I get occasional urges to leave my boat and mountain of tackle plus must-have accessories at home, so I can spend a day — or, far more likely, part of a day — slogging along the usually muddy banks of one of the many small to medium sized rivers that wend their way across the landscape north of the Ozarks before joining the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers. If that sounds like a stubborn refusal to turn fishing into a major — or even a minor production — that’s because it is.
Even so, somewhere deep in my heart of hearts lurks a fear I’ll be struck by lightning if I ever get within 50 feet of water, carrying only one rod. Therefore, I always take two 6-foot medium heavy rods paired with spinning reels spooled with 20-pound test monofilament.
A five-gallon bucket (which doubles as a seat) holds a small plastic box filled with terminal tackle, whatever bait or baits I’ll be using, needle-nosed pliers, a headlamp, insect repellent, a rag and a burlap sack to secure any fish I decide to take home. I also carry a landing net in case I really do hook that flathead. Finally, although fresh-cut forked willow sticks are the traditional bank fisherman’s rod holders, I use store-bought steel ones that grip the rod. It’s amazing how quickly a fish can pull a rod into the water, and it’s even more amazing how long it can take to retrieve it.
Well fitted hip boots that won’t pull off of your feet go a long way toward mitigating the mud I mentioned earlier. Even so, your clothing is inevitably going to get a “little” soiled and the resulting stains can be impossible to remove.
At least in theory, the best way to fish flowing water is to work your way upstream from your starting point. I usually do it that way in the morning, but in the evening, I first walk either upstream or down, noting spots I’ll want to hit as I fish my way back toward my vehicle. I still usually have to use a head lamp to light the way the last quarter mile or so, but at least I’ve been getting progressively closer all evening.
Even the simplest of endeavors is made more satisfying with the addition of the right companion. Children–or, better yet, grandchildren–are at the top of my list. That said, some children don’t like getting dirty, and a single surprise mud bath at your favorite spot might be enough to sour them on fishing in general.
Far more important, slippery river banks are inherently dangerous. Keep children close at hand and never forget that your fishing is secondary to making sure they have an outing with you that’s both fun and safe.
Dogs run children a close second as bank fishing companions, and, frankly, they’re a lot less trouble. Grace, the best hunting beagle I’ve ever shared a day afield with, did a superb job of filling that role. It didn’t take a degree in canine psychology to know that Grace ranked bank fishing second only to rabbit hunting. After she had me settled in, she’d go exploring, but every 10 minutes or so, she’d check up on me. If I’d moved, she’d trail me until she found me, and then she’d take off on another brief adventure.
Lady, a black lab who was the best canine friend I’ll ever have, didn’t think water should be allowed to exist beyond the confines of a two-gallon bucket, but, above all else, she wanted to be wherever I was. She kept a watchful eye on me while I fished like I was a five-year-old who was fully capable of getting into trouble without preamble. But that was OK. She was more fun to talk to than a lot of people I’ve known over the years.
But what if you like this column’s basic premise, but muddy banks and/or catfishing aren’t your idea of a fun way to spend valuable fishing time? Central Missouri is laced with clear creeks with rock and gravel bottoms. All but the very smallest of them are home to a varying mixture of black bass, creek chubs, various species of sunfish and who knows what else.
These mini Meccas are begging to be explored by wading anglers wielding fly rods or ultralight spinning tackle. With rare but super exciting exceptions, a 6-inch green sunfish or a 10-inch largemouth is a trophy fish in most of these waters, but then trout anglers in many parts of North America wax eloquent over smaller fish.
