Bank Fishing Blueprint #018: Contact Note on Your Windshield

Welcome back to Bank Fishing Blueprint, the weekly AllOutdoor series focused on helping anglers find and catch more fish from the bank. Last week, we covered the fall drawdown and how the break line on a lowered lake puts bass within reach of a long cast. If you missed it, it’s worth going back and checking out, because drawdown season is one of the best windows of the year to fish from shore. This week is a little different. We’re not talking about lures or fish behavior. We’re talking about your truck, and one simple habit that can save you a ticket, a tow, or an argument with a landowner: leave a contact note on your windshield every time you park to fish.

More Fishing on AO:

• Bank Fishing Blueprint #017: Fishing the Fall Drawdown
• Bank Fishing Blueprint #016: The First Cool Front of the Year
• Bank Fishing Blueprint #015: Maximizing Your Casts
• Bank Fishing Blueprint #014: Top 10 Pond Features
• Bank Fishing Blueprint #013: Fishing Small Shade in the Summer 

Welcome to ‘Bank Fishing Blueprint,’ our recurring series dedicated to anglers who fish from shore. Whether you’re targeting bass in a pond or river fishing for catfish, this series is built on real experiences, practical tactics, and lessons learned over countless hours with boots on the ground. Bank fishing isn’t a compromise – it’s a legitimate approach that requires its own skill set, strategy, and problem-solving. Through this series, we’ll cover everything from reading water and accessing hard-to-reach spots to tackle selection and seasonal patterns that produce from the bank. Hopefully you’ll pick up tactics that put more fish on your stringer, and we’ll learn from your experiences too when you share your own knowledge and feedback in the Comments. Bank anglers are some of the most resourceful fishermen out there, and we’re excited to share what works and what doesn’t.

Leaving a Contact Note on Your Windsheild 

It was in the early 2000’s the first time I saw it done. My friend John and I were headed out crawfishing along Interstate 10 near the Mississippi line, where the East Pearl River overflows back into the woods. It’s a popular spot where fishermen park every spring.  John pulled onto the shoulder and got as far off the road as he could, right up against the woodline.

We unloaded the pirogue, the bait, and the crawfish nets and started down a narrow trail other folks had beaten back to the water. Halfway there, John stopped. “Hang on, I forgot to write a note.” Then he turned around and walked back to the truck.

When he caught back up, I asked him what that was about. He told me that anytime he leaves his truck somewhere that might cause a problem, he leaves a note under the windshield wiper. The note had his phone number and a simple message: “If there is a problem with me parking here, please call.”

I thought it was a waste of time. Half the guys in the area parked in that same spot every spring. But John explained that a note can solve most problems before they start, just by opening the door to communication. He also wrote down exactly where we’d be fishing that day, in case of an emergency. At the bottom, he added one more line: “Be back in a minute.” That was for anybody thinking about messing with the truck.

Nobody ever called that number. But it stuck with me. Today, I leave a note on my windshield every time I park to fish somewhere that isn’t a marked lot

Why it Works: Contact Note on Your Windsheild 

Bank anglers park in odd places: road shoulders, field edges, gravel pull-offs by bridges. A lot of our fishing spots don’t come with a parking lot.

To a landowner, an empty truck parked near their property looks a lot like a trespasser or a poacher. A note changes that picture fast. Now it’s somebody who wants to be reachable, not somebody trying to hide.

The same goes for tickets and towing. What I’ve noticed is that most people would rather make a quick phone call than call a wrecker, as long as you give them that option. And if you ever get hurt out there, searchers start with your vehicle. A note that says where you went can narrow that search in a hurry.

What to Put on Your Note: Contact Note on Your Windsheild 

Keep it short and easy to read. For me, a good note has four things:

• Phone number – This is the whole point, so make it big and clear.
• A polite request – Something like, “If there is a problem with me parking here, please call me and let me know.” Friendly works better than defensive.
• Where you’re fishing – A general direction is plenty, like “fishing the canal behind the treeline.” This one is for emergencies.
• A deterrent – John’s “Be back in a minute” still works. It tells anyone snooping around that you could walk up at any moment.

Here’s what mine usually looks like:

Fishing nearby. If there is a problem with me parking here, please call me and let me know. (555) 555-1234. Fishing the pond down the trail behind the truck. Be back in a minute.

What to Leave Off Your Contact Note on Your Windsheild 

Never put a return time on your note. This is common in the hiking world where hikers have learned through the years that “back Sunday at 3 p.m.” tells thieves exactly how long a car will sit unattended. You’ll want to skip your full name and address too, and keep any valuables out of sight. To keep the note dry, slip it in a zip-top bag or laminate a few cards and keep them in the glovebox.

In Conclusion: Leave a Contact Note on Your Windshield

It takes about thirty seconds to leave a note on your windshield, and it might be the best thirty seconds you spend on a fishing trip. Most of the time, nobody will ever call. But the one time it matters, that little piece of paper can be the difference between a friendly phone call and walking out of the woods to an empty shoulder where your truck used to be. My friend taught me that on a muddy trail along the East Pearl, and I haven’t parked to fish without one since.

In closing, I hope this Bank Fishing Blueprint article gave you actionable tactics you can use on your next trip to the water. This series exists to help bank anglers fish smarter, not harder, and to prove that you don’t need a boat to be a darn good fisherman. Every technique, every spot, every species requires problem-solving from the bank – and that’s what makes it rewarding. So, I put it to you! What bank fishing topics do you want covered next? What waters are you fishing, and what challenges are you running into? As always, let us know your thoughts in the Comments below. Your feedback and experience make this series better.

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