I have had a stand on the bank of a river for about 4 years now, I have shot one buck from that stand in those 4 years. The river is about 30 yards wide, and my stand is about 3 yards from the water. (depending on how high the water is) right now it is about 6" deep, but most of the time it is anywhere frome ankle deep to waist deep. I know that they will come to the water to drink, but they cross it more often than not. There is a trail that is about 10 yards off of the bank of the river, that runs paralel to the river. I still feel that any stand on thre bank of the river is a good stand.