As ever it's clearly an emotive subject for some 
If you are not breaking any rules then it's not cheating. It comes down to your own feelings on the matter. If you are satisfied that the method is justified and you can look back on the capture without regret then that is all that matters.
Would I use a bait boat for my UK fishing? Not while both my arms work. It took me years of practise to be (semi!) proficient with a rod, reel and line only. That's the way I learnt as a kid and that, for me, is real fishing. Using a bait boat would negate a special catch and I'm not aiming for more than half a dozen bites a year on the water I fish.
Would I use a bait boat for holiday fishing in France? Yep, no problem. One hand on the remote, one hand with a beer, drop it where you want each time and sit back and relax. Nice easy holiday fishing.
Would I use a pole to get a bait on a little spot in the edge under a tree at 5 yards? Sure, if it was the only way of doing it safely.
Would I push a pole out 80 yards (is that even really possible?) into open water? No, what a faff when you could flick a rod onto it.
Would I cast a Deeper sonar around a lake looking for features and fish? No. I like using a rod and lead.
Would I use a Raymarine sonar to check out the depth and weed growth on a proper boat and electric outboard? Yes, all part of the fun when fishing a big pit that allows boating.
All that may see contradicted to some, but I don't care. So long as it's within the rules then my fishing and my rules are all that matter to me.
If you are not breaking any rules then it's not cheating. It comes down to your own feelings on the matter. If you are satisfied that the method is justified and you can look back on the capture without regret then that is all that matters.
Would I use a bait boat for my UK fishing? Not while both my arms work. It took me years of practise to be (semi!) proficient with a rod, reel and line only. That's the way I learnt as a kid and that, for me, is real fishing. Using a bait boat would negate a special catch and I'm not aiming for more than half a dozen bites a year on the water I fish.
Would I use a bait boat for holiday fishing in France? Yep, no problem. One hand on the remote, one hand with a beer, drop it where you want each time and sit back and relax. Nice easy holiday fishing.
Would I use a pole to get a bait on a little spot in the edge under a tree at 5 yards? Sure, if it was the only way of doing it safely.
Would I push a pole out 80 yards (is that even really possible?) into open water? No, what a faff when you could flick a rod onto it.
Would I cast a Deeper sonar around a lake looking for features and fish? No. I like using a rod and lead.
Would I use a Raymarine sonar to check out the depth and weed growth on a proper boat and electric outboard? Yes, all part of the fun when fishing a big pit that allows boating.
All that may see contradicted to some, but I don't care. So long as it's within the rules then my fishing and my rules are all that matter to me.
In reply to Post #13
Wraps is old school. All distances these days are in sections 🎣
Wraps is old school. All distances these days are in sections 🎣
Anything that helps put a carp on the bank is cheating in my book, I like to hide in my full camou clothing behind or near some marginal foliage, then with my carp flute I charm them in close enough so I can pounce on them with a gaff and hoy them out on the bank (spawning time I don't even need the flute) funnily enough its also usually around spawning time I up my PB, call me old school but I like to have them setup in a glass case.
If anyone's got any syndicate spaces DM me if you like.
If anyone's got any syndicate spaces DM me if you like.
I've used a baiting pole for years, caught me a few bonus fish along the way for sure.
Until the Bushwhacker came out with its infinite distance the humble 12 or 18m baiting pole was considered an "edge" and definitely viewed differently to how they are now.
I think they are great!
Until the Bushwhacker came out with its infinite distance the humble 12 or 18m baiting pole was considered an "edge" and definitely viewed differently to how they are now.
I think they are great!
In reply to Post #1
Well you've clarified one thing from this thread. This forum is full of baitboat/baiting pole using cheats! 😂
Seriously do what sits well with you personally. I like the skill of casting so I avoid catching fish through using any method that my 4 year old son or wife could execute. ✌️
Well you've clarified one thing from this thread. This forum is full of baitboat/baiting pole using cheats! 😂
Seriously do what sits well with you personally. I like the skill of casting so I avoid catching fish through using any method that my 4 year old son or wife could execute. ✌️
In reply to Post #20
Well you've clarified one thing from this thread. This forum is full of baitboat/baiting pole using cheats!
Exactly
Never had a bait boat and never will, I'm a man of principles
Well you've clarified one thing from this thread. This forum is full of baitboat/baiting pole using cheats!
Exactly
Never had a bait boat and never will, I'm a man of principles
In reply to Post #21
If you got hit by a sudden illness and could not longer cast would you use a baitboat then
If you got hit by a sudden illness and could not longer cast would you use a baitboat then
In reply to Post #22
I personally would, but it's unlikely you'd be able to fish for carp without physically being able to cast isn't it? Reeling in, dealing with the fish, assembling a shelter, barrowing gear,all quite reliant on good use of your arms.
I personally would, but it's unlikely you'd be able to fish for carp without physically being able to cast isn't it? Reeling in, dealing with the fish, assembling a shelter, barrowing gear,all quite reliant on good use of your arms.
In reply to Post #22
Then I would say good luck to that person
Know a bloke who has one good arm, fishes one arm style
Then I would say good luck to that person
Know a bloke who has one good arm, fishes one arm style
In reply to Post #1
Each to their own, as long as you are not breaking the lake rules then crack on. I dont use one personally but cannot get the mentality of people who think stuff like this is "cheating". Who is it cheating exactly?
Each to their own, as long as you are not breaking the lake rules then crack on. I dont use one personally but cannot get the mentality of people who think stuff like this is "cheating". Who is it cheating exactly?
In reply to Post #20
Yeah I mean I'm not claiming that using a pole is cheating, it's coming more from the perspective of where I fish - where there's very much an "us and them" attitude, where some people think it is blatant cheating, even going so far as to "not count" the fish that the pole-anglers catch.
The essence of it really boils down to baitboats are banned - however, with a mega-long pole, some electronics and a bit of DIY, we can make something as good as a baitboat (albeit on a stick), and that winds some people up, I've been on the fence with the whole thing.
I think I'm probably going to get one, they seem to come into their own in the winter, where the fish are not "troughing" on big beds of bait so much, but they will eat a small patch in one go - the water where I currently am - the pole anglers are having some phenomenal results for January, and I feel like I'm missing out.
Yeah I mean I'm not claiming that using a pole is cheating, it's coming more from the perspective of where I fish - where there's very much an "us and them" attitude, where some people think it is blatant cheating, even going so far as to "not count" the fish that the pole-anglers catch.
The essence of it really boils down to baitboats are banned - however, with a mega-long pole, some electronics and a bit of DIY, we can make something as good as a baitboat (albeit on a stick), and that winds some people up, I've been on the fence with the whole thing.
I think I'm probably going to get one, they seem to come into their own in the winter, where the fish are not "troughing" on big beds of bait so much, but they will eat a small patch in one go - the water where I currently am - the pole anglers are having some phenomenal results for January, and I feel like I'm missing out.
I think people fail to realise that there is definitely an art to using a pole, or even a baitboat effectively. It's just a tool, and it does take some time to learn to use them effectively.
I use a pole as and when and find it properly useful, that said, if I was on a lake where everyone was dropping tiny little patches of crumbed up bollie onto bubblers, I would probably be inclined to do something different and spread 20k of boilie around a marker float.
I use a pole as and when and find it properly useful, that said, if I was on a lake where everyone was dropping tiny little patches of crumbed up bollie onto bubblers, I would probably be inclined to do something different and spread 20k of boilie around a marker float.
In reply to Post #27
Oh behave yourself!
Oh behave yourself!
In reply to Post #18
Brilliant 😂
Brilliant 😂
In reply to Post #24
I knew a chap who fished with only one arm. He always wore wellies to go fishing and would put the rod butt in the boot, and reel with his one arm. I saw him with a very good double figure carp held normally; a friend Steve Bugg was behind him holding one end of the fish, while he held the other.
Brilliant picture, good mates and a good laugh together.
That's mates and memories for you
I knew a chap who fished with only one arm. He always wore wellies to go fishing and would put the rod butt in the boot, and reel with his one arm. I saw him with a very good double figure carp held normally; a friend Steve Bugg was behind him holding one end of the fish, while he held the other.
Brilliant picture, good mates and a good laugh together.
That's mates and memories for you