A couple of years ago we were going to lose the lease on a lake we syndicated. I thought I would take my wife for one of the last nights. She's never held a fishing rod and would have no chance casting so she borrowed an older gentleman's bait boat to put her rig and bait out.
She learned his to use the boat pretty quickly and dropped next to a bed of lillies. First light next morning with a bit of help she landed a 32lb carp....
Zero skill, zero experience, zero water craft but caught a lump of a fish.
For those who physically cannot cast then fair play. But for me, using a bait boat is inferior fishing and any fish caught lacks the repute of one caught with the skill of angling.
She learned his to use the boat pretty quickly and dropped next to a bed of lillies. First light next morning with a bit of help she landed a 32lb carp....
Zero skill, zero experience, zero water craft but caught a lump of a fish.
For those who physically cannot cast then fair play. But for me, using a bait boat is inferior fishing and any fish caught lacks the repute of one caught with the skill of angling.
Fished Farlows a few years ago, was like a shipping lane in the middle of the lake.
Not a fan at all. The OP should consider the long term effects on their fishing. Ironically catch more fish whilst slowing down your progression as an angler.
Lakes I've fished that allow bait boats see less marker work and watercraft in general. Boat owners sail their toys clean into the far margin under an overhanging tree without much thought as to what spots they can find.
Just to be clear, I fully recognise the benefit they offer and that for some people, it's not about the process it's more about the result.
I'm looking forward to teaching my kids how to cast a rod.
Not a fan at all. The OP should consider the long term effects on their fishing. Ironically catch more fish whilst slowing down your progression as an angler.
Lakes I've fished that allow bait boats see less marker work and watercraft in general. Boat owners sail their toys clean into the far margin under an overhanging tree without much thought as to what spots they can find.
Just to be clear, I fully recognise the benefit they offer and that for some people, it's not about the process it's more about the result.
I'm looking forward to teaching my kids how to cast a rod.
In reply to Post #32
Casting is so last centery
Casting is so last centery
In reply to Post #1
I used to be against them but bought one 12 months ago for a couple of reasons.
My fishing time has become restricted and so using the echo sounder instead of spending 'X' amount of time chucking out a marker rod to find spots, and then another 'X' amount of time spodding if needed.
Also with lakes getting busier I'm not thrashing the water to a froth and less bother to other anglers.
I used to be against them but bought one 12 months ago for a couple of reasons.
My fishing time has become restricted and so using the echo sounder instead of spending 'X' amount of time chucking out a marker rod to find spots, and then another 'X' amount of time spodding if needed.
Also with lakes getting busier I'm not thrashing the water to a froth and less bother to other anglers.
In reply to Post #34
someone i knew used to constantly slag baitboats off, yet he'd defend his use of a rowing boat
someone i knew used to constantly slag baitboats off, yet he'd defend his use of a rowing boat
In reply to Post #35
My issue is with bait boats is that it takes a way carps sanctuary. Surely, this cant be good for their long term stress levels.
My issue is with bait boats is that it takes a way carps sanctuary. Surely, this cant be good for their long term stress levels.
In reply to Post #36
Their sanctuary could be under a nearside bush, but would you stop fishing for them there?
Their sanctuary could be under a nearside bush, but would you stop fishing for them there?
In reply to Post #37
I think you're missing the point. If it's possible to put a bait under the nearside bush without a boat then it's not likely to be their sanctuary. Sending a boat 20 feet under an overhanging tree on a far margin, which would be impossible to cast to, would more likely be where the fish find sanctuary. Think of it as a "natural" out of bounds.
I think you're missing the point. If it's possible to put a bait under the nearside bush without a boat then it's not likely to be their sanctuary. Sending a boat 20 feet under an overhanging tree on a far margin, which would be impossible to cast to, would more likely be where the fish find sanctuary. Think of it as a "natural" out of bounds.
I've never fished anywhere that allows baitboats where they haven't been abused.
I own one myself and lent it to a friend who used it to devastating effect on a small water without putting a bait in an uncastable spot. Personally I haven't used it, even to place a bed of hemp (reason for purchase) in fifteen years.
I did allow them on my place a few years ago, but quickly reversed that decision after them being abused and already have it in mind to place a length limit on baiting poles if they're abused.
I own one myself and lent it to a friend who used it to devastating effect on a small water without putting a bait in an uncastable spot. Personally I haven't used it, even to place a bed of hemp (reason for purchase) in fifteen years.
I did allow them on my place a few years ago, but quickly reversed that decision after them being abused and already have it in mind to place a length limit on baiting poles if they're abused.
In reply to Post #39
i have a bait boat, only use it in France once a year if i need too
i cant stand spombing, takes too much effort, makes too much noise and mess in my book.
i have a bait boat, only use it in France once a year if i need too
i cant stand spombing, takes too much effort, makes too much noise and mess in my book.
I think if you apply the following guideline you will be OK
Always hide your boat when not in use.
If any other angler catches refer to these captures as ‘he had one last night which I think was boated right out'
If you catch one using a boat simply slip it in a retainer and tell the photographer that you'd watched it from 2am and it finally slipped up to a single grain of hemp actually under the bank.
Job done
Always hide your boat when not in use.
If any other angler catches refer to these captures as ‘he had one last night which I think was boated right out'
If you catch one using a boat simply slip it in a retainer and tell the photographer that you'd watched it from 2am and it finally slipped up to a single grain of hemp actually under the bank.
Job done
In reply to Post #38
We've an area like that on the lake my mate and I fish, a natural out of bounds / safe area that the carp can relax or recuperate in.
Anyone with a bait boat is almost guaranteed to catch if they drop their bait there but I think the question is should they.
As you say perhaps we should leave some of these areas in peace.
We've an area like that on the lake my mate and I fish, a natural out of bounds / safe area that the carp can relax or recuperate in.
Anyone with a bait boat is almost guaranteed to catch if they drop their bait there but I think the question is should they.
As you say perhaps we should leave some of these areas in peace.
In reply to Post #42
Couple of lakes on a club ticket (which bans boats altogether) have genuine, roped off, out of bounds areas and the fish will crash out there all day long. If there wasn't a rope, I am convinced people would still fish the area, despite it being out of bounds.
So I think the "should they" question is better framed as "will they" and I reckon the answer, 9 times out of 10, would be "yes they would".
Therefore, proper out of bounds areas should be physically impossible to fish to if they're to provide real refuge for the fish, since there are so many anglers that will happily break rules.
Further to that, any area that was previously "physically impossible to fish to" (e.g. the far margin overhang, the "natural out of bounds") is no longer a sanctuary for the fish, because anyone can drive a boat under there.
Given that angling is essentially a sport, and we're all always going on about etiquette, I think it's something seriously worth thinking about. How sporting is it, when your quarry has absolutely nowhere it can go to feel completely safe?
Not very, in my opinion.
Couple of lakes on a club ticket (which bans boats altogether) have genuine, roped off, out of bounds areas and the fish will crash out there all day long. If there wasn't a rope, I am convinced people would still fish the area, despite it being out of bounds.
So I think the "should they" question is better framed as "will they" and I reckon the answer, 9 times out of 10, would be "yes they would".
Therefore, proper out of bounds areas should be physically impossible to fish to if they're to provide real refuge for the fish, since there are so many anglers that will happily break rules.
Further to that, any area that was previously "physically impossible to fish to" (e.g. the far margin overhang, the "natural out of bounds") is no longer a sanctuary for the fish, because anyone can drive a boat under there.
Given that angling is essentially a sport, and we're all always going on about etiquette, I think it's something seriously worth thinking about. How sporting is it, when your quarry has absolutely nowhere it can go to feel completely safe?
Not very, in my opinion.
In reply to Post #43
Theres a big assumption that everyone that owns or regularly uses a boat somehow abuses it by placing baits where they cannot be cast - in my experience this is possibly the absolute minority - I still use a boat on my syndicate for a lots of spots - I can cast and bait up ALL of them 'manually' but choose not to based on time, accuracy, disturbance and convenience. . .
Theres a big assumption that everyone that owns or regularly uses a boat somehow abuses it by placing baits where they cannot be cast - in my experience this is possibly the absolute minority - I still use a boat on my syndicate for a lots of spots - I can cast and bait up ALL of them 'manually' but choose not to based on time, accuracy, disturbance and convenience. . .
In reply to Post #39
I banned both Baitboats and Deepers from may 1st , I found the same “When the Cats away the Mice will play” as soon as no one is around off they sail into the snags, behind over-hanging bushes, or up and down the lake with a deeper fitted on the back looking for fish etc.
Odd one moaned for a bit, I remember one saying “It's ok for you- you can cast and hit a fag packet at 80 yards” I replied “So can anyone, it's called practice, practice ,practice!”
I banned both Baitboats and Deepers from may 1st , I found the same “When the Cats away the Mice will play” as soon as no one is around off they sail into the snags, behind over-hanging bushes, or up and down the lake with a deeper fitted on the back looking for fish etc.
Odd one moaned for a bit, I remember one saying “It's ok for you- you can cast and hit a fag packet at 80 yards” I replied “So can anyone, it's called practice, practice ,practice!”