmouth might roam.

Bass hit the banks in high numbers throughout the spring to go through their annual spawning process, fanning beds and laying eggs in relatively shallow water depending on the species.

Here are a few things to look for and some tips on what to and what not to do to make the most of your bank fishing during the spawn.

What not to do

For starters, you don’t want to go barreling down the bank making lots of noise and dropping baits like bombs. Fishing from the bank this time of year requires a little finesse, as the fish (especially largemouth) will be super shallow and wary of threats from above.

And finesse here doesn’t refer as much to the bait selection as it does the presentation. Both wacky rigs and frogs can be very effective from the bank during the spawn, but the goal is to make accurate and stealthy casts with whatever bait you’re using.

And subtle, soft twitches with a walking frog will be far more effective than hard chugs with a popping frog for example. Whatever you do from the bank when fishing during the spawn, think stealth and finesse. Walk lightly and move slowly. The bass are on high alert and shallow, so you could easily spook them and they won’t need a lot of action to find your bait.

What to do

Knowing the bass are on high alert, wary of the threat of birds and other animals from above, it’s a good idea to blend in with your surroundings as much as possible. These fish will often spawn so shallow that their backs may well touch the surface of the water. And this shallow, even in stained water, they can definitely see you. In addition to not making a lot of sudden movements, it’s a good idea to wear camouflage.

Now I’m not talking sitting in a deer stand wearing pictures of oak bark and leaves camouflage. You want to blend into your background when fishing from the bank is all. And so, quite often, that will actually require a light blue shirt that a fish won’t be able to see clearly against the sky. This isn’t talked about a lot in bass fishing, but it’s why a large number of the shirts made for saltwater fishing are light blue, white and grey.

AFTCO and others offer a lot of long sleeve shirts like this that are designed to help the angler blend into the blank background seen from a fish’s perspective. These work really well when fishing around many ponds and other stretches of shoreline where trees aren’t present.

A few more tips

There are a few visual indicators of bedding activity that you can look for when fishing for bedding bass from the bank. Bass prefer to spawn on hard bottoms. Once the bass find a suitable area to spawn, they’ll fan a bed with their tails, removing any loose debris from the bed to reveal a nice clean hard bottom.

Often times throughout much of the bass fishing world, a sandy bottom will be revealed when the bed is made. So you’ll be able to see a glaringly obvious white spot amongst the otherwise dark bottom. Other times there will be cleaner spots, on rocky bottoms for instance, that aren’t as easy to see from far off, but still become apparent the more you look for them.

Bass also like to spawn alongside cover, isolated cover in particular. So look for reed clumps, stumps, dock posts and other objects in the water and cast to them carefully, assuming there is a bass spawning nearby.

Fish your baits slowly through these areas, making repetitive casts, before even trying to see if a fish is actually on a bed. If you can see a bass on bed, it can most likely see you. And they’re usually a little easier to catch before they get a glimpse of you. Stealth is one of the biggest keys to being successful when fishing the spawn from shore. Wear clothes that blend in with the background, moving quietly and slowly, making subtle casts and visualize fish on the bed as best you can without actually having to see them first to fish for them. If you can implement these simple tips, you should find better success from the bank in no time.