Bass Fishing from the Bank - My Gear System
Most bass anglers develop their skills by fishing from the bank on small local ponds and lakes. I am no different. In fact, I almost exclusively fish at small bodies of water within a half hour of my home. Let me walk you through the gear I take with me when I bass fish from the bank, and how I organize it all so I can fish efficiently with multiple rods & reels.
The Gear I Bring
(All links in article will direct you to Amazon)
Keep in mind as we go through my gear, that you DO NOT need all of this stuff to catch fish and have a good time. I like to utilize a wide variety of different techniques to catch bass, and my gear system supports that. If you are a beginner you can utilize a much simpler version of my setup. A lot of guys prefer one rod and reel for bass fishing from the bank, but my system allows me to efficiently carry multiple rods and a lot of tackle. Here’s what I typically take with me when bass fishing from the bank:
- My Fishing License (PLEASE buy a license)
- Backpack
- One Spinning Combo and Three Baitcasting Combos
- Two 3700 Size Tackle Boxes
- One 3500 Size Tackle Box
- Bait Binder
- Extra Line for Leaders
- Pliers
- Clippers
- Scissors
- Scale
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Pool Thermometer
- Water Bottle
- Coffee Travel Mug
- Extra Contact Lenses (just in case)
The System
Having a good backpack makes life a lot easier when you are bass fishing from the bank, and the backpack I use is the foundation for my gear system. I use the Alps Trailblazer which actually started out as my deer hunting pack. I upgraded to a larger pack for hunting, and found out that the Trailblazer was perfect for my fishing system. It is large enough to fit all of my tackle, supplies, and drinkware. The feature that makes it really shine, is the expandable pocket that is designed to carry a rifle or bow. This pocket is big enough to hold at least three rods, and the lashing system on the pack allows me to strap the rods in place. Having the rods strapped to the pack allows me to have multiple rods with different baits readily available, but I don’t have to constantly pick them up and set them down while I am fishing. I used to hate setting a rod down and fishing a stretch of bank with a second rod, only to have to go back and pick up the first rod. I usually take three baitcasting combos and a spinning combo with me when I am bass fishing from the bank.
Even with the rods strapped to the pack, I can access the internal compartments. Inside the main compartment I keep two 3700 size tackle boxes, a 3500 size box, and a bait binder. One of the 3700 size boxes is dedicated to terminal tackle; hooks, weights, jigheads, and bobber stops. The other is full of lures; jigs, jerkbaits, frogs, poppers, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, and buzzbaits. The 3500 size box is full of crankbaits. A few squarebills, a couple of deep divers, and a couple of lipless cranks. I keep all of my soft plastics in a bait binder. I used to keep all soft plastics in categorized ziploc bags, but the bait binder keeps everything organized and easy to find quickly. In the small compartment of my backpack I keep some standard fishing gear; pliers, clippers, scissors, a small scale, and extra contact lenses.
Using the System
Before I leave for a lake or pond I rig up all my rods with the baits that I believe will come into play depending on the fishing conditions. I’ll fill a water bottle and a thermos full of coffee if it’s a morning trip, and put them in the water-bottle pockets on the pack. I strap my rods to my backpack, and then everything I need is either attached to the pack, or in the pack. When I get to the lake or pond I will choose a rod to fish with, and leave the other rods attached to the pack. I don’t have to constantly set rods down and pick them back up when I’m ready to move. Switching between rods is quick too, and I need to tie on another bait, I have everything I need with me. If the weather warms up while I’m fishing I can remove a layer of clothes and strap them to the side of my pack, keeping me comfortable and still hands-free.
Other Species
While my system is designed for bass fishing from the bank, this system is easily adapted for other species. For example, if I go trout fishing, I may take a couple of spinning rods and my tenkara fly fishing rod with me. I’ll also throw some in-line spinners and flies into my pack. For catfishing I add portable rod holders into my pack, and by having the rods attached to my pack it leaves my hand free to carry a cooler full of bait and a chair.
Your Gear System
I hope this gave you some ideas on how you can organize your gear when you head to out do some bass fishing from the bank. You don’t need all of the gear outlined in this article to have a great time. There are still times where I show up to a pond with one rod, a single pack of soft plastics, and three hooks and have a blast catching fish. You can get as technical as you want. I figured out a great system for me, that allows me to quickly switch between a wide variety of techniques. Figure out your system, and go fishing!
Other Resources for Bass Fishing from the Bank
YouTube Videos
Bass Fishing Tips for Bank Anglers! – Informative Fisherman
Evolution of a Bass Angler, Part 1 – Fishful Thinker
Tested Bank Fishing Tips for Catching Bass – Wired2Fish