Bank or Boat

[Bud Kennedy]

It seems like we have more and more bank anglers posting in recent months.  I am becoming curious just what percentage does what.  I have been a boater for so many decades it is hard for me to imagine just how many fish from the shore. 

[SteveTX]

I do both but by far more from the boat in recent years.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

If I had a boat, I'd likely fish from it everywhere there's a ramp available.
I've mentioned it before, in a boat you can go where the fish are. In an area where the spaces available for bank fishing are tight and limited, you just have to hope the fish are where you're going.

I will take the opportunity to point something out that's been brought up before. There's a whole thread dedicated to it actually.
We have a fine bunch of folks here and I'm sure this probably really doesn't need to be repeated to our members, but maybe word can be spread to other boaters who don't think about this.
Bank fishers deserve a certain amount of common courtesy too. If you wouldn't go blowing by another boater at close range and rocking their boat with a massive wake, maybe consider what your wake does to bank fishers too. No, we won't fall out of our bank, but we're often sent scrambling uphill with our gear to keep tackleboxes from becoming swamped or washed away. Many boaters also wouldn't go sit on top of a spot already occupied by another boater, but some have no qualms at all doing it to a bank fisher. Especially frustrating in regions where you may be at the only 20 foot section of fishable bank within miles.
These simple courtesies should also be given to those in man-powered small craft. I understand these problems are also becoming issues for other boaters, that's how that thread I mentioned got started I believe.

Again, I would not expect this of anyone here. But it happens ALL. THE. TIME. So maybe spread the word among other boaters y'all meet at tournaments and whatnots?
Some things are unavoidable. You may not notice someone on the bank until it's way too late to slow down or give them a wide berth. In that situation I personally would prefer the boater to keep the hammer down and at least make it quick, like ripping off a bandaid. You may be running late to weigh-in and have money on the line. Crap happens. But a lot of discourteous behavior I see, probably 90% of it or more, is easily avoidable by simply not being a selfish azz, especially the part about crowding someone fishing from the bank. There's no excuse for that one, and I've started calling people out for it and throwing across their line when they do it.

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[Smallie_Stalker]

I haven't owned a boat since 2010 but I have managed to borrow a buddies a few times in the past and to get out with friends who still one. But the majority has been as a bank angler for the past 8 years.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Based on choices I chose bank fisherman most of the time. I only fish from my boat every other wknd if I'm lucky.

[Fun4me]

I don't own a boat, so I bank fish most of the time.

[Oldfart9999]

There just aren't many bank fishing opportunities here because of all the development. Where there is bank fishing it is used and can get quite crowded so I'ts boat fishing for me.
Rodney

[basss]

I prefer to fish from a boat but will not hesitate to fish from the bank, bridge, log, etc...