The Joliet Junior College Anglers Club Presents…. Catch More Fish: Bankfishing Strategies and Secrets

1. Check out more fishing info at: Bankfisher .com The Joliet Junior College Anglers Club Presents….Catch More Fish: Bankfishing Strategies and Secrets • Welcome from the JJCAC • Finding and attracting fish Finding fish holding features and using chum to increase your catch rate • Bank fishing philosophy • Understand local waters in terms • of the species and number of • fish present A monster European Catfish, caught while bank fishing • Bank angling methods • “Catching more pan fish” & • “A better way to catch cats”

2. Welcome from the JJCAC What is the JJCAC? • Seminars – formal and on the bank • Informal social fish-ins’ at local venues – families welcome! • Regular bank fishing events with the Midwest anglers club • Service projects, such as the ‘Family Fish Frenzy’ with the JPD • Angling research – under water videography studies A non-profit student run organization open to the wider community JJC sponsored activities 60 lb of carp in 3 hrs! Everyone catches some fish!

3. An antique lithograph illustrating two very different, but equally successful, predatory strategies Bank Fishing Philosophy (are you a barracuda or an angler fish?) • Most fish species have evolved, over millions of years, to become either: • Pursuit predators – such as the barracuda or • Ambush predators – such as the angler fish The piscatorial arts have also evolved along analogous lines: Boat / sport fishing – the pursuit of specific quarry Bank angling – ambush style approach for ‘what’s there’

4. Comparison of Pursuit and Ambush Angling styles • Typically fish from a boat • Typically fish from the shore • Goal is to locate and then • angle for target species • Goal is to attract fish to the • anglers’ fishing area (‘swim’) • Method relies on mobility and • fish locating technologies • (fish finders etc.) • Method relies on creating an • attractive bed of feed in the • swim • Typically species specific • Typically species non-specific

5. Understanding Ecosystems – what’s in your Local Pond, Lake or River? Key idea: The majority of ecosystems contain a similar mix of prey, predatory and ‘super vegetarian’ species

6. Bluegill (prey)– the most numerous species in most local retention FP and PD and lakes and ponds. Survive predation via prolific breeding Largemouth Bass (predator) – top of the food chain, by makes up only ~5% of the biomass in most (unmanaged) local waters Carp (‘super veggie’) – species that comprises up to ~90 % of the total fish biomass in local waters. Survive predation by growing large Understanding Ecosystems – what’s in your Local Pond, Lake or River?

7. Bluegill - most numerous fish specie in a typical water, 24 pound bag in 4 hours (left) Carp - greatest biomass or (largest weight of fish) in a typical water, 94 pound bag in 4 hours (right) Understanding Ecosystems – what’s in your Local Pond, Lake or River? Take home message: Bank anglers, who are less mobile than boat anglers, can greatly increase their catch rates if they target ‘what’s there’. These species are typically:

8. Plummets (above)** Pluming results (left). The rig is typically set so the bait comes to rest either on or just off bottom. Finding and Attracting Fish Overview: Bank anglers can increase their catches by: • Locating and fishing close to any fish holding featurein the area they are fishing. On most venues this is typically a marginal shelf or step. Such features can be located by carefully ‘pluming’ the depth (DEMO)

9. Finding and Attracting Fish • By introducing chum (groundbait) into the area being fished. Groundbait is a feed intended to attract, and then induce a competitive feeding response, among the fish. Simple groundbait recipe and mixing instructions (DEMO) General recipe 4 cups yellow corn meal 2 cups white bread crumb Vanilla (or other flavored) water Handful of bait samples Note: Add more white crumb for flowing or deep water • Mixing Instructions • Add the dry ingredients to a shallow, round bowl ( e.g. Tupperware) • Thoroughly mix the dry ingredients • Slowly add the liquid while vigorously mixing. • Add just enough liquid so the mix just holds together when squeezed • Push the mix through a coarse sieve Check out more groundbait recipes at: Bankfisher.com

10. Short Range Short (‘Crappie’) pole rig to hand Bank Fishing Methods and Tactics Catching more Panfish Loose feed spikes by hand to initiate feeding Jig the bait to provoke a bite

11. Medium Range Thill style ‘waggler’ float rig Bank Fishing Methods and Tactics Catching more Panfish Introduce loose feed via catapult at longer range Keep the feed going in to keep them interested!

12. Bank Fishing Methods and Tactics A better way to catch cats (and carp!) The finished rig – just cast and hold on to the rod! “The proof of the pudding” – a 3V carp tourney win using method feeders The Method feeder rig (DEMO)

13. Bank Fishing Methods and Tactics TOP TIPS: • ALWAYS fish your bait or rig over a groundbaited (chummed) area. This will almost certainly guarantee more fish. • Match your hook to the size of bait you are using. Use small baits (single or double corn, half leaf worm, single wax worm) in preference to larger ones. “An elephant will eat a single peanut, but a mouse can’t eat a T-bone steak”. • Use a sensitive a float (bobber) as possible – it should have a narrow tip and body. This will give positive ‘guzzunder’ bites. Avoid the old red ‘n white bobber at all costs! • Use a light a line as you can – the bait will behave more naturally when falling through the water and attract more takes.

14. Questions? And finally, come up with a caption for…… Special thanks and recognition to: Members of the JJCAC CBA members featured in photographs ‘Oz’ – for underwater clips a PC understands! YOU ALL for coming Please support the JJCAC though the purchase of plummets, bank sticks, T-shirts, caps, catapults and method feeders! Club memberships are also available at the club table. I know I left my keys somewhere