Hi All

Bit of help needed if poss..

After mentally pushing back for so long I'm actually thinking of a bait boat.
I cant believe im actually writing this,,,!!

I want something small, light weight and reliable.
No frills
No bells and whistles
Does not need to cart out 5Kg of bait...!!

Will be a second hand purchase for sure .
Am prepared to wait

Any ideas on the best sort of option..?
What to look for what to avoid etc etc
(N.B not some dirt cheep ebay junk ...A "proper" boat.)

TIA
P

In reply to Post #1
Why do you want to do this?

In reply to Post #1
Boatman mini vulcan or normal vulcan

In reply to Post #1
The lake you are fishing - how big is it ?
How far far do you envisage taking it out ?
When you say less than 5Kg which is actually a lot of bait, how much do you really need - I guess a pva stick / bag with some loose offerings ?
Does it get weedy in summer to the point you get floating weed ?
Will you be putting it out during the night to get back on a spot if you catch one ?
Do you want an app on your phone / tablet or tied to the boat handset ?
What is your honest budget.

In reply to Post #4
Hey geezer
Sure ok ... Well

Yateley will be the biggest lakes Either Mill Lane or Match Lake (u wouldn't know the others)

so say 60 - 70 yds ish

Yes i was being ironic !!!!..
I just want to get a few handfuls out there and a good bed of pellet \ particle (Which of course wont catapault past 30 yds)

I WONT fish in weed PERIOD cant be arsed with it.

If it goes back out at night i guess I would just use marker elastic on the line to put it in the same ish place

Whats an App lol ! (naaa just a control)

Second hand ive no idea will say £240 ish for somthing basic + no frills

So why am i thinking about one ....
To get in under the trees
To get Pellet \ particles out at fishing range
I prefer to fish small boilies their range is also limited by reduced mass

ATB
P

Bazil and Heather will be turning in their graves

You don't need a bait boat to get amongst the fish there. Save your money and buy some decent tigers

In reply to Post #1
Jump on angling technics website asap, they have some second hand, refurbished/serviced boats starting at £250...

In reply to Post #1
You should be able to pick up a used Ridgemonkey 750 for a good price eg 300 . . .just check everything's working and the handle isn't wobbly etc.

Better than Boatman for small waters IMO (I've had Actor Mk4i & Actor Plus) as the top loading hopper is large enough to lay out stiff rigs etc and works well . . it can also be extended / covered with aftermarket kits etc. Easy to fit a Deeper between the keels at the front of the boat (and out of the way) with a compact undulating arm . . .the boat weighs nothing and is perfect for 2-3 acre lake / canal work etc

Like all boats water and electronics don't really mix . . .just make sure you dry the boat after use / remove batteries / ensure battery compartments have silica gel packs put in to reduce condensation etc between sessions and you should have minimal if any probs . . .

Welcome to the darkside . . .

In reply to Post #5
I’ve fished Mill Lane.

Not using a bait boat is a massive edge.

In reply to Post #9
Hey mate..!
Ok im interested tell me more Im about ready to open the book on Mill Lane..

ANY INFO really appreciated.

Please feel free to PM me tips teqniques swim choices ranges used whatever may help put one on the bank and give me a bit of a head start.

Spawning like buggers down there at the mo so wont be hitting it for about another month [ish]

Sounds like don’t ignore the margins as there patrol routes are close in and avoid beds of bait.
A lot of fish at yately get stalked out so invest in some decent Polaroids and adopt a more mobile fishing methodology.


So you probably don’t need a bait boat

Will you still be genuinely happy if the first nice one you caught needed a bait boat?

In reply to Post #12
How is that helping the op, what a ridiculous thing to infer, or cast doubts.

If you care what other negatively think Paul, just dont get a boat.

You can just as easily drop a single bait in the margin with a boat, on the plus side you might not scare the fish off v crawling hands on knees....you know, the proper way, 1k basia in hand.

Why not go further, no carbon, no basia, just tickle the fecker out...ug...bloody hypocrisy

In reply to Post #13
Eh?!

He questions going down the bait boat path himself in the OP. I?m just asking where the doubt comes from, it?s a discussion. Where have I questioned the legitimacy?

Bait boaters get so touchy about their bait boats

In reply to Post #14
I sense jealousy! Get back to your bushwacking . .! Let the man buy a boat . . .

In reply to Post #15
Not much bush around to whack these days, I’m still hoping it comes back into fashion.

In reply to Post #14

In reply to Post #14
He questions going down the bait boat path himself in the OP. I?m just asking where the doubt comes from,

I'm confused..not hard

You said

Will you still be genuinely happy if the first nice one you caught needed a bait boat?

and then you said

Where have I questioned the legitimacy?

What am I missing, that's questioning the op's view of legitimancy isn't it, or have I mis read it, I saw it as compounding the thought. Rhetorical Q maybe?

Bait boaters get so touchy about their bait boats

Not at all mate and in no way was I having a go I just don't see why using anything as long as it doesn't interfere with anothers swim should be of concern to anyone else. We fish for our enjoyment, who cares what others think.

As for baitman, therein lies the problem, and one I've been on the receiving end of, but as usual, it's the tool using the boat not the tool being used.

TBH, the bit about interfering with 'others' swims...that doesn't go so far as drones in my melancholy, I wouldn't dream of using one if anyone else was on the lake...that noise

Bloody ell...

I know flippin boats are a divisive things but really i just asked a bit of advice,
An online war of words really lets get real here ????

All i want is to get a decent amount of loose particle and or pellet out at fishing range or to sneak right in under those trees or bushes.

My lakes have a "No casting over 1/2 way" rule which evens things out for all.

Have i considered a baiting pole yup.
Ruled out

Base price is about the same as a basic boat in the first place
damn bulky to lug around
out of the box you only get like i think, 8 wraps of reach and if that's all you need you can most likely get any type of bait and or freebies out that far
If you want more reach well its like twice the price.
Just not cost effective..

You won’t go far wrong with a Boatman. Depending on your requirements of course. I have a Vulcan and love it

In reply to Post #19
Unfortunately bait boat threads, Delkim vs fox alarms always draw out a mixture of comments / judgements.

I have delkims and use a baitboat myself 😁

Their is a mk4 boatman on pre loved for ?250

https://thetackletavern.co.uk/product/1x-boatman-actor-mk4-compass-bait-boat-pre-loved/

In reply to Post #21
Are they having a bath.....??
Its only 240 new...! Second hand more expensive than brand new....hmmmn

All up i will prob get one of these.
Drive it out to a marker float and bombs away....

If i feel flush enough i will get the GPS edition for the extra £200

Yes i said id never do it but im peed off with people fishing where i cant and catching...

P

So either gonna be the
Boatman Actor Mk4 "Compass" 10 AH @ £240
or
Boatman Actor Mk4i "GPS" 10 AH @ £240 @ 475

My bad wrong link…

And if you want it to be more carpy available in cammo

In reply to Post #23
Ahh yes also available in super carpy cammo (+ £199,990 !!)

In reply to Post #18
As for baitman, therein lies the problem

100% for me that, sums it up perfectly. Each to their own, but as anglers we have limitations, with a bait boat, you dont

And, agree, as usual its the minority that causes all the controversy. Fish your own swim

In reply to Post #21
I have delkims and use a baitboat myself

Nuff said

In reply to Post #19
Hardly an online war of words! This forum has seen worse!

For anyone able to cast, baitboats = cheating IMO. I use them in France when en vacance.

Someone mentioned not using boats being an edge, and on waters where they are used extensively, I agree. The spots that are only accessible by boat soon blow and fishing where you can cast has often yielded good results for me (better than the BB users). Also baiting approach - the fish will get wary of the types of presentations of rigs and bait that get dropped from a boat vs a stringer, a single, etc.

Each to their own. Keep it away from me.

What’s amusing is that it’s always the bait boaters who get all riled up and defensive. There must be a conscience behind all those batteries and screens…

I was very much in the camp of 'you shouldn't need a bait boat to catch carp' and I guess I'm still largely of that belief, however, I went to France last year and 6 of the 7 that caught fish either used bait boats or rowing boats. I tried the rowing boats a previous year, fell in which completely depleted my confidence to use one, so at the end of last year I decided to buy a bait boat, mostly for France.

Did it make a difference? Unfortunately not this year as I came out last in the draw, and couldn't get in a swim where the fish seemed to be holding up, however, it did mean I could try spots I wouldn't have been able to get to throughout the week.

Do I think it will make a difference as the years go by? Absolutely. The lake in France I fish is over 50 acres, and so many swims need boat work, which is way out of my comfort zone.

I'm also on a new syndicate which is not a very big lake, has some big weary fish in and the last thing I want to be doing when I turn up after work for a short over night session before work the next morning is casting or smashing a lead around, so again, using the bait boat in this situation, for me, makes sense. I do have a bushwhacker as well, but little point using this when a bait boat does the same job.

I don't use the bait boat in every situation, just where I feel it may be advantageous.

I appreciate you'll get people on here and through life that won't agree with what you use or do, but I say just get on with it, and stop worrying about those who just bring negativity to the world.

In reply to Post #29
I appreciate you'll get people on here and through life that won't agree with what you use or do, but I say just get on with it, and stop worrying about those who just bring negativity to the world.

But isn't the measure of success for the angler showing the picture of his capture to get the merit that comes with it?

When you have caught it from a spot that is not feasible under normal angling situations does this not make it a bit "plastic". You would have never caught that fish under normal fishing circumstances so the reality is, you did not really deserve it.

Boat bait users now cringing

I know for a FACT i could massively increase my catch rate but i don't do it, im a man of principles

I have thought about cheating and buying one for France though, the only merit is seek is my own

In reply to Post #30
But isn't the measure of success for the angler showing the picture of his capture to get the merit that comes with it?

Surely this depends what you want out of it. I don't post a picture of every capture, and I'm sure I'm not alone either.

When you have caught it from a spot that is not feasible under normal angling situations does this not make it a bit "plastic". You would have never caught that fish under normal fishing circumstances so the reality is, you did not really deserve it

Like I said, I don't use the bait boat every time I go, but if you don't embrace technology you get left behind, IMO.

Also, what are 'normal angling situtations'?

Like back when they used cane rods? Or further back when they were using sticks & bamboo?

Side note. If you've never fished with a stick and a bit of line for very small species, I'd recommend it. Done countless times when I was a kid, mostly in a little stream. Great fun, and something I am planning on doing with my eldest in the future. It will probably be frowned upon now, because it's not the 'correct' way to fish, but sod 'em'

Well look cheating really ???

I can put a bait on a bin lid at 40 yds consistently.
What i cant do is put 10mm pellet or corn or maize out at that range.

I dont have a spod setup and why buy a spod setup when i can get a boat for the same price + i dislike the constant Spod crashing and reeling for 20 mins straight, now that does piss me off.

As to fishing.. well.
Over the winter me and a mate were doing a session there was 1 other on the lake
In the opposite corner of the bay there was a very fishy looing overhanging bush and tree.

No more than 35 yds just Totally un-cast-abe from my angle.
He had waders and walked it round.

If id of had a boat i would of used it.
Over the weekend i had 2 fish from that bush.
Everyone else blanked.

Look the way i see it carp are Wiley Cunning, Smart fish.
They have seen most every bait in most every method of presentation attached to every rig going; So we are always looking for an edge over that.

If in circumstances a Bait Boat provides it... well fine..
Do you think people said the Hair Rig was cheating when it started emptying waters.
IDK
But without advancements we would all be fishing Mr Crabtree style with a treble hook in a boiled potato..

In reply to Post #31
I think it ALL depends on if people are wanting merit or not, otherwise it is all personal, nobody knows other that the angler

You advanced from me, its was a jam jar on a piece of string with bread

In reply to Post #32
I started fishing in the 60’s, adopted it seriously in the 70’s, and can remember when the Optonics came out (late 70’s-early 80’s) and became affordable and available to the mainstream.
And remember all of the controversy and dispute, including :
* Bite alarms encouraged “camping” rather than active fishing.
* They reduced the skill of watching the water and rod, reading subtle bites.
* They made multi-rod fishing much easier, which some felt was cheating since it multiplied the chance of catching.

I guess all of the anti-boaters are using bite alarms…..?

In reply to Post #34
I don't think a bite alarm offers a distinct advantage other than something that beeps when you catch a fish.

A bait boat does though when you are fishing a far bank margin under a canopy. The back of a bar at 180 yds, a clear spot at 160 amongst weed, a beautifully placed patch of bait in all cases. for every reason you can, i can provide one why not.

I posted this before, its endless and where we are now. I watched one "angler" a couple of years ago fishing a heavily weeded water, sat in his tent, bait boat, sonar and camera, didn't come out of his tent because the sun would have hindered his view of the screen, preceded to drive the boat around, lower the camera etc etc until he found spot, repeat.

Now tell me that's fishing, and tell me where the merit is in that because i could never see it

Robot carping.

The only people who can justify it are the ones doing it like most things in life

Merit...

In reply to Post #34
My point is simply that within living memory, an electronic gadget was introduced that attracted comments such as “making it too easy - reducing the skill level - etc - etc”.
And would have created similiar debates/disputes if forums had existed.
Arguably bite alarms created a version of ‘robot fishing’ : go sit yards away, nattering with others over at their swim, go to sleep and let the alarm do the work, etc, etc.

Everyone has an opinion on what is acceptable tech. But they’re only opinions .

I can remember staying with my grandparents, who had a property next to the most polluted river in the country at that time,caught loads of sticklebacks,using a cane,a pice of string and a button ,no bait as such ,I was 5 ..
Remember my father telling me about the hoo Haa, onthe Royalty with people using a swim feeder, I remember it well ..

However ,I catch loads of fish from all over ,apart from the odd blank,which I accept ..its part and parcel of angling ,...

You have to ask yourself is using a bait boat in the spirit ,or ethos of angling ?

I choose not to ,because I'm a good accomplished angler ,I don't need tech ,I use my eyes and gut feeling ..
If you are physically impaired,I get that I understand 100% ..100%..no issue..

If not well ,you are cheating your innermost ,subdued hunting instinct ,all captures null and void ..might as well stay indoors ,and spend less than 3 hrs a week outside ,according to our woke masters ..


Ps ,my family ,made,designed, sold bait boats for European waters ,I could have anyone I wanted,but I didn't,...


This should go down well...

In a few years time we will be dropping rigs from drones with laser accuracy.
Is it cheating - that’s always going to be one hotly debated
Technology we all do by some degree of simply don’t in our life’s and other hobbies

Meanwhile scozza will continue swimming out 100 yards with his rig between his teeth.

In reply to Post #38


When i get my bait boat we will have a race Jason

Christ, another ****ing bait boat thread with the 2 opposing sides moaning at each other.

Either use one or don’t but just keep it yourself.

In reply to Post #15
Congratulations Belch!

I notice that this thread has encouraged you to sell up and step back into the light.

In reply to Post #38
It aint between his teeth

In reply to Post #42
I knew you would be sniffing about

I’ve been fishing way to long to give a toss what anyone thinks these days, why worry about bait boats, folded handles or any of that old rubbish.

However, I do find it ironic the amount of people that disagree with bait boats but have no issues rowing a boat out over a spot, looking at the bottom of the lake for a spot then lowering the rig onto it. I can’t separate the two.

If that’s your thing though, good on you, as long as you enjoy getting out there, go for it. If I’m on a lake and people do stuff I don’t like or annoys me, I just go somewhere else, life’s too short!

In reply to Post #41
Unfortunately not . . .being a Delkim user and plastic noddy I have too many boats . . .sold 1, selling another . . keeping the other 2x . . .love a bit of tech cheating!

In reply to Post #43
would you use a boat if you had a health condition and it helped keep you fishing,genuine question.I used to be dead against boats but after using my nephews im converted,I found my spots and casted my rods the conventional way.I only used the boat to put bait over the rigs and oh my god it was far easier,would that still be cheating?

In reply to Post #46
All for that

My god, and i honestly thought we were a sane lot all cut from the same cloth ...!

If there are any Airgunners amongst us, the only other discussions that go go and on and on so needless let is when some one asks "Which is better .177 or .22"

I mean its moth to the flame stuff..

Seriously if it bothers you that much
A- Give up fishing
B- Join a club where boats are not allowed

Given the choice would i rather someone drive a boat out or spod for 1/2 hour straight
****ing the water up for all and sundry then i know where i am

In reply to Post #48
0.177

The only one who seems bothered is you?

In reply to Post #48
let AI decide

Whether bait boats are “wrong” is mostly an ethics and sporting debate inside carp fishing rather than a hard rule. A lot of anglers dislike them for a few reasons:

Reduced skill element — Traditional carp anglers value watercraft: casting accuracy, feature finding, baiting strategy, and reading fish movement. Some feel bait boats remove too much of that challenge.

Can pressure fish more heavily — On busy lakes, boats can repeatedly drop rigs onto precise spots, making heavily fished carp easier to target and potentially increasing stress on fish.

Noise and disturbance — Cheap or poorly used bait boats can disturb swims and annoy other anglers, especially on smaller waters.

Fairness concerns — Expensive GPS/autopilot bait boats can create a “technology advantage,” which some anglers think goes against the spirit of the sport.

Safety and etiquette issues — Boats crossing lines, entering other swims, or operating at night without care can cause conflicts.

Fishery rules — Some fisheries ban them entirely because of overbaiting, line tangles, disturbance, or previous misuse by anglers.

On the other hand, many anglers argue bait boats are perfectly legitimate because they:

improve rig placement, - distinct adavantage
reduce repeated casting disturbance - distinct advantage
help disabled or less mobile anglers - all for that
and can actually be more precise and fish-friendly when used responsibly.

So the issue is less bait boats are morally wrong and more:

Do they fit the style of angling and fishery culture people want?

A lot depends on the venue, local rules, and how respectfully they are used.

And FI - Its point one for me

Why don’t golfers use a remote controlled vehicle to push the ball into the hole?

In reply to Post #51
If Tiger Woods did exactly that would they question his ability too (yes probably )
More likely they'd just disappear and target someone else...the beauty of the Internet

To be honest putting technology aside, the biggest advantage are those full time anglers or the retired who can go during the week and enjoy pick of swims on a lake seeing a lot less pressure.

Well if the club im in decide soon to allow them then im definitely having one

In reply to Post #54
Banned by my club. All the rules seem to be to inhibit the actual catching of fish.
I wouldn't be surprised if they banned baited hooks.

In reply to Post #54
Ultimately there's only one person you need to suit Braders, yourself

In reply to Post #56
I generally do mate as I dont give a flying **** what anyone thinks about me and thats not just in fishing

In reply to Post #57
Good on you, same as

In reply to Post #58

For me on any water that allows them I think they have turned into a disadvantage- I fish a lake that is maybe 5 acres and no overhangs whatsoever and yet 90% of the members take full advantage of using a boat, when I say advantage I just don’t see it anymore.

There seems to be a I have one I will use it mentality - rather than use one for a reason. The baiting is far to tight for my liking - echo sounders are 10 times worse than bivvy peg malletters- and I do have a slight moral compass regards captures using them. I love the feeling of ‘that cast’ tight to an island and placing the rod down knowing it’s gonna go.

The counter side is where they are allowed they are so widespread regards usage they become the norm anyway so there is no longer any stigma or ‘was it boat caught?’.

Personally for a holiday fishing week I would use and can see the advantage of 10 spods worth in a single drop if the water was deep enough to spread a bit, but for my normal short day fishing they are far too much faff, I can’t even remember to charge a bloody radio let alone a boat, handsets, sonars etc.