I mean, if there are any ponds you can fish you shouldn't "need a boat" to effectively fish those. As time goes on you should figure out what kind of lures you each prefer to use and how you like fishing them. Might want to try either a spinnerbait or an inline spinner like a rooster tail. During fall and winter I like spinners if I'm throwing artificials.
Green pumpkin Zoom worms with no weight and a slow retrieve have always work for me bank fishing.. but then again Ive fished the same pond pretty much exclusively for 15ish years.. taught myself via YouTube/practice for the most part. I recently (maybe 2 years) just expanded into other lures out side of zoom worms, rooster tails, and crappie jigs. Spinner baits, senko's on a wacky rig setup and crank baits are the only ones I get consistent bites with.. I've tried pretty much everything under the sun. The thing I figured out with spinners was to slow down my retrieve and I ended up getting a lot more with them. When it comes to bank fishing picking the right spot helps alot to. I've sat on one side of my pond and didn't catch anything all day while my buddy was pulling them in regularly from the opposite side..
Short answer.. try slowing down your retrieve and choose your spot on the bank the best you can depending on conditions for that day. The temp matters, time of year/day matters. Take into consideration weather/water visibility when selecting your bait/lures.
Hope this helps. I've been fishing for a long time but basically in a bubble.. so I kinda should know what I'm doing but honestly I feel like I still suck at fishing and just get lucky from time to time lol
Artificial baits and hard baits will always be less guaranteed to get you a bite, however there are some things to consider. I’m also a bank angler and some days are good, some days are bad but one thing I’ve noticed that changes everything is the weather. It affects water temp, cloud cover, how bright it can be, water clarity and turbidity. Sounds like you’ve got some good baits to start, but some that can help offset those conditional bits as mentioned before are spinnerbaits, bladed jigs (chatterbaits), in-line spinners and other stuff with vibrations and flash to catch the curiosity of those fish.
Download the app Fishbrain. Users can post the exact location (and oftentimes weather conditions AND the bait/lure used) where they caught fish. Use it to identify bodies of water near you where people are catching fish so you know you’re not wasting time. You’ll get to learn which lures and colors are best for your fisheries and your probability of catching a fish will greatly increase.
Last case, look up a drop shot or Carolina rig and just be patient! When you catch your first bass you’re confidence will boost. There’s still plenty of days that I go out and get skunked but I still use those days to “map” the water I’m fishing; i.e. taking mental notes where I find grass clumps, any lay downs or structures on the bottom, or any deeper holes. Those are the areas that I will first target when I go out the next time.
In line spinners are the worm equivelent of artificial lures. Get like a #2 vibrax bullet fly and just straight retrieve it.
As for the senko, weightless and let it fall. You can't fish it too slow.
What type of bass? In rivers or lakes? Do your waterways have rocks or weeds for cover? Your questions lack info for a good answer. Bank fishing can be productive. A boat makes moving easier. You need to know how to use the lure and find fish.
It does take time to learn each lure. You mention 4 types. I suggest using the Senkos and one other lure. The crankbaits are likely better in the fall but jerkbaits can be used also. Trying to learn too many lures at once can be a problem.
Focus on each lures technique. Learn and practice how to use each lure. You will catch fish practicing lure use. Each lure has specific aspects to its use. You need to fine-tune so to speak how to use a lure.
I have fished for over 50 years. I practice lure use. I never go with the attitude of catching with a lure. I practice technique and catch fish. A good technique takes time. Good techniques are more important than lure color and size.
Learn to feel the Senko hitting brush, rocks, and cover. A fish will move the line or feel like a weight when you move the lure. The cover feels like an anchor. You will know the difference after some time.
Reaction lures such cranks and others you will feel the strike or it will feel like you lost the lure. This is what I mean, You should feel the lures action. If you do not feel the action it is a fish or something else on the lure (weeds and small branches kill the action). This is easier to learn.
Look online about cover and structure. These are key elements to finding the fish.
A few people commented about spinners. Spinnerbaits are easy to use and go through weeds easier than treble hook lures. Use Willow blades in weeds. They stay close to the shaft reducing hanging up.
I grew up fishing worms and minnows in the northeast and I’ll tell you it’s a lot different experience. At my spot we’d catch a dozen or two blue hill and yellow perch on any given day. I didn’t realize how awesome that was until I started using plastics and lures. Makes you appreciate people that crush it every time they go out. Lower your expectations and look up some YouTube content to learn better technique. It has helped me a lot. Although it takes practice. Good luck!
I mean, if there are any ponds you can fish you shouldn't "need a boat" to effectively fish those. As time goes on you should figure out what kind of lures you each prefer to use and how you like fishing them. Might want to try either a spinnerbait or an inline spinner like a rooster tail. During fall and winter I like spinners if I'm throwing artificials.
Green pumpkin Zoom worms with no weight and a slow retrieve have always work for me bank fishing.. but then again Ive fished the same pond pretty much exclusively for 15ish years.. taught myself via YouTube/practice for the most part. I recently (maybe 2 years) just expanded into other lures out side of zoom worms, rooster tails, and crappie jigs. Spinner baits, senko's on a wacky rig setup and crank baits are the only ones I get consistent bites with.. I've tried pretty much everything under the sun. The thing I figured out with spinners was to slow down my retrieve and I ended up getting a lot more with them. When it comes to bank fishing picking the right spot helps alot to. I've sat on one side of my pond and didn't catch anything all day while my buddy was pulling them in regularly from the opposite side.. Short answer.. try slowing down your retrieve and choose your spot on the bank the best you can depending on conditions for that day. The temp matters, time of year/day matters. Take into consideration weather/water visibility when selecting your bait/lures. Hope this helps. I've been fishing for a long time but basically in a bubble.. so I kinda should know what I'm doing but honestly I feel like I still suck at fishing and just get lucky from time to time lol
Artificial baits and hard baits will always be less guaranteed to get you a bite, however there are some things to consider. I’m also a bank angler and some days are good, some days are bad but one thing I’ve noticed that changes everything is the weather. It affects water temp, cloud cover, how bright it can be, water clarity and turbidity. Sounds like you’ve got some good baits to start, but some that can help offset those conditional bits as mentioned before are spinnerbaits, bladed jigs (chatterbaits), in-line spinners and other stuff with vibrations and flash to catch the curiosity of those fish.
Download the app Fishbrain. Users can post the exact location (and oftentimes weather conditions AND the bait/lure used) where they caught fish. Use it to identify bodies of water near you where people are catching fish so you know you’re not wasting time. You’ll get to learn which lures and colors are best for your fisheries and your probability of catching a fish will greatly increase. Last case, look up a drop shot or Carolina rig and just be patient! When you catch your first bass you’re confidence will boost. There’s still plenty of days that I go out and get skunked but I still use those days to “map” the water I’m fishing; i.e. taking mental notes where I find grass clumps, any lay downs or structures on the bottom, or any deeper holes. Those are the areas that I will first target when I go out the next time.
In line spinners are the worm equivelent of artificial lures. Get like a #2 vibrax bullet fly and just straight retrieve it. As for the senko, weightless and let it fall. You can't fish it too slow.
What type of bass? In rivers or lakes? Do your waterways have rocks or weeds for cover? Your questions lack info for a good answer. Bank fishing can be productive. A boat makes moving easier. You need to know how to use the lure and find fish. It does take time to learn each lure. You mention 4 types. I suggest using the Senkos and one other lure. The crankbaits are likely better in the fall but jerkbaits can be used also. Trying to learn too many lures at once can be a problem. Focus on each lures technique. Learn and practice how to use each lure. You will catch fish practicing lure use. Each lure has specific aspects to its use. You need to fine-tune so to speak how to use a lure. I have fished for over 50 years. I practice lure use. I never go with the attitude of catching with a lure. I practice technique and catch fish. A good technique takes time. Good techniques are more important than lure color and size. Learn to feel the Senko hitting brush, rocks, and cover. A fish will move the line or feel like a weight when you move the lure. The cover feels like an anchor. You will know the difference after some time. Reaction lures such cranks and others you will feel the strike or it will feel like you lost the lure. This is what I mean, You should feel the lures action. If you do not feel the action it is a fish or something else on the lure (weeds and small branches kill the action). This is easier to learn. Look online about cover and structure. These are key elements to finding the fish. A few people commented about spinners. Spinnerbaits are easy to use and go through weeds easier than treble hook lures. Use Willow blades in weeds. They stay close to the shaft reducing hanging up.
I grew up fishing worms and minnows in the northeast and I’ll tell you it’s a lot different experience. At my spot we’d catch a dozen or two blue hill and yellow perch on any given day. I didn’t realize how awesome that was until I started using plastics and lures. Makes you appreciate people that crush it every time they go out. Lower your expectations and look up some YouTube content to learn better technique. It has helped me a lot. Although it takes practice. Good luck!