anglers book

7/31/2019 Anglers Book

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Bank Fishing 101A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO MODERN BANK ANGLING

J

olietJunior

CollegeAnglers

Club

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isher.com

Dr. Patrick Mills, Joliet Junior College Anglers Club


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Contents

Bank Fishing Revisited. Page.6.

A somewhat nostalgic piece that relates the excitement of childhood bank shing experiences

to those experienced in later years. A good introduction to modern bank shing philosophy

and methods..

.

Bank Fishings Top Five Strategies and Secrets: Part 1. Page.8.

A detailed review of bank shing philosophy, with particular attention paid to knowing whats

there, in terms of the types and numbers of sh species typically encountered during a bank

shing expedition..

.

Bank Fishings Top Five Strategies and Secrets: Part 2. Page.12.

A review of bank shing methods and tactics, with particular attention paid to understandinghow successful angling methods are related to specic sh behaviors.

Catching More Bluegills from Your Local Pond. Page.19.

An in-depth article detailing how to catch good numbers of bluegill and other pan sh from

retention ponds and other urban waters. Tackle, bait, as well as shing and feeding strategies,

are discussed.

Versatility the Key to Good Catches.Page.23.

Article detailing a trip members of the JJC Anglers Club made to the Illinois River at Ottawa,

IL. Various methods employed on the day ensured a good and varied catch of sh.

Hot Tips For Cold Weather.Page.26.

Fish location strategies and tackle tips for shing in cold weather are discussed.

Review of Bank Fishing Methods and Equipment.Page.30.

A review of bank shing methods and equipment, with a focus on the types of shing gear

utilized by Midwestern match anglers. This document was originally put together as a tackle

buying guide for a popular shing store in NY State.

Web Resources. Page.37.

A complete list of essential web based bank angling resources, including Clubs and

Organizations, Educational sites and equipment suppliers.


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Bob Maciulis is the publisher

of the Outdoor Notebook, aswell as an Outdoor columnist

for the Joliet Herald News,

Aurora Beacon News and

Star Newspapers. Bob also

hosts the Outdoor Notebook

Radio Show on WJOL 1340-

AM Joliet, IL.

Some.years.ago,.I.received.a.note.from.Dr.Patrick.Mills.describing.a.series.of.bank.shing events he had scheduled. The focus, he said, was to educate local anglersabout the European bank shing techniques that were becoming increasingly popularin the States. More importantly, he explained, he wanted to introduce newcomers tothe joys of shing from shore on local retention and Forest Preserve District ponds andalong the many streams and river that course through the area.

During the next several years, Dr. Mills expanded his venues and, upon joining thefaculty at Joliets Junior College, founded the Anglers Club at the college. The Club grewquickly. I would guess that Patricks steadfastness in concentrating on the basics andhis enthusiasm and focus on close-to-home sheries were among the reasons that he

attracted newcomers not only to the Club but to shing.

Using the internet and the JJCACs website, teaching introductory shing at Pilcher Parkor being available for interviews on local outdoors radio programs or with area outdoorscolumnists, Dr. Mills continued to reach out, continues to build a constituency- as wellas a reputation as a self-effacing, dedicated teacher who is more interested in sharinghis passion for shing and his strong conservation ethic than in his personal notoriety.In some ways, I suppose, Dr. Mills is a natural teacher. Someone whos love for shing,in this case, is why he gives up his own time on the water to help others to enjoy it, tolearn to love it for the reasons he does.

There is also a child-like wonder that Patrick has for the outdoors, an appreciation ofthe magical things which are a part of every day spent on the water. Thats probably partof shings charms especially as Pat distills it. We dont have to apologize for beingamazed. Just enjoy it, appreciate it. The rest will happen.

Bob Maciulis

January, 2007

Foreword


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Congratulations! By selecting this publication youve made a decision to familiarizeyourself with modern bank shing philosophies, methods and tactics which, in turn,can easily transform the bust of a biteless day at the waters edge into a boom ofbulging nets and a full creel limit. While primarily aimed at the beginner, the articles foundwithin these pages will increase any anglers success from the bank. Indeed, freshwateranglers, ranging from the true novice through to more experienced bass, catsh, troutor walleye specialists, will experience a revitalization their shing through applying thecontemporary bank shing strategies and techniques reviewed here.

In addition to its broad appeal, modern bank shing offers a convenient and refreshinglycost-effective route to becoming a successful angler. Specically, the methods employed

are particularly well suited to common venues, such as local Park District lakes andneighborhood retention ponds, which can most often be found within a short distanceof any anglers doorstep great news for anglers with busy schedules, who may only beable to devote a few precious hours to time spent at the waters edge; while the basicequipment required may be purchased cheaply through any tackle store. These factorsalso render bank shing a great choice for families with young children, as these budgetfriendly methods are both easy to learn and generate frequent takes from obliging sh

in essence, the perfect blueprint for a kids shing expedition with mom and dad!

The articles presented here, which have also appeared within a variety of popularoutdoor magazines, should be considered as a series independent pieces that offerspecic, concrete advice for anglers faced with similar angling opportunities. Forexample, Catching More Bluegills from Your Local Pond offers some excellent tips forangers targeting pan sh at close range; while Versatility the Key to Good Catchesdetails how bank anglers may wish to approach shing a river. Interested readers arealso encouraged to view and/or download additional materials from the authors website(www.banksher.com). Signicantly, this complementary resource not only allows

access to new articles, but also provides a variety of additional resources. Supplementalcontent includes: a forum and message board, an underwater video and photographyarea, ratings and reports for popular venues, and a calendar of events. Anglers wishingto contact the author directly are encouraged to do so via either the banksher.comwebsite or by e-mail at [email protected].

Introduction


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The bobber dipped and then slid under - somewhere beneath the mist coveredsurface of that early morning mill pond a young boys dreams were about tobecome reality. A hasty strike set the hook, prompting the youngsters rod to tug andthen arch over as his unseen quarry made a spirited bid for freedom. With a poundingheart, the boy held fast and was soon able to steer his prize toward the connes of thewaiting net, proudly tended by his father. This sh was special, as it was the boys rst.The folds of the landing net revealed his prize, a brightly colored perch of around apound in weight. To him the sh was an unforgettable giant a spark that would ignitean obsession for a sport he would pursue with passion only fellow anglers can trulyunderstand.

I was a tender seven years of age at the time I caught that rst sh. Even though it wasmore than 30 years ago, I can still recall the rough feel of the perchs scales and seeits vibrant colors in my minds eye, so ingrained these memories are. Most anglers canprobably recant a similar tale we never really forget our rst sh, regardless of ourcurrent angling interests. While we may now classify ourselves as either bass, catsh,y, musky or walleye anglers, those magical memories from our childhood bank shingexperiences live on within us all. We can, of course, relive these formative experiencesthrough our children. Indeed, in common with so many other anglers of my generation,

we have come to see our angling lives turn full circle. Like so many others with theirown memories, I now too understand and appreciate the pride my father, net in hand,radiated at the mill pond better than 30 years ago.

While shing from the bank is most often considered the easiest way to introducenew anglers to our great sport, have you ever considered what would happen ifwe revisited this branch of angling, but, while doing so, applied the same level ofsophistication we typically reserve for the pursuit of our chosen sport species?The results of such an approach are, quite frankly, amazing. Procient bank anglers

regularly capture single sh in excess of 20 pounds and season best sh of better than40 pounds, while four hour catches in excess of 400 pan sh or total bag weights ofgreater than 100 pounds are common. Perhaps more startling is the fact that suchmammoth catches are usually taken from small, unmanaged, urban waters. How is thispossible? Addressing and ultimately attempting to answer this question is what I havedevoted the latter part of my angling career to, and have arrived at a number of simpleconclusions. Becoming a successful bank angler is pretty straightforward. Basically, itcomes down to being able to recognize, adapt and then learn to capitalize upon the

basic dissimilarities between sport and bank shing. What follows is a basic overviewof this subject, along with some tips that will not only immediately increase any bankanglers catch rate, but may also help rekindle that youthful excitement we all likelyexperienced in childhood.

Basic Philosophy: Sport anglers typically use boats to search out, and then angle for,their chosen species. The technology utilized reects this, with the necessary mobilityand sh nding capabilities provided via speedy boats and sh nding electronics,

Bank Fishing Revisited


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respectively. By contrast, the bank angler adopts a much simpler, less mobile approach,most often restricting his or herself to a specic position on the bank. Thus, a bankangler must attract sh to their chosen shing location, whereas a sport sher mustactively search out sh from a variety of locations. This is the most fundamentaldifference between the two angling styles. Top tip: by employing a strategy thatrelies on attracting sh to a single location, the bank angler must employ chum orsome other attractant to be effective. Thus, the application of chum (or groundbait)becomes a key component within any successful bank angling strategy.

Species: When one examines DNR (or other) statistics pertaining to sh populations,some starting information becomes apparent with regard to which species dominate

our most familiar bodies of water. Based solely on numbers, sunsh are by far themost dominant species found in retention ponds, lakes and reservoirs; while carp, byfar, comprise the greatest biomass (total live weight) of sh in similar locations, as wellas within lowland rivers. Thus, for bank anglers restricted to shing for whats there,gills and carp essentially guarantee prolic sport, irregardless of from where the bankangler chooses to sh. In contrast, this fact is of little relevance for boat anglers, asthey are necessarily required to search out members of their chosen sport species,say largemouth bass, which typically make up less than 5% of any unmanaged sherys

population. Top tip: bank anglers, who tailor their approach to sunsh and/or carp,almost guarantee spectacular catches. This is not so say that bank anglers dont catchsport species (they do), but their catches are most often dominated by these mostprolic species. Indeed, a competent bank angler will typically catch in excess of ~ 30pounds of sunsh, carp and/or catsh, over a typical four hour session, from prettymuch any unmanaged water!

When one realizes that managed sheries often operate strict size and bag limitsfor the sporting species, most boat anglers typically nd themselves returning the

majority of the sh they catch. Thus, in these modern times where practicing catchand release, rather than shing for food, is the norm, it should come as no surprisethat bank shing is experiencing an upsurge in popularity? With this fact in mind, the

Joliet Junior College Anglers Club (JJCAC) runs a series of free events throughout theyear dedicated to providing access to relevant bank shing seminars, sh-ins and othereducational / social events. Readers are encouraged to logon to the calendar page ofBankser.com for more details on specic Club activities.

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Bank Fishing Revisited


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There are few more frustrating things in angling than devoting the bulk of onestime at the waters edge to watching a motionless bobber. After what often seemslike an eternity without even a nibble, our thoughts typically turn to the usual naggingquestions: What am I doing wrong? Am I in the right spot? Do I have the right baitand gear? In order to avoid such maddening self-conversations, anglers need only toimplement a checklist of ve simple strategies in order to ensure a successful daysbank shing. Specically, these tactics include: knowing which sh species are likely tobe present; understanding how to target these species; locating where these sh arelikely to be; encouraging these sh to feed; and attracting more of the target speciesinto the anglers shing area. In part one of this article, presented here, the rst, andperhaps most important of these checkpoints is discussed; while the remaining four,

more practical, key bank shing strategies are reviewed in part two of this piece, whichbegins on page 12.

A central theme common to this, as well as each of the other four (more practical) keysto success, to be discussed in part two of this article, is recognizing, understanding andthen capitalizing on the basic philosophical differences between boat and bank shing.While these two branches of our sport have a good number of commonalities, notablyin terms of the types of tackle and bait used, the application of such methods and tactics

within the respective boat and bank shing environments could not be more different.Taking whats there rst, boat and bank anglers are exposed to two vastly different setsof shing opportunities. Boat anglers typically angle for a desired species of sport sh,such largemouth, small mouth, walleye or musky and, consequently, are often classiedas such specie specic anglers. Such classications are made entirely possible by theuse of dedicated shing boats and hi-tech sh nding gear which, in turn, allow anglersto locate and then sh for the species of their choosing. Indeed, a bass anglers day onthe water typically involves pulling up to an attractive structural feature, angling forthe active sh that are there, and then repeating this procedure by moving on to thenext boat dock, weed mat or rock hump. This is not, and never can be, the case forthe less mobile bank angler, whom by denition is typically limited to shing from axed position at the waters edge. Indeed, if we apply the boat anglers approach to thebank shing environment, we immediately recognize the primary cause of motionlessbobber syndrome of the many sh present, only a small fraction will be of the desiredsport species. Once these, typically one or two, sh are captured, angling for additionalspecimens quickly becomes futile as there are simply no more of these species remaining.While the boat angler can simply move on to the next feature, this is not so easy for the

bank sher. Thus, for the bank angler to have a successful day at the water, bank shingtactics must be adapted in order to sh for whats there.

An examination of electro shing data (supplied by the DNR and featured withinpublications such as the Northern Illinois Fishing Map Guide, available through tacklestores) quickly answers the whats there question, and by inference also informs thebank angler which species should be shed for in order to ensure a successful days shing.In essence, the DNR data supports what we all learned as school children regarding

Bank Fishings Top Five Strategies and Secrets

Part 1: Knowing Whats There


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how ecosystems the world over, all the way from the African plains through to theMidwestern prairie, or even a typical back yard pond, have come into balance in termsof the distribution of their respective numbers of predator and prey species. Thus, if wereference these examples, some eye opening facts emerge with regard to what must alsobe the case for essentially every (unmanaged) body of water. Prey species numericallydominate any environment this may be gazelle or wildebeest on the African plans,through to rabbits on the prairie, or bluegill in a local pond. In most bodies of water,prey species typically include sunsh, shad and/or shiners. Statistically, 80 out of every100 sh in such environments will comprise such species. Why is this? Prey species, bytheir very nature, provide food for the ecosystems predators. Thus, any prey speciessurvival strategy depends upon being highly prolic, and essentially out breeding loses

suffered via predation. The obvious take home message is this - angling for sunsh orother prey species will ensure good catches. Indeed, the current US record is in thevicinity of ~511 bluegills captured over a four hour period!



Most Numerous: Young Max Ford with a

spectacular net of ~400 sh (bluegill and shiner),

taken over four hours from a suburban retentionpond.

Greatest Biomass: Dara Finnegan with a near 90

pound bag of carp (biggest 22lb.), taken in ~ 3

hours bank shing a downtown Chicago location.

In great contrast to the pervasiveness of sunsh and other prey species, the leastnumerous species in any ecosystem are, by far, the predators. Examples include lionson the African plain, through to the wolf or coyote on the prairie, through to the bass,walleye or musky found in area lakes and rivers. Thus, these results become somewhatalarming for the angler intent on shing for any of the sporting (predatory) species fromthe bank, since only ~5 percent of the total sh count in most waters is made up from


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these varieties. This again reinforces the point that, for the less mobile bank angler,angling for sport species becomes a largely fruitless exercise due to the fact that thereare, statically, literally only one or two sport sh within casting range of the anglersposition! Is it then any wonder that the dreaded motionless bobber is by far the normfor anglers utilizing bass or other sport sh specic methods and tactics from the bank?The take home message is reinforced only shing for whats there will ensure aproductive day at the waters edge. Unfortunately, this strategy will typically not involveangling for specic sport species, but should instead focus on non species specicmethods and tactics tailored to catching the vast majority (~95%) of the remaining ofthe non-sporting species present.

While the symbiotic relationship between predator and prey is well know, anotheraspect of any ecosystem, which is often overlooked, is what I like to call the role of thesuper vegetarians species that are not predatory, yet avoid predation by growing verylarge. On the African plain, such species include the elephant or rhino, with the buffaloor bison on the prairie and, typically, carp or other cyprinid species within most bodiesof freshwater. Such species ll an interesting ecological niche they are less numerousthan prey species, typically constituting on the order of 15% of all sh present, but,by contrast, provide by far the greatest biomass of any single group. What is biomass?

Simply, biomass is the relative weight of a particular variety of sh within a given aquaticenvironment. For example, if it is assumed that a particular bank shing spot contains 100individual sh, there will likely be approximately 80 sunsh, 15 carp and 5 bass present.Now, if we consider that the average weights of these sh are typically on the order of3 oz, 5 pounds and 2 pounds respectively, the biomass math takes an interesting turn:sunsh have a total cumulative weight of 15 pounds (15% biomass), bass 10 pounds (10%biomass) and carp an incredible 75 pounds (75 % biomass)! Clearly, for those who judgesuccess based solely on the total weight of their catch, rather than the number and/ orspecies of sh captured, the super veggies render themselves an attractive option forthe dedicated bank angler. Indeed, in an era of shrinking creel limits and unpredictablewater quality (where the bulk of any anglers catches are, consequently, not typically keptfor the table), it should perhaps not come as a surprise that the popularity of carp shinghas seen an upsurge in recent times, with both the Carp Anglers Group (CAG) andthe American Carp Society (ACS) enjoying booms in membership. Both organizationsregularly run well attended carp tournaments, whose winning purses are often countedin the thousands of dollars. Overseas, where bank shing is by far the norm, the carp isrevered as a sport sh par excellence. For example, throughout the United Kingdom,

mainland Europe and Asia literally thousands of commercial (pay lake) sheries dot thelandscape. These sheries are usually catch and release only, and are most often stockedto capacity with carp. This results in some fantastic shing, with the current UK vehour bank shing record standing at an incredible 414 pounds! Within the US in general,and locally in particular, there is also some fantastic carp shing available. The current USfour hour bank shing tournament record stands 102 pounds (all carp), with veried dailycatches in excess of 200 pounds of carp being recorded at venues such as BraidwoodLake, IL. This should not come as a surprise, as carp swimming in local waters typically


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comprise ~75% of the waters total biomass, average ~5 pounds per sh, and grow inexcess of 70 pounds! The take home message here is clear bank anglers who choosetarget the super veggie species (carp, buffalo etc.) will typically record catches whosetotal weights, by most common standards, seem astronomical. For example, a bankangler targeting carp on a typical retention pond, lake or river may be expected to catchhalf a dozen sh, possessing an average weight of ~ 5 pounds, over a four hour period.This yields a total carp weight in the vicinity of ~30 pounds. Additionally, since bankshing, by its very nature, is species non specic (catches typically also feature bluegilland catsh); mixed bags of ~40 + pounds become the norm. Indeed, if the competitionrecords of bank shing organizations (such as the Chicago Bank Anglers) are reviewedthis is indeed seen to be the case.

In Summary, while bank and boat anglers share a common arsenal of terminal tackle,rods and reels, how such equipment is effectively utilized is greatly dissimilar. While,species specic boat anglers typically adopt a hunting style approach, i.e. moving fromspot to spot and angling for active sh at each location, the less mobile bank angler isforced to adopt a decidedly species non specic ambush style strategy in order to besuccessful. This nding is based upon personal experience and a basic understanding ofaquatic ecosystems, in which prey and super veggie species (the bank anglers primary

quarry) outnumber sport (predator) species by a ratio of approximately 20:1. Thus,in order to be successful, bank anglers must target the overwhelming ~95% of whatsthere - such species typically encompass the sunsh and cyprinid varieties, with anemphasis on bluegill and carp.


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There are few more frustrating things in angling than devoting the bulk of ones timeat the waters edge to watching a motionless bobber. As was discussed in part1 of this piece, Knowing whats There, such frustrations can be overcome, in part,through a greater understanding of which common species are likely to be encounteredduring a typical bank shing expedition. Briey, since prey (bluegill, shiner) and superveggie (carp, buffalo) species typically outnumber sport (predator) species by a ratio ofapproximately 20:1 in any single angling location they must then, in turn, become thebank anglers primary quarry. Thus, a successful bank shing outing will typically differgreatly, in terms of species sought and methods employed, from that experienced byboat anglers. Essentially, the specie specic methods and tactics employed by the moremobile boat angler are simply not suited to more static bank angling environment. With

this basic truism in mind, our thoughts now turn to either how, for beginner anglers inparticular, this can be accomplished from the perspective of a beginning from blank slate;or for more experienced anglers, how a typical boat based approach can be modiedin order to become more successful at angling from the bank. The good news is thatwe only need to apply four simple bank shing specic tactics in order to achieve theserespective goals. Specically, they encompass the following principles: understanding andapplying the methods and tactics necessary for targeting the expected quarry species;locating where these sh are likely to be; encouraging these sh to feed; and, nally,

attracting more of these species into the anglers shing area. The remainder of thisarticle focuses on these four general points, which, in turn, make up checklist of practicalstrategies that can signicantly increase any bank anglers catches. Additionally, each ofthese points is reinforced through the accompanying underwater images, which werein turn captured from actual underwater video recorded in the eld. Readers are bothwelcome and encouraged to view the original clips in their entirety at the UnderwaterVideo and Photography Page of the Banksher.com website.

Equipment Needs

The good news is that most of us already possess the basic tackle, in terms of rods andreels, required to become more successful bank anglers. Indeed, in this regard bankshing is very similar to most other forms of fresh water angling. However, where sportand bank angling strategies diverge is in the selection and application of terminal tackle.Since the bank angler is not typically targeting a specic predator (sport) specie, a widespectrum of baits (attractive to many species of sh) will be employed in place of articiallures and spinners etc. Perhaps most importantly, the type terminal tackle selected

must match the bait employed. As can be seen from the accompanying underwaterphotograph (photo 1), a grub impaled on a size 6 hook has little chance of being takenby a bluegill, as this shs mouth can only, at best, comfortably accommodate a hook ofsize 16 or less. This is by far the most common mistake anglers make when shing fornon-sporting species not taking into account the nature of the shs feeding habitsand associated body design. The prey and super veggie species most typically targetedby bank anglers have very small mouths in comparison to the sporting species. If wecompare the feeding habits of largemouth bass and carp this becomes apparent. Bass


Part 2: Practical Applications


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essentially feed by rst chasing down, and then inhaling, their chosen prey. Clearly, avery large mouth is required to ingest, for example, a whole sh, lizard or craysh. Thismeans larger sized hooks may be used comfortably with these bigger baits and/or theirrepresentative lures. In contrast, carp and other non-predatory species typically feedon worms, leaches, seeds and other smaller food items. Not surprisingly, these specieshave evolved smaller mouths which are, in turn, better suited to feeding on these lesseritems. Thus, common bank shing baits, such as a single grain of corn or a leaf worm,must be used in conjunction with appropriately sized hooks, typically in the range ofsizes 12 18. The take home message is clear, anglers must use smaller baits when bankshing and match the size of the hook used to the bait being employed.

In concert with smaller hooks and baits, more subtle lines and bite indicators (bobbers/oats) must also be employed when bank shing. If we again compare the feeding habitsof bass and carp, the reasons for such selections become apparent. Simply stated,predators are required to react both quickly and aggressively with regard to securing aprey item. Such behaviors typically translate to strong, almost unmistakable, indicationsas experienced by angler such as rod tips pulling around or large bobbers draggingunder. This is not the case for the non-predatory species, which typically have greateramounts of time in which they can investigate food items. Briey, wary pan sh, as

well as carp and other larger species, typically examine their food through sucking andblowing these items in and out of their mouths several times before taking them thisless aggressive behavior is converted to those frustrating dinks and dings we often seeat the bobber or rod tip. Often times, if the bait is not presented in a natural mannerthe sh will reject the offering altogether. Why is this? As shown in the accompanyingunderwater photographs (photos 1 and 2), baits behave unnaturally when eitherweighed down by a hook that is too large; when attached to a thick, visible line; or whenconnected to a bobber that is too buoyant. In such cases the bait will act in an unnaturalway and, in turn, spook the sh. The consequences to the angler are obvious, with suchdinks and dings rarely evolving into positive takes. Clearly, in order to transform thesetimid indications into more discernible takes the bait must behave more naturally. Thisgoal is accomplished, in addition to the use of appropriately sized hooks, though theuse of lighter lines, typically of less than 6 lb test (which allow the bait to fall / utternaturally through the water column); and replacing bulky bobbers with lighter and morehydrodynamic Thill style oats, which then present much less resistance to a bitingsh. The preferred smaller hooks, lighter lines and more sensitive oats are availablein most tackle stores, most often through the trout section. Indeed, a good maxim

when browsing tackle stores for items suitable for bank shing would be to think trout,not bass with regard to the appropriateness of such purchases. The application of thisphilosophy is detailed below.




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Setting up Shop

Fish are creatures of habit, a fact any angler can use to his or her advantage whendeciding where to cast a lure, oat or sinker. Indeed, as boat anglers know only toowell, sh gravitate towards classic structure, such as submerged vegetation, rock piles,bridge pilings etc. While it would also be in any bank anglers interest to cast towardssuch inviting structure, more often than not local retention ponds, lakes and rivers arelargely devoid of such sh holding real-estate close to shore. However, it must also beremembered that the bank itself makes for an outstanding feature, to which the bankangler will always have easy access. Specically, within any body of fresh water there will

be a constant shallow marginal area adjacent to the bank, which will then drop way todeeper water from anywhere from 12 40 feet from the shore. Thus, there will alwaysbe an underwater shelf within easy casting distance of the bank anglers location. Thisis important to know, as the bank shers primary quarry, namely carp and bluegill, arestrongly attracted to the marginal shelf. Taking bluegill rst, these and other pan shtypically patrol the top of the marginal drop-off (which, in turn is typically on the orderof ~1 3 feet in depth) in search of terrestrials or other invertebrates living among thebank side vegetation, while immediate access to deeper water affords some degree ofprojection from birds or other land based predators. Thus, in order to be successfulwhen angling for pan sh, the angler need only employ a strategy which, in turn, exploitsthe target species natural feeding behaviors. This is best and most easily accomplishedthrough the use of a short pole (sold as crappie or wonder poles for ~$10 in moststores), a light Thill style oat (shy bite style is best) coupled with 4 lb test line and a size16 trout hook. The rig is constructed with the bulk of the shot under the oat, with onlytwo or three light #8 shot pinched down the line this allows the hook bait (typicallysome kind of grub or worm) to fall slowly (i.e. naturally) through the water column. Rigs



Photo 1: A bluegill battles with grub impaled on

a size 6 hook, but is unable to swallow the larger

hook (See the full clip at banksher.com.)

Photo 2: A bluegill examines a poorly presented

bait before swimming away (See the full clip at

banksher.com.)


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such as this are both simple and efcient. Indeed, the current US bank shing record of511 sh in 4 hours was accomplished using such a set up!

Carp and other large bottom dwelling species, such as catsh, buffalo and drum, presenta different challenge, as they exhibit highly dissimilar feeding behaviors to those of pansh. Typically, these species patrol the bottom of the marginal shelf, which for mostbodies of water is usually located between 12 - 40 feet from shore, with its base typicallysubmerged to a depth of between 4 - 12 feet. Why can these species be found at thebase of the marginal shelf? There are two main reasons: First, food items either too bigfor, or missed by, pan sh at the top of the drop off typically roll to its base and collectthere. This in itself will attract larger species. Second, the base of the shelf offers a

feature along which species such as carp and catsh tend to patrol. In many ways thebase of the marginal shelf may be considered as something as an aquatic super highwayfor these sh, with the occasional food caches uncovered there being in many waysanalogous to hungry humans discovering sporadic diners and fast food joints along theroadside! In order to be successful when angling for these larger specimens, the angler(as with the pan sh case) need only employ a strategy which, in turn, exploits the targetspecies natural feeding behaviors. This is best and most easily accomplished through theuse of either oat or sinkers set ups that, in turn, allow the anglers bait to be presented

at the base of the marginal shelf. However, before a hook can be baited, the location ofthe shelfs base must rst be determined. This is most easily done with either a wirelesssh nder or a simple weight attached to the hook of an under-shotted oat rig. Thisprocess, called pluming, allows the exact depth of water to be established, with theshelf location being dened as where the bottom becomes at after dropping away fromthe margins. The rigs employed will typically be matched with a slightly longer rod thannormal a 10 to 12 ft crappie rod is ne, although a steel head oat rod or dedicatedEuro style match rod is somewhat better. Slightly longer rods allow for more distantcasts with lighter than normal terminal tackle, although rods of 8 ft or less may beused for shorter casts. A light Thill style oat (TG waggler or Stealth styles are best)coupled with a 4 - 6 lb test line and a size 14 - 16 trout hook work well. The rig is usuallyconstructed with ~2/3 of the required shot pinched under the oat (to aid with casing),with the remainder bulked at around 18 inches from the hook, with a single #8 shotpositioned ~6 inches from the hook. With the oat set so the bait either just touchesbottom or is just over-depth, the bait will quickly reach the required depth, but then alsoutter slowly through the last foot or so of the water column before coming to rest onthe bottom. Rigs such as this are simple and easy to sh, with catches of carp in excess

of 100 pounds possible over a 4 hour spell!

Setting the Table

Having assembled the correct rigs and located the top (in the case of pan sh) or bottom(in the case of the larger species) of the marginal shelf, how do we then go about catchinggood numbers of sh from these natural hotspots? Sure, we could just bait a hook,cast out and wait - after all, our hook bait is now residing in some prime sh-holding




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real estate! Signicantly, and this is probably one of the greatest mistakes bank anglersoften make, it is also important to actively draw sh into the shing area after anyinitial residents have been captured. In this way the angler is actively taking charge ofthe situation, as rather than having to wait for sh to nd their bait, they are insteadactively attracting more sh towards it. When catching bluegill or other pan sh fromthe margins, this goal can be best accomplished through emulating these species naturalfeeding behaviors in this case, by regularly introducing samples of bait to the shingarea by hand. This strategy, known as loose feeding, both quickly draws sh to theanglers shing area and promotes a competitive feeding response among the quarryspecies. Excellent loose feed baits are particulate in nature and include maggots, mealworms, or even corn. Little and often is a phrase worth remembering, as introducing

free offerings in such a manner is by far the best way to ensure the desired effect ofa bite a cast - which is commonly the case if undertaken correctly! Alternatively, theangler may choose to introduce a bed of feed. Known as chumming or groundbaiting,such a strategy involves introducing a carpet of food items in and around the anglersshing area. Groundbait (chum) can be anything from wetted bread crumbs through tochopped worm, with anglers often coming up with their own unique recipes. Althoughintroducing chopped worm is highly effective for bluegill, groundbaiting is most closelyassociated with shing for bottom feeders such as carp, catsh or drum. In such cases,

a sweet avored groundbait laced with corn seems to work best. A good basic recipewould be a 50/50 mix of white bread crumb and cornmeal wetted with cream of corn.This is not dough bait! When mixing the groundbait, it should contain just enoughliquid so it holds together when squeezed in to a ball, but then rapidly disintegrates (toform a carpet of feed on the bottom) after being introduced to the shing area. Typinggroundbait into an internet search engine will typically yield greater than 50,000 hits,with everything from the preparation of simple home made concoctions through to theeffectiveness of high end commercial mixes being detailed. The novice bank angler is

advised to try something more straightforward to begin with, such as the basic recipelisted above, before branching out into more species and/or conditions specic mixes.Interested readers are also encouraged to review a more detailed dedicated piece onthe design and preparation of groundbait at the Pats Patch section of the banksher.com website. Details on how a typical ground baiting strategy is undertaken at thewaters edge are discussed in the following section.

Ringing the Dinner Bell

Once prepared, several balls of groundbait are typically introduced to the anglers shingarea in order to create a catching zone. Clearly, since the target species will be attractedto this groundbaited area, it then becomes imperative that the bank angler then presenthis or her hook bait over this feed. A good analogy would be that of Thanksgiving dinner,the family (sh) seat themselves around the dining room table (catching zone) in orderto consume their dinner (groundbait). It is unlikely, aside from maybe that drunken Unclelaid out on the living room couch (?!), that anyone else (other sh) would be found awayfrom the dining room table (catching zone) during dinner (the shing session). Thus, to




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reiterate, it becomes clear that once groundbait is introduced, the anglers hook baitmust be presented over, or in close proximity to, this attractive bed of feed. A typicalinitial bombardment of 3 or 4 orange sized balls or groundbait creates a catching zoneapproximately the size of an average coffee table. Thus, the bank angler need only thenpresent their bait within this area to ensure a steady stream of takes from the aquaticdiners attracted to this underwater equivalent of a holiday feast!



Most often, anglers experience an initial urry of bites after the initial introduction ofgroundbait. This is almost always due to the presence of bluegill or other inquisitivepan sh. As shown in picture 3 (as well as in actual video footage of this event at the

Underwater Video and Photography Page of Banksher.com), bluegill just seem to appearfrom nowhere as soon as the rst groundbait ball in introduced! While the angler maybe content with catching bluegill and / or other pan sh initially, an important sequenceof events will begin unravel underwater which will, in turn, require the angler to makesome important decisions with regard the direction of their subsequent feeding strategy.When takes from pan sh begin to taper off, this normally implies that one of two eventsis likely taking place underwater. First, it may be that sh numbers within the catchingzone have been signicantly reduced, either through being captured by the angler or

becoming spooked by, for example, a clumsy foot fall or lost sh. In such instances, thesh must be attracted back into the catching zone through the introduction of additionalgroundbait, with a single ball most often being enough to reignite the action. Second, ifbites from pan sh seem to either stop abruptly or become very timid, this is a sure signthat larger species have appeared over the baited area. As shown in picture 4, biggerspecies such as carp and catsh, or even predators such as bass or walleye, will bumpprey species from the catching zone. If carp or catsh are thought to be present, quicklyswitching to a larger hook bait and heavier gear can often bring instant and excitingresults. Similarly, when sport species are a possibility, tossing out a plug or spinner often

Photo 3: A shoal of inquisitive bluegill is immediately attracted

to a ball of chum (See the full clip at banksher.com.)

Photo 4: Carp and other larger

species bump smaller pan sh out

of the chummed area.


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results in the capture of a much prized sport sh. For most unmanaged bodies of water,carp will likely be the rst of the larger species to show in such instances groundbaitand/or loose feed should be introduced after the capture of every one or two of thesesh, since such leviathans typically possess appetites in proportion to their size! In manyrespects, bank shing is not so much about using the right gear and bait, but moreabout getting the feeding right only in this way can impressive bags or sh be capturedover an entire session. Indeed, in many ways, the art of bank shing should really beconsidered the art feeding.

Summary of Top Tips

Think trout not bass when selecting gear suitable for bank shing..

Remember the majority of sh that swim in freshwater have relatively small mouths anddelicate feeding behaviors small hooks, light line and sensitive oats are a must.

Locate the top and bottom of the marginal shelf when shing from the

bank these are natural sh holding hotspots. Pan sh can be captured from the top ofthe shelf, with larger species from its base.

Create a catching zone through the introduction of groundbait to the chosen

shing area. Be sure to sh hook baits directly over this attractive bed of feed.

Ensure a steady stream of sh by gauging what is happening underwater,.

in terms of how many and which kinds of sh are feeding, and then reacting accordinglywith regard to further introduction of groundbait.

Please practice catch and release, as the strategies discussed here, if implementedcorrectly, will signicantly improve any anglers catches from the bank.


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In common with most bank anglers, especially those on an outing with the kids in tow,my family and I tend to sh local forest preserve and park district ponds and lakesfor a few hours on weekends or during those warm summer evenings. As Im sure mostparents will agree, theres nothing worse than having the kids sit restlessly for the entireperiod while watching a motionless bobber whats needed are frequent takes fromobliging sh, as nothing else will keep the youngsters enthralled! Thus, the issue thenbecomes how can we catch good numbers of sh from our local pond - a dilemma thisarticle will address.

Typically, local venues such as retention ponds and lakes contain large populations ofsmaller sh, such as gills, other sunsh, bullheads and shiners. Thus, just based on sheer

numbers, these sh will provide the necessary fast action kids and/or new anglers crave.While popular venues may also contain sport species such bass and/or catsh, these sh,although they do show up from time to time, are far less numerous than the smallerspecies, so should not be the focus during a casual family outing.

This introductory article provides a check list for the casual angler interested insignicantly increasing his or her catches of pan sh. Indeed, as is discussed below,anglers should be able to boost their catch rates to over 60 sh an hour (yes, better thana sh a minute!) by making several simple modications to their set up and approach.The following list of hints and tips are both cost effective and easy to implement and, byfollowing the following instructions closely, the typical angler is essentially guaranteed afour fold or better increase in the number of pan sh they catch.

Tip 1 - Equipment

The good news is that most of us already posses the poles, rods and reels required forthe job. Typically, gills can be captured easily from the margins so light actionedcane,.glass ber or carbon ber shing poles (sold as crappie poles or similar at your localstore) between 10 and 16 feet in length are ideal. Light action rods of seven feet orgreater in length are also adequate, but the simple pole is a cheaper and more effectiveapproach. Since, as is discussed below, small hooks, delicate oats and light line are tobe implemented, light or ultralight rods must be used in conjunction with these itemsof.tackle.

Tip 2 - Floats (bobbers)

By far the biggest mistake people make when shing for the smaller species is using a

bobber that is just plain not suited to the task at hand. I know most of us used the goodol red and white bobbers when we were kids, and continue to do so to this day, butthe use of this particular style of oat leads to a signicant reduction in the number ofhittable takes - its not called a bobber for nothing you know(!). The ineffectivenessof the red and white can be explained in terms of the mechanics of the bite. Typically,we want to see a sail under bite from the sh, with the bobber (oat) disappearingbeneath the surface. This unmistakable indication is then hit by the angler and the shhooked. In order for this to happen, the sh must apply enough force to sink the oat

Catching More Bluegills from Your Local Pond


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on the take. Now, here in lies the problem - if the force required to sink the oat is toogreat, the sh will feel an unnatural resistance on the take and will most likely rejectthe bait. Clearly, reducing this force would lead to more hittable sail away bites, buthow can this be accomplished? Well, it all comes down to two principle factors - 1) thebuoyancy of the visible above water portion, or tip, of the oat and 2) how streamlined,or hydrodynamic, the body of the oat is. Essentially, less force is required to pull undera oat possessing a low buoyancy tip and /or a streamlined body shape. The take homemessage here, which naturally follows from these facts, is that the angler should use a oat

with a slim, streamlined prole that also possesses a small visible tip. The most commonlyavailable oats of this type in the US are the Little Lindy Thill brand shy bite oats.These oats are reasonably cheap and may be purchased at most tackle stores.

Tip - Hooks, line, sinkers and bait

During the warmer months, as well as most other times of the year, pan sh generallyfeed by intercepting food (usually insects) as they fall or move through the waters surfacelayers. Thus, in order to catch pan sh in an efcient manner, it is best to take advantage

of this inherent feeding response. Thus, the angler must use a small, insect like bait thatmust in turn fall through the water slowly - in much the same way as a natural offeringwould. This method is called is called shing on the drop and is most efciently achievedthrough the use of ne lines and small hooks, with ultra small split shot used on the line.

The small hooks, light line and small split shot required are easily obtained the troutsection of shing stores. Each of these three components are vitally important to thisstyle of shing, as a slow fall of the bait through the water can only be achieved throughimplementing these components in tandem. Why is this so?


Worst - the traditional red and

white bobber. Most anglers sh

this oat with at least half the

body (the white part) proud of

the water. The tip is therefore

very buoyant. Bites are very

difcult to detect with such

oats, hence they bob rather

than slider under!

Better - the Little Lindy Thill

Mini-Stealth. The smaller yellow

tip is less buoyant, and the oat

as a whole more streamlined

than the traditional red and

white. An adequate oat for

catching aggressive gills up in

the water or in very shallow

water.

Best - the Little Lindy Thill Shy

Bite. The small tip and narrow

body of this oat make it an

ideal choice of most kinds of

short range shing. Bites are

very easily detected as sail

aways with oats such as this.


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Taking the split shot rst. Small shot obviously fall through the water at slower rate thanlarger shot. Thus, by placing three or so evenly spaced #8 or #10 shot down the line,the hook bait will have a slow drop through the water, while the shot will also allow forany movement of the bait (initiated by a sh) to be seen. Dont be tempted to put no shotwhatsoever down the line as, although this will result in a very slow and natural dropof the hook bait, little indication will be seen when a sh takes the bait and many guthooked sh will result. Several #8 or #10 shot down the line is the best compromise interms of having a slow drop and detecting bites from the sh. A low diameter invisiblenylon or uorocarbon line must also be used. In addition to the fact that sh cannot seelow diameter lines very easily, thicker gauge lines have an inherent stiffness which, inturn, translates to an unnatural fall of the bait. Since the sh we are after generally dont

top half a pound, a line of 2 - 4 lb breaking strain is good choice in terms of its suppleness,diameter and strength. Finally, it is important to match the size of the hook used to thebait employed. If a hook is too large for a bait, this may result in the bait either behavingunnaturally (the hook outweighs the bait, causing it to behave dissimilarly to any looseofferings of the same bait) or being difcult to take by the sh (small sh simply cannotswallow larger sized hooks). Conversely, if a hook is too small for a bait, its point oftenbecomes masked by the bait, causing sh to be bumped on the strike. Ideally, the hookand bait should be of approximately the same size and, when the bait is mounted on the

hook, the point of the hook should be just slightly exposed. A good gill / pan sh hookbait is either two spikes or a section of worm. Hooks of size 14 or 16 (again, available inthe trout section) work best with these baits.

Putting it together

The following is a general description of how the most efcient competitive bank anglersput the above information to good use - often times catching in excess of 400 bluegillsover the span of a four hour competition!

Prepare a short ( ~10 - 16 foot) pole rig. The rig should consist of a light 1 or 2 BB (1/64or 1/32 oz) shy bite or similar style oat in tandem with line of less than 4 pounds b.s.and a ne wire trout hook of size 16 or so. The pole and line used should be of the same


The author used the methods discussed

here to catch a tournament winning ~30pound net of bluegills during the 2005

US Open Bank shing championships.


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length - this will allow each sh hooked to be swung to hand. Start with the oat depthset to around two or three feet (assuming the water is deeper than this, set to just underfull depth if it is not), with only 3 or so evenly spaced # 8 or #10 shot attached to thelast 2 or 3 feet of line - this will ensure the hook bait drops slowly through the water.Have the last shot pinched on the line at around 4 - 6 from the hook, this will aid indetecting bites and avoid gut hooking sh. The balance of the split shot, most likely 3or so #4 shot, should be pinched on to the line right under the oat. When cast out,the oat should settle so that only the red tip is visible. Adjust the bulk shot under theoat until this is so. Pinch down the barb of the hook - this will allow for easier hookingand unhooking of the sh. Very few sh will be lost by pinching the barb down, as mostoften the small quarry species will be swung directly to hand in one smooth strike and

retrieve.motion.

Regularly loose feed in the vicinity of the rig. Most pan sh are classied as insectivores they prey almost exclusively on insects, that in turn, fall into the water (this is especiallytrue of bluegills). Thus, the best way to attract pan sh is to take advantage of theirnatural behaviors and introduce regular amounts of chopped worms or spikes to theshing area. These free offerings (loose feed) will bring sh into a specic small area andforce them to compete for food. Indeed they will essentially be waiting for a bait to fall

past their noses and will jump on any hooked offering! Also, since hook baits unavoidablyfall through the water a little more quickly than free offerings it is advisable to followthe loose feed with the rig a deadly trick, as the heavy hook bait essentially catches upwith the slower falling free offerings and a take usually ensues as the sh dart around,mopping up the available food items. It is generally not necessary to loose feed beforeevery cast, as each helping of bait will keep the sh interested for a few minutes.

Advanced tip: Find the sh and judge their mood.While the above advice will inevitablylead to more sh being caught, it is often possible to hone ones catch rate by playing

a few tricks. Dependent on the weather conditions encountered, pan sh can suspendat virtually any depth from a few inches under the surface to just a few inches off thebottom. While shing at 2 - 3 feet down is a good place to start, try moving the oat upand down in increments of a foot or so until you attract more bites. Generally speaking,the warmer the conditions, the shallower the sh will be. Often times, sh will tend tomove up in the water during a session. They do this to intercept the loose feed beforetheir brethren, and so get a better shot at a meal. If bites tail off or become twitchyduring a session, shallow up the rig and see what happens - bites will likely start coming

thick and fast once more. Occasionally, the sh seem hard to catch. During times such asthese it often pays to try and goad the more aggressive sh into a take. Do this by eitherjigging or trolling the hook bait in and around the shing area. This trick can really paydividends, as often sh will only hit a moving bait.

In conclusion, by following the above tips the average angler cannot help but increasetheir catch rates of pan sh, particularly gills. These strategies really do work, so anglersare strongly urged to practice catch and release.



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The Midwests rivers offer some fantastic sport for the bank angler, everything frompopular sport species, such as smallmouth and walleye, through vast numbers ofschooling species, such as drum, to bottom feeding leviathans, such as catsh or carp,may be caught. How can the bank sher take advantage of this potential bounty? Theanswer lies in adopting a versatile approach. Anglers are often categorized as being bass,walleye, catsh, or some other species specic angler. The thing is, in practice this isalmost never the case. How often have you gone out for cats and caught nothing butcarp, or tried for northern pike and had hits from nothing but walleye? In my book, a shis a sh, and I actually go out of my way to make my approach as species non specicas possible. Such a philosophy almost always guarantees a bulging net of diverse species,as well as a great day on the water, but the question of interest is how? In this article

youll discover some simple and effective methods that can be used to temp all of theabove mentioned species, often, as is detailed below, within the same shing session.Such an approach was recently used by members of the JJC Anglers Club during anouting to the Illinois River at Ottawa, IL. What follows is a detailed review of the outingas experienced by those taking part, namely Chris Baltas, Jim Mowatt and myself, as wetempted a 30+ pound catch of catsh, carp, drum, small mouth and assorted pan shover a short four hour period.

Jim and I arrived at Allen Park, situated just off Rt. 23 in Ottawa, at around 9:30 am ona crisp morning in early May. As Id never shed the Illinois River before, we decidedto have a quick cast around with a Smartcast sh nder. The electronics revealed a 3foot deep shelf out to about 12 20 feet from the parks concrete seawall over its entirelength, dropping to a level 7-8 feet depth beyond that, with a slight deepening (perhapsnot surprisingly) around the boat launch and Rt. 23 bridge supports. This informationwas key, as sh tend to use submerged shelves and drop offs as underwater highways.If you can locate the nearside shelf, on a river, lake or pond, it always pays to sh thedeep water just past this feature, as this will essentially guarantee a continued ow ofpatrolling sh entering your shing area. Indeed, it was with this idea in mind, and withthe threat of impending poor weather, that we planned our strategy around shing overthe shelf beneath the Rt. 23 bridge.

Knowing where the sh are likely to be and actually catching them are, clearly, twodifferent things. In order to concentrate the patrolling sh in our chosen shing area weprepared a groundbait (chum) and introduced 8 or so baseball sized helpings just overthe shelf in 7 feet of water. What groundbaiting (chumming) does is provide an attractive,

available food source for passing sh, which then stay in the anglers area for a period oftime. Such an approach can yield some real bumper catches the world banking recordcurrently stands at 415 pounds of sh in 5 hours! a feat that would not have beenpossible without the magnetic sh attracting properties of a good groundbait. A decentbasic groundbait can be made from equal parts cornmeal and white breadcrumbs, withextra sweet (such as cookie crumbs) or savory (such as sh or blood meal) ingredientsadded to give the mix extra kick. On the day we used a mix avored with cookiecrumbs and dried molasses as, from experience, most species of sh seem to have a

Versatility: The Key to Good Catches


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sweet tooth. Last, and most importantly, groundbait and dough bait should not beconfused. A groundbait is not doughy and should fall apart when rubbed between thehands such a consistency is essential for creating an attractive carpet of feed in theanglers shing area. Details pertaining to groundbait to recipes and mixing instructionscan be viewed at banksher.coms dedicated groundbait section, or obtained from theauthor via e-mail upon request.

With the shelf located and groundbait introduced just beyond this underwater highway,all that remained was the task of introducing our hook baits to the prepared shing area.The rigs used featured modied sinkers called method feeders, which can be eitherhome made or purchased from a variety of outlets, the closest being Wacker Baits of

Oak Park, IL. Briey, a method feeder is simply a regular 1 oz+ sinker with a coil of loosetting wire wrapped around it. The job of the wire coil is to hold a ball of groundbaittight to the sinker when cast, which in turn introduces groundbait to the immediatevicinity of the hook bait when resting on the bottom. Regular egg or other in-line sinkerscan also be used, but with a ball of chum mounded directly around the lead. The keywith this method is to use a short (~ 6 inch) hooklength, small (~ 12 14) hook, small(single corm, several spikes, or worm segment) bait and a xed sinker or method feeder.This devastatingly effective rig results in erce takes as sh attacking the chum ball suck

in the hook bait and, typically, hook themselves against the weight of the lead. In manyrespects, the rig is similar to the paylakers highly effective pack bait rig.


TYPICAL METHOD FEEDER RIG

Reel line 6 lb. or8.lb.

Method

Size 14 Short 3 hook-length of.


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On the day we shed action was immediate Jim hooked and lost a large carp rst putin (while I was still setting up!), while his second put in resulted in a 6 pound carp. Myrst cast resulted in the biggest sh of the day (an 8 pound carp), which took a whileto land after trying to wrap my line around a bridge stanchion (who says sh arentsmart!?). Over the course of the next four hours we bagged a total of 4 more carp, 6drum, 2 catsh and several bluegill. Chris, who joined us later, shed with minnows forsmallmouth (as the local anglers were doing) and managed a single smallmouth of arounda pound in weight. Its amazing, Jim and I were shing for whatever swims and ended upwith ~ 30 pounds of sh, while Chris and the three or so local species specic anglers inattendance managed a few smaller sh for a combined total of less than ve pounds. Onthe day, as it always seems to be, versatility was denitely the key to bumper catches.

Pat and Jim with a ne brace of carp, caught from the Illinois River, below the Rt. 23 road bridge, in Ottawa.

Clearly, even though these highly effective methods are reasonably straightforward toimplement and feature easily obtainable equipment, this style of shing probably seemsmore than a little alien to most anglers. With this in mind, the Joliet Junior CollegeAnglers Club sponsors a variety of free local bank shing events that feature instructionin these versatile methods. Anglers interested in attending any JJCAC event, or learningmore about the clubs activities, should check the calendar page of banksher.com fordetails


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Introduction

During the early spring, just after ice out, water contained within our lakes, rivers

and ponds remains very cold. Fish can be difcult to both locate and catch duringthis time, as they tend to shoal in specic deep-water areas and, due to their slowedmetabolisms, are typically lethargic and tend to adopt timid feeding behaviors. However,it is possible for the bank sher to make some excellent catches during this time. Thefollowing tips detail how, by allowing for and adapting to these specic conditions, thisgoal can be accomplished.

Locating sh on lakes and ponds

Tip #1 During the frigid late winter and early spring, sh of all species generally shoalup in warmer deep-water areas. This behavior is related to the fact that water in therange.of.4oC 0oC (~39oF 32oF) is less dense than water above this range, meaning itrises to the surface before turning in to ice. Thus, under the coldest conditions, locatingsh can sometimes be as simple as casting ones bait into the deepest (or warmest) partof the lake or pond. However, just because ones bait is within the vicinity of the sh, thisdoes not guarantee that it will be taken. This point is addressed further in tip #6.

Tip #2 - Following on from tip #1, it is important to remember that sh will generallymigrate to warmer water as conditions allow. Therefore, as weather conditions improvesh may be found in shallower water closer to shore. This behavior may follow eitherof two trends after a few days of mild weather, during which time the temperatureof the water has remained above 4oC during both nighttime and daylight hours, orduring bright daytime conditions when direct sunlight may rapidly warm the shallowsby a signicant degree. This latter effect can be particularly evident around midday, soit is often of benet to bank sh a venue over the more productive hours of ~11:00 am

3:00 pm during the cooler months. The points so far discussed pertaining to watertemperature illustrate an important fact by either estimating or actually measuring thewaters temperature, the angler can come up with a best guess of where the sh will beholding at our local lake or pond. Thus, it is of benet to carry a thermometer in orderto check the venues temperature close to shore. A personal rule of thumb is that if thewater temperature in the shallows is 5oC (39oF) or greater, then a close range pole orbobber (oat) approach is used, but if the shallows are at a lower temperature than thiscritical value, then either long range sinker or oat tactics are preferred. These specicapproaches are discussed further in tip #6.

Tip # - Fish from the windward (sheltered) bank of a lake or pond during the coolermonths. For example, if the prevailing winds are out of the Northwest, then sh fromthe NW bank of the venue. This tactic has two principle benets rst, the angler willgenerally be protected from the prevailing wind, or at least have his or her back to it.Not only does this approach allow for a more comfortable shing position, (much betterthan having a brisk winter wind blowing directly into ones face), but bite detection alsobecomes easier when shing calmer water. Second, as the wind blows across the venue

Hot Tips for Cold Weather


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it will produce two effects - in addition of causing the top most layers of the water to bepushed towards the venues opposite (SE in our example) bank, it will also signicantlycool this water. As a result of these effects, the temperature of the water blown intothe leeward (exposed) bank will plummet, resulting in any sh present to most likelyvacate the area.

Locating sh on rivers

Tip # In many ways, locating and catching sh from rivers during the cooler monthscan be a far less complicated than performing an equivalent task on any lake or pond. Thistruism can be traced to one simple fact in common with their still water counterparts,the metabolisms of all river sh also slow down as water temperatures drop. Thus, inorder to conserve energy most species relocate to either deeper and/or slower riverstretches with the onset of cooler weather. Bearing this fact in mind, the angler is advisedto target the deeper features of rivers holes, the outside of bends, bays and abovedams, during the cooler months. Interestingly, even though both river and still water shretreat to deeper water during cooler periods, they may do so for different reasons.For river sh, which must constantly expend energy by swimming against the current,residing in deeper and/or slower stretches provides a mechanism for such species to

conserve energy and, therefore, function with a reduced metabolic rate. However, itshould also be noted that river sh typically maintain slightly higher metabolic rates thantheir still water brethren under similar temperature conditions. This is due to the factthat such sh must continually expand energy by swimming against the rivers current.This latter point is good news to the angler, as river sh must necessarily feed morefrequently than their still water counterparts during the cooler months. Thus, given achoice, a personal rule of thumb would be to sh a river in preference to a still waterwhen water temperatures are within a few degrees of freezing.


A happy, but very cold Pat holding a match winning

(12 pound) bag o bluegills, caught during an early

season event at Barth Pond, Downers Grove, IL. Proof

that bluegills bite even on the coldest of days!


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Tackle and tactics

Tip # - Having determined the most probable location of the sh, how do we go about

catching them? Simply stated, in order to attract sh to the vicinity of or hook bait,hold them there and eventually attract takes from our quarry, some kind of groundbait(chum) must be introduced to our chosen swim. Groundbaits work by rst attractingsh, through releasing an attractive smell, then providing a readily available carpet offood in order to keep these sh within the desired (groundbaited) area. Groundbaitsthemselves can be very simple a 50/50 mixture of cornmeal and white bread crumb,combined with water and mixed into uffy balls that, in turn, fall apart when throwninto the water, works well in summer. However, under cold-water conditions a more

sophisticated approach is required. First, since the sh require less food, the food valueof the groundbait must be reduced. Passing the dry, pre-mixed groundbait ingredientsthrough a coffee grinder typically accomplishes this task. The resulting ne powdercontains very small particles that, when eventually introduced to the water via thenished groundbait will not overfeed the sh. Additionally, the nished groundbait mayalso be cut with up to 50% damp soil before being introduced to the water. This also hasthe effect of allowing a larger groundbaited area to be established, while simultaneouslynot introducing an excessive amount of feed. Second, the attractiveness of the groundbait

must be enhanced. This an easily be accomplished by adding some kind of avoring to thegroundbait during mixing vanilla and strawberry food avorings work well, as do garlicand sh oil lure sprays sold through most tackle stores. This is necessary as scents andavors diffuse at a much slower rate in cold water, thus by increasing their concentrationthis drawback is overcome. A small number of hook bait samples should also be addedto the groundbait. If using worm on the hook, chopped or pulped worms make for adeadly groundbait additive. Typically, between two and ve orange sized balls of lowfeed/winter groundbait should be introduced to the area to be shed. The angler shouldthen sh his or her bait over this area until the number of takes begins to tail off. Thismay not happen during the session, but if it does a further two or three balls groundbaitshould be introduced.

Tip # Following on from tip #5, having attracted sh into the area to be shed throughthe introduction of a suitable groundbait, the angler is free to sh a hook bait over thisgroundbaited area. However, due to the fact that sh in cold water can be notoriouslylethargic and/or nicky, ultra light tackle, coupled with the most sensitive of bobbers(oats) or other terminal tackle, must be utilized. Additionally, since the appetites of the

quarry have become diminished (due to the fact that they have reduced metabolic rates),small baits, and therefore hooks, must be also used, as they also provide the best chanceof inducing a take. Typically, a sensitive oat, such as a Thill style shy bite, is shed inconjunction with line of ~2 lb breaking strain and a ne wire hook of size 18 or 20. Smallbaits such as double or single maggot (spikes), or a half to one inch section of choppedworm are typically employed, although a single grain of corn or a larger section of wormmounted on a size 16 or 14 hook may be used if larger species such as catsh or carpare sought. The bait is most often shed so it just touches bottom, appearing (from the



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shes point of view) to protrude from the groundbaited area. Additionally, if shing atshort range with a rod or pole, it is often possible to jig or twitch the bait in order toprovoke a take with such a rig. If a sinker set up is used for shing at longer range, thehook bait should be shed on a short leader of a foot or less in length with the pointof the hook exposed from the bait. The sinker should also be xed in place and be ofat least one ounce in weight. This is essentially a self-hooking rig and will result in takesbeing easy to spot. Also, the hook bait can be rendered partially buoyant, and thereforemore visible to the sh, through the use of a worm blower or by attaching a small pieceof sponge foam to the shank of the hook.

More details

The above tips and hints provide a good basic description of how good numbers ofsh may be caught from our ponds, lakes and rivers and during the cooler months. Foradditional information and free access to more detailed articles on these and other bankshing topics (including groundbait recipes and detailed rig descriptions), the reader isencouraged to visit to the Pats Patch area of banksher.com.



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Overview

The following document provides a description of how I and other competitive

bank anglers typically go about catching sh (of any species) from the bank atlocal venues. Such venues are typical those found on everyurban or suburban anglersdoorstep and include, but are not limited to, Park District and Forest Preserve lakes andponds, retention ponds, and sluggish small medium sized rivers. It is hoped that theinformation presented here will provide the reader with an idea of the equipment that isrequired to reap the signicant rewards that such approaches offer.

For those interested in purchasing similar gear, throughout this report I have used bold,italicized type to indicate items that I use that can, in turn, be obtained throughvarious domestic and overseas suppliers. Obtaining gear either domestically or fromoverseas via mail order is a pretty safe and stress free experience and well worth thetrouble to obtain more specialized (and effective!) equipment. Interestingly, WackerBaits (wackerbaits.com) of Oak Park, IL currently carries an essentially complete rangeof Fox carp equipment and, due to local demand, a reasonable range of Fox matchgear

The following descriptions are split into four separate categories, that in turn cover

the bases with regard to how myself and other competent match/bank anglers typicallytackle the types of venue mentioned above. The four major categories are: Wagglershing, Short pole (whip) Line to hand shing, Long pole shing and Swimfeeder/legershing. We do not typically sh with top and bottom stick or Avon type oats andcenter pin reels, as one would for trout on a pacey stream or small river, as such venuesare very rarely shed. I have presented seminars at Joliet Junior College and elsewhererelating much of the material discussed here the reader is urged to log on and downloadthe PowerPoint presentation at the Articles and Presentations page of banksher.com

Waggler Fishing

As is the norm when I go bank shing I essentially follow a very similar procedure withregard to the set up of my shing station. My seatboxis placed as close to the watersedge as possible and then made level using its adjustable legs. I also rest my feet on afootplate attached to the front legs of my seatbox. A level seatbox is more comfortable,plus essential for shing the long pole (which is the most commonly used bank/matchshing method, and will be discussed below). I then attach a side trayto the left sideof my seatbox this allows for bait and essential equipment needed during the sessionto be kept close at hand. When waggler shing, this will be my bait (stored in maggieboxes), Drennan loose feed and/or groundbait catapult(s) and a towel. I alsoattach my keepnet.to.a.bank stickand place it in the water in front of my footplate;screw a rod rest head into another bank stick and place it in a one oclock position tothe right side of my footplate. I will rest my 13 ft waggler rod (match or carp wagglerrod) on this when shing. I also set up a landing net (handle.and.head) and place it tomy left with its handle within easy reach. I also keep my match disgorgerwithin easy

Review of Bank Fishing Methods

and Equipment


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reach most often on a string around my neck.

Having set up my shing station I begin assembling my rig(s). Waggler shing is typically

conducted at ranges between 15 and 30 yards out, with oats taking between 3 AAAand 4 SSG required to cast the distance. My personal favorites for swims of 3 feet orless in depth are the Drennan Puddle Chuckers, which are stumpy and made oftransparent plastic. Such oats really help avoid spooking sh in clear and/or shallowwater. In deeper or more colored water a longer Kamasan or Drennan peacockwaggleris preferred the extra length keeps the anglers line under the surface, andso less affected by wind. Straight wagglers are used when shing over-depth for bottomfeeders such carp and cats (their thicker tips dont pull under as easily), while insert

(thinner tipped) oats are used when shing off bottom for pan sh. A typical pan shrig will consist of 2 4 pound test line, an insert puddle chucker or insert peacockwaggler oat (attached bottom end only and locked in place by 90% of the shot neededto cock it, with the rest, typically a few number 6 or 8 shot, evenly spread out betweenthe oat and hook). Carp and cat rigs are similarly assembled, but feature 4 6 poundtest line and a straight puddle chucker. A size 14 Kamasan B611 spade end hook istypically used when shing for cats or carp, while a size 18 Kamasan B520 spade endhook is used in conjunction with smaller baits, such as spikes, for pan sh. I keep my

hooks on pre-tied leaders in hook wallets (although pre-tied hooks to nylon.are.also.available). Spade end hooks are tied using a spade end hook tier. Spade end hooksoffer a better presentation than eyed hooks. However, analogous eyed versionsof the 611 and 520 hooks (B 525 and B 980) are available and work very well.The depth of the swim is found by either pinching a large shot on to the hook and thenpluming up, or by using a dedicatedplumet . If carp or cats are sought the oat is set alittle over depth (more so if windy), while if pan sh are expected the oat is set so thebait comes to rest an inch or so off bottom.


and Equipment

Nine carp for 54 pounds in three hours!Carp on!


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The key to amassing large weights when bank shing I accurate feeding this basic truismis common to all four of the major methods discussed. In a nutshell, the angler mustconsistently cast their rig and introduce their bait to the same small area in order to besuccessful. When shing the waggler this task is accomplished by using the oat itself asa target for loose feed and/or groundbait. Thus, the oat must be consistently cast tothe same spot each time. This task is accomplished by applying two simple tricks: First,cast the rig out to a comfortable distance, then trap the reel line behind the line clip onthe reels spool. In this way the oat can only travel a xed distance and no further eachcast. Next, dip the rod tip under water and quickly reel in three or four turns - this sinksthe line and, consequently, keeps the oat in one spot (the anglers shing spot!), even inhigh wind. Second, when casting out always cast to a far bank marker, such as a tree or

building - the angler then consistently achieves both accurate distance and direction oneach cast. Once the angler has his distance and direction feed is periodically introducedvia either loose feed and/or groundbait catapult(s).

Whip Fishing

Whip shing is the simplest and most efcient bank angling method period! It is highlyeffective for bluegills and other pan sh that inhabit the margins or ponds and lakesduring the summer, and consequently makes for a non-fail match technique. The whiphas probably accounted for more match wins than any other single method, especiallywhen the larger species wont cooperate.

Whip gear and rigs are very simple a carbon ber or glass ber pole of around16 feet in length is used (what are sold in tackle stores as crappie poles work well), towhich is tied an equivalent length of two or three pound test line. A small size 20 16barbless hook (Kamasan B 510) terminates the rig, with a light pole oat competing


and Equipment

A bucket of whip caught gills

for Elise.

An angler getting into a rhythm while whip shing.


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the outt. My favorite whip oat is a 0.25 or 0.50 gram Drennan Quad, attachedto the line with silicon tubing.

Fishing the whip is all about rhythm feed, cast, strike, swing, unhook, and then repeat.Maggots (most often double on a size 16) make for the best bait as they are robust andcan be used for up to approximately ten sh before being replaced. Since the sh areswung to hand barbless hooks are preferred as they speed up unhooking, while the shdont typically wriggle off during the swing retrieve. Regular feeding is the key - betweensix or so maggots introduced before each cast (with the rig then dragged on to the spotwhere the free offerings went in) almost guarantees a take as the sh chase the spikesaround. The best whip catch I have heard of is 511 sh in 4 hours!!

Long Pole Fishing

While whip shing can be described as the most efcient bank shing method, in termsof the total number of sh caught, the long pole must be described as the bank shersmost devastating method, as it generally accounts for much greater total weights of sh.The reasons for this are two fold: First, pole shing allows the angler to sh exactly overhis or her groundbait and, second, pole shing allows for a degree of control over theanglers rig (and bait) that greatly surpasses all other methods. The only real disadvantage

the pole possesses is that the angler can only sh out from the bank to the maximumlength of their pole, which (although poles are available to 17 meters) is realisticallylimited to ~ 12 meters. My personal choice ofpole is a Maver H41 it is a 14.5 M matchmodel, meaning it is light and stiff, but lacks strength. In all honesty I feel it isnt quite upto the job of landing a double gure carp and, in hindsight, I should have originally ordereda more robust power model. My recommendation for the US angler who demands thebest would be the Diawa Spectron Power or Diawa Tournament Professional (bothretail in excess of $3000!). For the angler beginning pole shing the models offered by

Fox (via Wacker baits) offer good value for money and decent strength.When shing the pole I take full advantage of its inherent advantages, and do so byfollowing a set procedure: After setting up my shing station, as described above, I thenset up a tulip style rod rest to my right (such rod rest heads trap the tip end of thepole during re-baiting etc.). I then set up my pole roller some ve or six yards behindand slightly to the right of my seatbox. The pole roller allows the long pole to berun backwards through the anglers hands quickly when re-baiting, playing sh etc., andsupports the but end of the pole while re-baiting etc. In addition to the tulip rest, a pole

roller is essential to shing the long pole effectively. I also set up a pair ofpole roosts.(rig rests) to my left, which are basically rectangular pieces of foam with groves cut in.These are where extra pole and cupping top kits (the last 2 or three sections of thepole, to which the rig is attached) are kept. I own a pair ofDrennan Team Englandrig rests, one of each size (although two of the larger size would be better). Rigs arekept onpole winders and secured by rig anchors. I prefer the Drennan Choppapole oats in the 0.5 gram size for shallow water carp shing and the Preston PB 20.in the 0.5 or 0.75 gram sizes for deeper water. Carp rigs are typically tied using 5 or 6


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pound test Preston Power line, with a size 14 Kamasan B 611 hooknishing therig off. Pan sh rigs typically incorporate either a Drennan Quad.or.Preston PB19 oats in the 0.4 1.0 gram sizes. The Drennan Tipo oat is also good. The hook isa.size 20 16 Kamasan B520,.tied.to 2 or 3 pound test rig line. I use top kitstted with size 12 or 14 elastics for carp and size 6 elastics for pan sh. I have 5top kits in total each has a bung, appropriate internal elastic, appropriatediameter (for the elastic used) PTFE tip bush and elastic- line connector..I.

also have a Drennan cupping kit a top kit with a small cup attached, which allowsfor the accurate feeding of groundbait. Finally, I insert a skid bung in the butt sectionof my pole, such devices prevent damaging the pole when shipping back. Drennan offerSkid Bungs, with the diameter chosen to t the anglers pole. For a full review of top

kits and other essential pole bits and bobs see the Tackle Box section of Pats Patch atbanksher.com.

Having set up my gear and rigs I then mix up my groundbait in my Drennan TeamEngland groundbait bowl(s) (although any circular bowl(s) will do). It is importantto mix up the groundbait at least half an hour before shing commences, as it absorbswater quite slowly. I then plumb the depth all around my swim, out to the completelength of my pole. I do this to locate the drop off (or other sh holding features), which

can normally be found between 4 and 9 meters from the bank. Larger sh love to patroljust over the drop off, so it is important to nd and sh just past it. Once found, I markmy pole with liquid paper at the length where the shelf is this ensures totally accurateshing later in the session. Once the depth of water just past the shelf is established, I setall my rigs to this depth and similarly mark up their respective top kits (where the oattip rests against the top kit) accordingly with liquid paper. The rigs are then ne tunedwith micro shot (good qualityAnchor shot in the AAA 12 range can be purchasedin the trout section of larger outdoor stores, such as Gander Mountain) until they sitjust right, with the length of line between the oat and pole tip shortened to ~ 2.5 feet(I always make my rigs up too long at home, as one can always shorten them to therequired length on the bank). If it is windy the rigs are shed up to 6 inches ove

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