How many of you only bank fish ?

I’m thinking of selling my boat .
Until last fall , my boat sat for about three years because of an issue of poor circulation in my right leg .
Installing Millienium seats helped . It allowed me to fish for about four hours before I would have to get off the water .
And now that my truck was totaled and I’m taking my wife’s RAV4 over , I’m thinking of giving up boat fishing and go bank fishing only . Rather than going through the trouble and expense of installing a trailer hitch on the RAV4 . It’s not the hitch installation, it’s the wiring thats looks like a big deal .
I only used my boat about four times last year . Launching wasn’t an issue , but loading the boat back on the trailer with only a trolling motor was , especially at shallow ramps .
I need to know there’s a fishing life without owning a boat .
How many of y’all bank fish only ?

I only bank fish. Consider boat/gear preparation: it takes time to get the boat ready. With bank fishing you just throw your gear into the car and go. Park once and your good to go. I have several ponds that are less than 13 miles away; if I only have an hour or so to fish, getting a boat ready and launched would take too much time.


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Fly fisherman: “What is this ‘boat’ you speak of?” :)

My son fly fishes only and wouldn’t own a boat if you gave it to him.

I gave up mine and it made no difference in ketchn fish , the exception was my wallet , my wallet got fat quickly rotfl

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Originally Posted by fredo

Fly fisherman: “What is this ‘boat’ you speak of?” :)

My son fly fishes only and wouldn’t own a boat if you gave it to him.

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It’s an Alumacraft 1436 with hand control front and rear trolling motors , two new Millennium seats , galvanized trailer , two Eagle depthfinders .
This was before I installed the other Millennium seat in the back .

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

It’s an Alumacraft 1436 with hand control front and rear trolling motors , two new Millennium seats , galvanized trailer , two Eagle depthfinders .
This was before I installed the other Millennium seat in the back .

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I was being facetious, as if the FF has so little use for a boat, he doesn’t even know what a boat is. ;)

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Originally Posted by fredo

I was being facetious, as if the FF has so little use for a boat, he doesn’t even know what a boat is. ;)

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LOL ! Thought you were going to tell me I should keep it because it was a lightweight combo .
I put this one together to replace an older model Alumacraft 1542 that was getting too heavy to push up the driveway into the garage.
Worked for awhile :)

Bank fishing is all I do. I'd prefer to fish out of a boat in most places, but don't fish often enough to take on the costs. Some good state lakes in MS for bream fishing from the bank.

My issues keep me from standing very long at all so sitting my large self in a boat gives me many hours of fishing time. I love aluminum boats but won’t own any skinnier than 48”. The lack of stability in the skinny boats has kept them in someone else’s grudge. I’ve seen 1452 and recently, a 1248. Both of which would be a consideration for me if I got out of my current 1648. With you having issues of putting it away is a completely different animal. My land is reasonably flat and storage is where I back it into. I hope you’re able to keep the ride, it opens many avenues.

From 2004 until 2010 I was bank bound and caught tons of fish. But my current location does not have any good bank fishing places. I am pondering the same thing as you. I’m getting tired of long drives…launching the boat….and so on.I am headed out to Arkansas again at end of month to try and find a house. If I do my boat will be sold. Of course I will be living close to a world class trout stream so it would be a no brainer. But if I stay where I’m at I’m still pondering selling the boat. I knew the day would come but it seems to have shown up a little earlier than I thought. The past 2 days I’ve caught quite a few trout off the river bank at Normandy. Fishing for a couple of hours and back home. I really like that but the river will be void of trout from June-November. So it’s a quandary. My wife tells me no way I’m selling the boat because I’ll have nothing to do. But I tell you if I lived close to some outstanding bank spots my boat would be gone. Best of luck in your decision…it’s tough I know.

Regards


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Not only, but probably 95+ percent bank fishing. Since I finally starting using my kayak, the percent of bank fishing will go down some but will still be the majority. That said, I caught over 2500 fish in 2020. So, yes, there is life without a boat.

I bank fish also. Hoping to post pictures sometime this fishing season.

Personally I would keep the boat, with no gas motor to worry about fuel going bad or gummed up carbs, your boat will always be ready to go on a batteries charge notice. Put a trickle charge/battery maintainer on your power plants and six months from now when your ready to take her out, only the dust will have issues while you are ripping lips in the warm sunshine.

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

From 2004 until 2010 I was bank bound and caught tons of fish. But my current location does not have any good bank fishing places. I am pondering the same thing as you. I’m getting tired of long drives…launching the boat….and so on.I am headed out to Arkansas again at end of month to try and find a house. If I do my boat will be sold. Of course I will be living close to a world class trout stream so it would be a no brainer. But if I stay where I’m at I’m still pondering selling the boat. I knew the day would come but it seems to have shown up a little earlier than I thought. The past 2 days I’ve caught quite a few trout off the river bank at Normandy. Fishing for a couple of hours and back home. I really like that but the river will be void of trout from June-November. So it’s a quandary. My wife tells me no way I’m selling the boat because I’ll have nothing to do. But I tell you if I lived close to some outstanding bank spots my boat would be gone. Best of luck in your decision…it’s tough I know.

Regards


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What about your shellcracker fishing??? Is that bank worthy?

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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

What about your shellcracker fishing??? Is that bank worthy?

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Where I live now I don’t have access to any good shell cracker spots from the bank. Believe me I have thought a lot about missing out on spring shell cracker fishing. It really is no fun getting old.

Regards


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Originally Posted by StantheMan2567

Personally I would keep the boat, with no gas motor to worry about fuel going bad or gummed up carbs, your boat will always be ready to go on a batteries charge notice. Put a trickle charge/battery maintainer on your power plants and six months from now when your ready to take her out, only the dust will have issues while you are ripping lips in the warm sunshine.

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I would like to keep the boat , but I don't see me using it more than a few times a year and it’s getting tough putting it back on the trailer and turning it around in the driveway to push it slightly uphill into the garage.
If I still had my truck , I’d keep it at least another year . But with the truck gone , unless I put a trailer hitch on my wife’s RAV4, I don’t have anything to pull it with .
Looked into installing a trailer hitch and the hitch ain’t the problem , six bolts . It’s the wiring harness for the lights . Looking at an installation video , I’d have to disassemble the entire rear cargo area to install the harness .
My old fishing buddy , my brother can’t get in and out of the boat at all any more , at least he’s giving up trying , and my other friend I’d been taking with me has issues sitting in the boat worse than I do .
Everything looking like it’s time , to sell it off and move on .
When I bank fish I use a folding stool about 90% of the time .

Yeah I only bank fish, just didn’t have anywhere to keep a boat up until 4 years ago (We bought a house). But with kids, limited time and money, bank fishing is my best option. I really enjoy pond hopping, packing light tackle bag and with 1 pole you can really gun n run. We have several public parks in my area that have small lakes/ponds that are stocked within minutes drive of me. I like to throw a small tackle bag and 6’ ultra lite rod in the explorer and make a quick stop for an hour before work a few days a week.

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Not only, but probably 95+ percent bank fishing. Since I finally starting using my kayak, the percent of bank fishing will go down some but will still be the majority. That said, I caught over 2500 fish in 2020. So, yes, there is life without a boat.

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Wow! That’s an inspiration! I don’t think I’m going to be able to wade as much as I use to due to health issues, so bank fishing will become more of an important option for me.
Bob

Launching and retrieving a small boat alone really isnt much of an issue.
But you will get your feet wet, so wear the proper type shoes.
All you need is about 30’ of about 5/16 rope attached to the bow with a loop on the opposite end for putting over the winch post.
Where i primarily fish there is no dock and a very poor ramp, but if an 87 year old man can still do it, so can you.
I would much rather get a little wet pulling it back onto the trailer with the rope than i would climbing down off the boat after its loaded.
As for wiring the vehicle, get somebody who knows how to do it for you.

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Originally Posted by yobuck

Launching and retrieving a small boat alone really isnt much of an issue.
But you will get your feet wet, so wear the proper type shoes.
All you need is about 30’ of about 5/16 rope attached to the bow with a loop on the opposite end for putting over the winch post.
Where i primarily fish there is no dock and a very poor ramp, but if an 87 year old man can still do it, so can you.
I would much rather get a little wet pulling it back onto the trailer with the rope than i would climbing down off the boat after its loaded.
As for wiring the vehicle, get somebody who knows how to do it for you.

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I think it’s great you’re still able to get out with your boat .
Everybody’s different.

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

I think it’s great you’re still able to get out with your boat .
Everybody’s different.

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Gillchaser,
Well said. Have had spinal stenosis for the last 10 yrs. with symptoms that were not all that bad. That is, until the past few months. Hobie kayak has been sitting covered up in the garage for a couple of years due to this condition. I keep the registration current, but may just be wishful thinking.

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

I think it’s great you’re still able to get out with your boat .
Everybody’s different.

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Very true, gill. I have a nice little Malibu up on horses in the garage that will never be used by me again. I have to buck up and sell it. I agree it’s great that an older guy can still get his boat out, but as Dirty Harry said “a man has got to know his limitations…”.:)
Bob

Prime bank fishing areas are dwindling in certain areas and states. Access to such areas here in Florida have severely diminished during my lifetime. When starting youngsters in the sport of fishing I always prefer bank fishing, it allows room for them burn off energy during lapses in fishing action or their attention. Usually much safer for many reasons (i.e. landing a fish, learning to cast, etc.). I love to fish and availability and circumstances tend to dictate the method.

I've lived here at Lake Barkley for over 5 years now. I've noticed a decline in the usage of my boat. Most of that stems from me putting in the time to find decent bank spots that generally produce in the spring. Plus, putting in a boat/pulling out a boat is much more work if we're honest about it.

I still use my boat and enjoy it, but the bank fishing has overtaken the boat fishing for me...

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Originally Posted by SpeckledSlab

Prime bank fishing areas are dwindling in certain areas and states. Access to such areas here in Florida have severely diminished during my lifetime. When starting youngsters in the sport of fishing I always prefer bank fishing, it allows room for them burn off energy during lapses in fishing action or their attention. Usually much safer for many reasons (i.e. landing a fish, learning to cast, etc.). I love to fish and availability and circumstances tend to dictate the method.

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All very true, also true is the fact that due to the Gator population in many areas of Florida, bank fishing can be a risky situation.
Point is that it becomes easy for elderly people to talk themselves out of doing things for a whole host of reasons.

If I'm new to a spot and see other people fishing I always ask if they know of any other places to fish. That has led to some real good bank fishing spots I didn't know about.

Bank fishing makes up 95% of my fishing now .
But I do enjoy taking the boat out on my local water reservoir, that’s only eight minutes from my garage door .
With the new addition of Millennium seats , I can extend my boat trips to around four hours . Which is fine for me . I’d take two hours .
My bank fishing trips , unless it’s to the town pond are usually about the same time .
The town pond is close enough to where if I get a spare hour , it’s worth the trip .
So, I’ve decided it cost me very Little for the boat to sit in the garage and if I decide to give it a try one day , it’s there . So, I’m keeping it for now .
My wife said if I sold it , I would complain about not having one . She’s usually right :)

I've never owned a boat, been bank fishing for over 60 years now and no reason for me to change. Lot's of good fishing from the bank and many memorable catches over the years.

I am a bank fisher until recently. I bought a pedal drive kayak. The kayak does afford me a bit of flexibility without the overhead of boat ownership. But I do sacrifice the ability to get around quickly..

I love me some bank fishing but do have a fishing pontoon on my one lake place which we normally do everything but fish on it. tho we do take it out to hit the docks few times a year. Up at my fishing cabin we keep a bass boat but rarely take it out as we do very well from rocks, docks and bank locations. we are close by so run up to lake drop a few lines and if it's they don't cooperate go back take a nap and come back later. really easy to do and don't have to fool with launching.

IMO with the low cost boat you have first find someone else to wire it, it's not that hard but for someone like you or me can be a chore. Then look around CDC for others near you who are members and there are many who have situations where suddenly there normal fishing partners are no longer available and would love to have someone to fish with and could help you with your boat. That's one of the best things about this wonderful site, it's a community of good folks with lots in common and I have met tons of great folks who I have ended up fishing with and sharing experiences.

Your wife is a smart lady. You will miss it if you sell it and would be hard to replace. BTW any local lakes where you can rent a slip and really make things easy?