Anyone can fish from the bank but it takes someone with knowledge, finesse and patience to consistently catch fish from such a point of disadvantage.

And compared to fishing from a boat, being land-bound has plenty of disadvantages. Simply the fact that you are relegated to a tiny sliver of shoreline in comparison to other local anglers being able to fish all over.

Those willing to seriously pursue bank fishing can do much better than they might suspect and to tell the truth I am now a bank fisherman.

I no longer have my aluminum boat and unless a friend brings me, my fishing is from the bank. I have always been someone who liked to live below my means and for our family now, having a boat did not make financial sense.

I would like to give you five tips for local bank fishing that can dramatically help you in your efforts for both fresh and saltwater and yes help you overcome disadvantages.

• Follow the rain: In case you haven’t noticed, rain is common in the region. And the gullies, sloughs and roadside ditches that intersect main bayous and streams.

I have never fished for catfish in the rain and not caught them. It is absolutely worth taking the time out to fish not only during the rain but afterwards as water levels rise.

In my opinion, chicken liver is the best bait. I always fish a line on the bottom and another under a bobber.

• Incoming tides: Any tidal movement can produce fish but incoming tides produce by far the best local fishing action for reds, specks and flounder. If you’re land-bound, you have the option of fish and baitfish moving in to an area during an extended period whereas with an outgoing tide, you have fish leaving and when they’re gone, they are often gone until the tide swings back.

There is something about an incoming tide locally that really turns the bite buttons on. If you can schedule your fishing around incoming tides, do it.

• Big drum: If you want serious rod-bending action, there are plenty of huge black drum virtually anywhere you have a deep channel and access from a ship channel within 20 miles of the Gulf.

The intake side of the Energy Canal can be killer for big drum by the way.

• Night bite: If you can find a location over fresh or saltwater that has lights at night you will find fish.

I know of anglers who consistently catch crappie in bayous from the bank and trout and reds around the lake by knowing where even dimly let locations are.

Be careful out there because not everyone cruising the shorelines at night is fishing and please do not go alone but consider seeking lights at night or bring your own.

You will catch fish.

To contact Chester Moore, email him at chester@kingdomzoo.com. You can hear him on “Moore Outdoors” Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI or online at www.klvi.com.