I'm too old and too skint to buy and use a bait boat. In my mind, if you can't cast a bait there, then you shouldn't be fishing there. I've had 15 attempts before to get a bait in the right place in a cross wind when casting to the edge of an island. One time the hook caught on a leaf when casting to a far bank tree line. I shook it free and it dropped in the perfect place. 20 minutes later I caught an 18lb common which was a big fish for the lake. Half the skill of fishing is casting to the right spot. Even if you're trotting for Dace you need to be on the right line.
In reply to Post #16
People that moan about boats , but pick up a bushwhacker 😂
People that moan about boats , but pick up a bushwhacker 😂
In reply to Post #14
Adam ?? you post Let's hope this thread doesn't descend into open warfare
and THEN post this utter nonsense ???
It's cheating ,and the angler is cheating himself,
Adam ?? you post Let's hope this thread doesn't descend into open warfare
and THEN post this utter nonsense ???
It's cheating ,and the angler is cheating himself,
In reply to Post #18
In reply to Post #19
I agree but if using a baitboat helps someone with a disability or old age continue fishing then I'm all for it
I agree but if using a baitboat helps someone with a disability or old age continue fishing then I'm all for it
In reply to Post #20
I'd agree with that, but I doubt that would apply to hardly any current bait boat users.
I'd agree with that, but I doubt that would apply to hardly any current bait boat users.
In reply to Post #1
I was anti bait boat for years; primarily because the waters I fished didn't allow them but also because I was obviously waay carpier in my youth and was going through that superiority complex / keepin it real phase whatever that meant. . . I also had that one edge that us ageing responsible types are now rapidly running out of . . . . . time
I've had several boats over the last decade and hardly used them, however the last 3-4 yrs and the latest boat has become a staple. I don't actually always use it but its a massive time saver - finding and locating spots accurately (they're not all out of bounds / under an uncastable canopy / at 192yds) and presenting a whole gamut of presentations stealthily and silently whether in the near margin or an easily castable open water spot is a massive bonus.
I actually caught my UK PB common at 46.12 on the bait boat equivalent of a pub chuck - it was pitch black, the lights on the boat had failed and I'd dropped my rig about 20yds from where it was supposed to be . . . I had to listen to the props to actually get it back to the bank.
Has my catch rate improved? Not significantly but it maybe has resulted in captures that may not have been, had I used traditional feature finding, casting and bait application methods during the session / time available.
I say go for it - life is too short and you should use all the tech available to you if you can; each to their own!
I was anti bait boat for years; primarily because the waters I fished didn't allow them but also because I was obviously waay carpier in my youth and was going through that superiority complex / keepin it real phase whatever that meant. . . I also had that one edge that us ageing responsible types are now rapidly running out of . . . . . time
I've had several boats over the last decade and hardly used them, however the last 3-4 yrs and the latest boat has become a staple. I don't actually always use it but its a massive time saver - finding and locating spots accurately (they're not all out of bounds / under an uncastable canopy / at 192yds) and presenting a whole gamut of presentations stealthily and silently whether in the near margin or an easily castable open water spot is a massive bonus.
I actually caught my UK PB common at 46.12 on the bait boat equivalent of a pub chuck - it was pitch black, the lights on the boat had failed and I'd dropped my rig about 20yds from where it was supposed to be . . . I had to listen to the props to actually get it back to the bank.
Has my catch rate improved? Not significantly but it maybe has resulted in captures that may not have been, had I used traditional feature finding, casting and bait application methods during the session / time available.
I say go for it - life is too short and you should use all the tech available to you if you can; each to their own!
In reply to Post #1
I've only been fishing for 5 years, since retiring, I'm still useless at casting and get annoyed at not putting the rig where I want it, watched loads of YouTube to get it right but still can't.
I'd love a bait boat but can't afford one so I'll continue to get it wrong but I still catch.
I thought the fun was in the hooking and landing of the fish, waiting for the alarms to go off with your heart beating when it does. “ great “ . Try the boat out you just might like it.
I've only been fishing for 5 years, since retiring, I'm still useless at casting and get annoyed at not putting the rig where I want it, watched loads of YouTube to get it right but still can't.
I'd love a bait boat but can't afford one so I'll continue to get it wrong but I still catch.
I thought the fun was in the hooking and landing of the fish, waiting for the alarms to go off with your heart beating when it does. “ great “ . Try the boat out you just might like it.
In reply to Post #20
In reply to Post #19
That's the trouble, a distinct lack of etiquette, and when a bait boat is put in the mix then heaven help us, in my experience on many waters over decades the vast majority of users leave there brain at home, did not want to say that but that's my finding, l hate rules I hate restrictions, my angling is very important to me, for a number of reasons. I've got a boat haven't used for 10 years,
My choice, and what I said earlier was my ideal world but I'm nieve
and a hippocrite probably
That's the trouble, a distinct lack of etiquette, and when a bait boat is put in the mix then heaven help us, in my experience on many waters over decades the vast majority of users leave there brain at home, did not want to say that but that's my finding, l hate rules I hate restrictions, my angling is very important to me, for a number of reasons. I've got a boat haven't used for 10 years,
My choice, and what I said earlier was my ideal world but I'm nieve
and a hippocrite probably
Each to there own, if the rules permit there use its down to the choice of the individual but I don't own one. Seen people dropping baits into snags with them but those people would be just as likely to cast into them. Not allowed on any of the waters I've fished over the last decade.
In reply to Post #21
I used to own one, these days I simply don't bother.
They are a pain in upkeep. Batteries need charging, hopper doors need oiling. Another hefty piece of equipment needing to be carted aroung the lake.
And every single one when you drop the bait if fans out as it drops. Creating a small table sized feeding spot.
A PVA mesh bag or solid bag and the hookbait is located in a very small feeding spot. Match anglers know a thing or two about how to catch and catch quickly.
Bait boats are good for boilies and particles. But fishing groundbait at range in deeper water is very hit and miss.
But they have their uses. A pair of 9ft rods with an ample smallish ringset on them. A pair of decent sized levelwind reels. And casting or boating to that elusive spot couldn't be more hassle free.
After the disturbance has died down,... cup of tea and a pot noodle for dinner,... you're in business.
So Yes,.. why not.
But I prefer the glory of that perfect cast and the disappointment of that lead in the bushes. And the silent plop of the PVA bag in the margins as you feel it down.
But if the HMS Vindictive with GPS guided bait launchers and lakemist penetrating radar is your thing.
Have at it.
2 hobbies combined sheer bliss.
I used to own one, these days I simply don't bother.
They are a pain in upkeep. Batteries need charging, hopper doors need oiling. Another hefty piece of equipment needing to be carted aroung the lake.
And every single one when you drop the bait if fans out as it drops. Creating a small table sized feeding spot.
A PVA mesh bag or solid bag and the hookbait is located in a very small feeding spot. Match anglers know a thing or two about how to catch and catch quickly.
Bait boats are good for boilies and particles. But fishing groundbait at range in deeper water is very hit and miss.
But they have their uses. A pair of 9ft rods with an ample smallish ringset on them. A pair of decent sized levelwind reels. And casting or boating to that elusive spot couldn't be more hassle free.
After the disturbance has died down,... cup of tea and a pot noodle for dinner,... you're in business.
So Yes,.. why not.
But I prefer the glory of that perfect cast and the disappointment of that lead in the bushes. And the silent plop of the PVA bag in the margins as you feel it down.
But if the HMS Vindictive with GPS guided bait launchers and lakemist penetrating radar is your thing.
Have at it.
2 hobbies combined sheer bliss.
In reply to Post #25
In reply to Post #27
. . . but you can use mesh and solid PVA bags in baitboats . . micro sized or mahoosive, uncastable beasts!
. . . but you can use mesh and solid PVA bags in baitboats . . micro sized or mahoosive, uncastable beasts!
If someone uses a bait boat to place a rig beyond the range that can cast to or to bait up around a rig because they can't do it with a spod/spomb or to place a rig under a over hang that again they can't cast to does the catch deserve the same credit as would be given to an angler that caught by casting to the same spot? In my eyes ten out of ten to the guy with the skill to cast it, four out of ten to the angler with the bait boat.