Bank Fishing 101 A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MODERN BANK ANGLING olleg C e A r o n i g n l u e J r s t e C li l u o b J w ww om .Bankfisher.c Dr. Patrick Mills, Joliet Junior College Anglers Club Contents Bank Fishing Revisited................................................................................................. Page.6. A somewhat nostalgic piece that relates the excitement of childhood bank fishing experiences to those experienced in later years. A good introduction to modern bank fishing philosophy and methods.. Bank Fishing’s Top Five Strategies and Secrets: Part 1........................ Page.8. A detailed review of bank fishing philosophy, with particular attention paid to “knowing what’s there”, in terms of the types and numbers of fish species typically encountered during a bank fishing expedition.. Bank Fishing’s Top Five Strategies and Secrets: Part 2...................... Page.12. A review of bank fishing methods and tactics, with particular attention paid to understanding how successful angling methods are related to specific fish 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 fish from retention ponds and other urban waters. Tackle, bait, as well as fishing 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 fish. Hot Tips For Cold Weather....................................................................................Page.26. Fish location strategies and tackle tips for fishing in cold weather are discussed. Review of Bank Fishing Methods and Equipment...................................Page.30. A review of bank fishing methods and equipment, with a focus on the types of fishing gear utilized by Midwestern match anglers. This document was originally put together as a tackle buying guide for a popular fishing 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. Foreword ome.years.ago,.I.received.a.note.from.Dr..Patrick.Mills.describing.a.series.of.bank. Sfishing events he had scheduled. The focus, he said, was to educate local anglers about the European bank fishing techniques that were becoming increasingly popular in the States. More importantly, he explained, he wanted to introduce newcomers to the joys of fishing from shore on local retention and Forest Preserve District ponds and along the many streams and river that course through the area. During the next several years, Dr. Mills expanded his venues and, upon joining the faculty at Joliet’s Junior College, founded the Angler’s Club at the college. The Club grew quickly. I would guess that Patrick’s steadfastness in concentrating on the basics and his enthusiasm and focus on close-to-home fisheries were among the reasons that he attracted newcomers not only to the Club but to fishing. Using the internet and the JJCAC’s website, teaching introductory fishing at Pilcher Park or being available for interviews on local outdoors radio programs or with area outdoors columnists, Dr. Mills continued to reach out, continues to build a constituency- as well as a reputation as a self-effacing, dedicated teacher who is more interested in sharing his passion for fishing and his strong conservation ethic than in his personal notoriety. In some ways, I suppose, Dr. Mills is a natural teacher. Someone who’s love for fishing, in this case, is why he gives up his own time on the water to help others to enjoy it, to learn to love it for the reasons he does. There is also a child-like wonder that Patrick has for the outdoors, an appreciation of the magical things which are a part of every day spent on the water. That’s probably part of fishing’s charms — especially as Pat distills it. We don’t have to apologize for being amazed. Just enjoy it, appreciate it. The rest will happen. Bob Maciulis January, 2007 Bob Maciulis is the publisher of the Outdoor Notebook, as well 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. IntroductionTITLE ongratulations! By selecting this publication you’ve made a decision to familiarize Cyourself with modern bank fishing philosophies, methods and tactics which, in turn, can easily transform the ‘bust’ of a biteless day at the water’s edge into a ‘boom’ of bulging nets and a full creel limit. While primarily aimed at the beginner, the articles found within these pages will increase any angler’s success from the bank. Indeed, freshwater anglers, ranging from the true novice through to more experienced bass, catfish, trout or walleye specialists, will experience a revitalization their fishing through applying the contemporary bank fishing strategies and techniques reviewed here. In addition to its broad appeal, modern bank fishing offers a convenient and refreshingly cost-effective route to becoming a successful angler. Specifically, the methods employed are particularly well suited to common venues, such as local Park District lakes and neighborhood retention ponds, which can most often be found within a short distance of any angler’s doorstep – great news for anglers with busy schedules, who may only be able to devote a few precious hours to time spent at the water’s edge; while the basic equipment required may be purchased cheaply through any tackle store. These factors also render bank fishing a great choice for families with young children, as these budget friendly methods are both easy to learn and generate frequent takes from obliging fish – in essence, the perfect blueprint for a kids’ fishing expedition with mom and dad! The articles presented here, which have also appeared within a variety of popular outdoor magazines, should be considered as a series independent pieces that offer specific, concrete advice for anglers faced with similar angling opportunities. For example, Catching More Bluegills from Your Local Pond offers some excellent tips for angers targeting pan fish at close range; while Versatility the Key to Good Catches details how bank anglers may wish to approach fishing a river. Interested readers are also encouraged to view and/or download additional materials from the author’s website (www.bankfisher.com). Significantly, this complementary resource not only allows access to new articles, but also provides a variety of additional resources. Supplemental content includes: a forum and message board, an underwater video and photography area, ratings and reports for popular venues, and a calendar of events. Anglers wishing to contact the author directly are encouraged to do so via either the bankfisher.com website or by e-mail at [email protected]. BankTITLE Fishing Revisited he bobber dipped and then slid under - somewhere beneath the mist covered Tsurface of that early morning mill pond a young boy’s dreams were about to become reality. A hasty strike set the hook, prompting the youngster’s rod to tug and then arch over as his unseen quarry made a spirited bid for freedom. With a pounding heart, the boy held fast and was soon able to steer his prize toward the confines of the waiting net, proudly tended by his father. This fish was special, as it was the boy’s first. The folds of the landing net revealed his prize, a brightly colored perch of around a pound in weight. To him the fish was an unforgettable giant – a spark that would ignite an obsession for a sport he would pursue with passion only fellow anglers can truly understand. I was a tender seven years of age at the time I caught that first fish. Even though it was more than 30 years ago, I can still recall the rough feel of the perch’s scales and see its vibrant colors in my mind’s eye, so ingrained these memories are. Most anglers can probably recant a similar tale – we never really forget our first fish, regardless of our current angling interests. While we may now classify ourselves as either bass, catfish, fly, musky or walleye anglers, those magical memories from our childhood bank fishing experiences live on within us all. We can, of course, relive these formative experiences through 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 their own 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 fishing from the bank is most often considered the easiest way to introduce new anglers to our great sport, have you ever considered what would happen if we revisited this branch of angling, but, while doing so, applied the same level of sophistication we typically reserve for the pursuit of our chosen sport species? The results of such an approach are, quite frankly, amazing. Proficient bank anglers regularly capture single fish in excess of 20 pounds and season best fish of better than 40 pounds, while four hour catches in excess of 400 pan fish or total bag weights of greater than 100 pounds are common. Perhaps more startling is the fact that such mammoth catches are usually taken from small, unmanaged, urban waters. How is this possible? Addressing and ultimately attempting to answer this question is what I have devoted the latter part of my angling career to, and have arrived at a number of simple conclusions. Becoming a successful bank angler is pretty straightforward.