Top Tactics And Must-Have Lures For Better Shore Fishing Adventures

Fishing from shore is a great activity for getting outside with family and friends. All you need to start  catching fish is a basic understanding of the best shore fishing spots, a handful of lures, a compact rod and reel combo, and some essential fishing tools.

Streams, small rivers and ponds make for a quaint angling experience and, despite their size, can hold big fish. The shorelines of large lakes and rivers also provide plenty of bank fishing opportunities.

Regardless of where you’re shore fishing, certain places will attract better than others. Some of the best bank fishing spots include:

• Boat launches
• Bridges
• Public parks, green spaces and recreational pathways offering water access
• Docks and harbours permitting fishing
• Causeways
• Dams and spillways
• Canals and culverts
• Tributaries
• Break walls
• Jetties and piers
• Wing dams

The following shore fishing strategies will serve you well when beating the bank for your next big catch.

Cover water

Efficiently working different sections of fishable water is as important from the bank as it is from a boat. Fan casting (i.e., making a series of cast-retrieve sequences, each with a slightly different angle/direction) is a great way to cover water from shore. After dissecting what’s in front of you, move down the bank and repeat the process.

Work the water column

Fish relating to shorelines may feed anywhere from at the surface to the bottom. Use different lures to work various depths of the water column, and you’ll catch more fish from the bank.

Look for edges 

Most fish like edges, and positioning your bait near these high-percentage spots is one of the best ways to catch more fish from shore. Structures and types of cover to focus on include: points, drop-offs, weedlines, current seams, bottom composition transitions (e.g., rock to sand), rock reefs, boulders, sunken logs, fallen trees, docks and shoreline undercuts.

Fish with the wind in your face

Wave-hit shorelines can yield better fishing than protected, calm, leeward banks. Wave currents can disorient baitfish and reduce visibility, giving bass, walleye, pike and other predators the upper hand. Even a light breeze creating a small ripple across the water can mean better fishing compared to flat-calm conditions.

Note: cold water blowing into shallow areas in spring is often a scenario to avoid as many fish prefer the warmer water found in sheltered, calm and sun-drenched bays and other protected shoreline spots.

One of the great things about shore fishing is you only need a handful of lures when getting started. The following baits give the best bang for your buck when bank fishing.

Pigstick (Texas, Wacky or Neko rigged), Ned BLT on Ned Rig Jig, BX Brat squarebill crankbait, The Mayor swimbait on Hybrid Swimbait Jig, PRX Jowler topwater, Bronze Slammer spinner.

Two-piece rods are very popular for shore fishing. These rods are compact, packable and easy to transport when collapsed into their separate sections.

A 13 Fishing Myth or Oath 2-piece medium or medium-light spinning rod and spinning reel spooled 6- or 8-pound Advance Monofilament or Advance Fluorocarbon will easily handle the lion’s share of many freshwater shore fishing scenarios. If regularly fishing baits over 3/8-ounces, though, consider also having a medium-heavy, 2-piece casting rod and a 13 Fishing Modus SZ2 casting reel with 10- to 14-pound fluorocarbon or 30-pound ProMix Braid in the arsenal.

A final tip: travelling light is a good idea when shore fishing, but it’s important not to skip packing the essentials. Here are several crucial items not to be without. 

• Backpack or shoulder tackle bag for carrying gear
• Rugged tackle trays for protecting and organizing lures and other tackle
• Pliers for removing hooks
• Scissors and cutters for clipping fishing line 
• Compact fishing net (optional)
• Hand towel
• Sturdy, supportive footwear 
• Sun protection (e.g., sunscreen, Neck Gaiter and Hooded UV Shirt)
• Bug spray
• Plenty of water and lunch/snacks
• First aid kit
• A garbage bag for packing out your trash and other refuse along the shore