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How many times have we seen a fish flee from the bank by coming too abruptly to the edge? How many times have we observed predators just a few centimetres from the edge? How many times have we caught fish in our feet? OFTEN! The evidence is right in front of our eyes, and yet there are many who don't want to see it and continue to ignore the edges...
On the boat, we fish the edges a lot
Boat anglers have understood this, and while there's no denying that it's easier and more efficient, they're much more likely to prospect the banks than anglers on foot, who often suffer from the opposite bank syndrome. Indeed, shore anglers often want to cast far out into the middle, as if further out the fish were more numerous and bigger! This is how many anglers miss predators lurking just a few metres from their feet.
In ambush
Edges are key positions, as they are often overcrowded areas or areas with a lot of vegetation, relief or particular structures, allowing predators to hide and wait for and surprise their prey. In the same way, counter-currents, currents or shaded areas are all places where carnivorous fish can hunt effectively.
A feed zone
Whether in the sea or in freshwater, edges are always areas where food is concentrated. At sea, the foreshore is home to many crustaceans, as well as micro-organisms and small fish in search of food. In freshwater, insects, worms and baitfish are often found in the first few centimetres. Whether it's wind, rain, surf or waves, shorelines are always very rich zones where a food chain is inevitably created at the top of which you'll find the fish species you covet.
A strategic wall
The bank is a strategic element for all predatory fish, and they know how to use it to hunt effectively. In the same way as the surface, banks form an impenetrable wall for prey. Carnivores will press them up against this "wall" to limit their possibilities of escape and capture them more easily.
Approach them from a distance and with discretion
To fish the edges effectively, it's important to understand that while this is a strategic area for predators, it's also a stressful one in which they are often particularly wary and attentive to their surroundings. So it's important to arrive discreetly and attack them from a distance.
Start with short, in-line casts to explore the very first few metres of the bank. Then sweep to the sides and gradually lengthen the casts.
By doing so, you won't risk catching a fish far from the bank first and fighting it off at the flippers of others in your path, which will inevitably scare them away.
Finally, be methodical and fan out!
