In reply to Post #59
I've only heard of that rule once before, a chap from Harlow told me it was a rule on a water he fished.
I can see it being abused though, people boating out their rigs at night or when know one is looking. There's always some though, the type that will go to advanced methods of disguising that their rig is in the boat
Some people won't be able to resist it
I've only heard of that rule once before, a chap from Harlow told me it was a rule on a water he fished.
I can see it being abused though, people boating out their rigs at night or when know one is looking. There's always some though, the type that will go to advanced methods of disguising that their rig is in the boat
Some people won't be able to resist it
In reply to Post #61
Totally off topic, but back in the day on one water (2rods only) we would fish a 3rd with a marker float tied by line from the tip ring just laying in the bank, but as tip was in water we actually had loose clutches a snide rod was fishing —-got sussed when one div, did everything but dip the tip!!!
Totally off topic, but back in the day on one water (2rods only) we would fish a 3rd with a marker float tied by line from the tip ring just laying in the bank, but as tip was in water we actually had loose clutches a snide rod was fishing —-got sussed when one div, did everything but dip the tip!!!
I listened to a podcast a few years ago with an old boy Bill Phillips who held the British canal carp record twice over the years, when he started fishing the military canal in the mid to late 60's it was dough bob's as indicators and potatoes for hookbaits, he must be in his late 70's now and still fishing and he gave a good analogy regarding baitboats and technology and the use of it, he was asked by Mike Holly if he owned or had used one, his response was "tools for a job", he went onto to say he had no time for arguments about the use of tech and simply laughs at the elitist/traditionalist that get onto him about it, he then went onto to say "if you've got five hundred screws to put in are you going to use a handheld screw driver or a battery operated drill driver".
I make him about right.
I make him about right.
In reply to Post #63
The analogy doesn't work. There's no skill in using either, and one is simply more convenient.
The analogy doesn't work. There's no skill in using either, and one is simply more convenient.
In reply to Post #62
How weird is that, as I was typing my last post I was thinking about that snide marker float ploy.
Edit
As regards to Post #63
Why not get a better angler than yourself to catch a fish, then you get to be photographed with it.
Which reminds a fairly known angler with a more well known son got my mate to cast his rod because he couldn't manage it, shortly after he caught. Whose fish is that?
How weird is that, as I was typing my last post I was thinking about that snide marker float ploy.
Edit
As regards to Post #63
Why not get a better angler than yourself to catch a fish, then you get to be photographed with it.
Which reminds a fairly known angler with a more well known son got my mate to cast his rod because he couldn't manage it, shortly after he caught. Whose fish is that?
In reply to Post #65
What are you on about
Were said anglers Belgian as they'd of said both of theirs.
What are you on about
Were said anglers Belgian as they'd of said both of theirs.
In reply to Post #1
Fish for yourself, **** what anyone else thinks. Dont be a **** on the bank and respect others. Follow those rules and you will do for me.
Ps
I got a baitboat - lovely. I can now turn up fish massive beds of particle where I want and not nigh on kill myself - no longer stuck to margin fishing this method.
Fish for yourself, **** what anyone else thinks. Dont be a **** on the bank and respect others. Follow those rules and you will do for me.
Ps
I got a baitboat - lovely. I can now turn up fish massive beds of particle where I want and not nigh on kill myself - no longer stuck to margin fishing this method.
In reply to Post #66
No they weren't Belgian. It was a long time ago, it had been forgotten about until I remembered today
No they weren't Belgian. It was a long time ago, it had been forgotten about until I remembered today
Not really bothered whether other people use them or not as long as it doesn't affect me. However, I've never really fished anywhere that has people using them en masse.
Personally, I doubt I'd ever use one as I think it would take some of the fun out fishing for me. I'm not really somebody who does everything to put the odds of catching in my favour. I'm perfectly content knowing that sometimes the fish that I want to catch are simply uncatchable because I can't get a bait near them. However, I have used full sized boats on big lakes because I enjoy rowing around a lake exploring.
Personally, I doubt I'd ever use one as I think it would take some of the fun out fishing for me. I'm not really somebody who does everything to put the odds of catching in my favour. I'm perfectly content knowing that sometimes the fish that I want to catch are simply uncatchable because I can't get a bait near them. However, I have used full sized boats on big lakes because I enjoy rowing around a lake exploring.
In reply to Post #57
. . . but the tech isn't used in other disciplines (other than maybe sea fishing) . . .on this basis are you saying on charter trips that use sonar any catches have zero merit as well? Or is it simply carp fishing that it applies to? Personally I don't buy into this anymore and think this is a somewhat defunct view in 2025. . . . .I still cant help feeling that some (not all) that don't embrace tech (if permitted) are either the equivalent of reverse snobs or simply cant afford it so diss it instead. With respect, to say all bait-boat captures have no merit is a very bold and broad statement - and one that is mislead IMO
Each to their own - I fish for carp in a variety of ways that sometimes includes bait boats, other times it doesn't - my free time / my choice. Don't use tech on rivers fishing for barbel but wouldn't sneer at anyone that wanted to lob a deeper out if that gave them pleasure / confidence etc
. . . but the tech isn't used in other disciplines (other than maybe sea fishing) . . .on this basis are you saying on charter trips that use sonar any catches have zero merit as well? Or is it simply carp fishing that it applies to? Personally I don't buy into this anymore and think this is a somewhat defunct view in 2025. . . . .I still cant help feeling that some (not all) that don't embrace tech (if permitted) are either the equivalent of reverse snobs or simply cant afford it so diss it instead. With respect, to say all bait-boat captures have no merit is a very bold and broad statement - and one that is mislead IMO
Each to their own - I fish for carp in a variety of ways that sometimes includes bait boats, other times it doesn't - my free time / my choice. Don't use tech on rivers fishing for barbel but wouldn't sneer at anyone that wanted to lob a deeper out if that gave them pleasure / confidence etc
In reply to Post #70
.I still cant help feeling that some (not all) that don't embrace tech (if permitted) are either the equivalent of reverse snobs or simply cant afford it so diss it instead
The above sort of explains my ‘merit' issue in a nutshell. If you reverse the above sentiment, bait boats for me are the only piece of ‘tackle' that you can purchase a ‘skill'. There is nothing I know of (aside maybe Illegal (hormones) that could turn a complete novice to someone ho has short cutted years of learning. It's ‘buying' something that is impossible (on occasions) to compete with unless you follow suit.
I appreciate most if not all of the people on here do not fall into this category- however such is the possible skill dodge of a boat especially one with all the bells and whistles means that comparisons regards catches can change from skill based to £ based.
Whilst I have no interest in carp matches, I don't think they are allowed on them are they - which to me means they must fall outside the ‘fair means' threshold.
I am lucky that the waters I now fish they are not allowed on (there is one they are but it is small and open enough that I don't see them as an advantage anyway'.
As many have said, use one or don't use one, your hobby your choice. My only slight caveat to that is that in my opinion - baitboat usage impacts everyone more than anything else, it makes the fish harder to catch and call it snobbery if you like, but with the acceptance of the (norm) as per thread those from the outside looking in see toy boats, fish finders and GPS as a bit of a joke. Unlike bite alarms ( that are still ridiculed by all my non fishing friends and family) provide a shop bought skill and learned experience advantage.
Having said all the above, I accept that it's all down to personal choice and my opinion on anyones catches are of no consequence - but they are not spiteful- but maybe jealousy that someone could buy a 3 rod NGT set up - a bag of bait - some ready tied hooks and I'd out fish them all day long - give them a Mk Carlosfandango boat to go with it and I reckon on many waters they'd kick my arse....
.I still cant help feeling that some (not all) that don't embrace tech (if permitted) are either the equivalent of reverse snobs or simply cant afford it so diss it instead
The above sort of explains my ‘merit' issue in a nutshell. If you reverse the above sentiment, bait boats for me are the only piece of ‘tackle' that you can purchase a ‘skill'. There is nothing I know of (aside maybe Illegal (hormones) that could turn a complete novice to someone ho has short cutted years of learning. It's ‘buying' something that is impossible (on occasions) to compete with unless you follow suit.
I appreciate most if not all of the people on here do not fall into this category- however such is the possible skill dodge of a boat especially one with all the bells and whistles means that comparisons regards catches can change from skill based to £ based.
Whilst I have no interest in carp matches, I don't think they are allowed on them are they - which to me means they must fall outside the ‘fair means' threshold.
I am lucky that the waters I now fish they are not allowed on (there is one they are but it is small and open enough that I don't see them as an advantage anyway'.
As many have said, use one or don't use one, your hobby your choice. My only slight caveat to that is that in my opinion - baitboat usage impacts everyone more than anything else, it makes the fish harder to catch and call it snobbery if you like, but with the acceptance of the (norm) as per thread those from the outside looking in see toy boats, fish finders and GPS as a bit of a joke. Unlike bite alarms ( that are still ridiculed by all my non fishing friends and family) provide a shop bought skill and learned experience advantage.
Having said all the above, I accept that it's all down to personal choice and my opinion on anyones catches are of no consequence - but they are not spiteful- but maybe jealousy that someone could buy a 3 rod NGT set up - a bag of bait - some ready tied hooks and I'd out fish them all day long - give them a Mk Carlosfandango boat to go with it and I reckon on many waters they'd kick my arse....
If bait boat users really think that everyone secretly wants to use one they really don't get it.
It has nothing to do with snobbery, elitism or ‘being carpy'. It's about enjoying a pastime in its fundamental form of angler, rod and line. It's about taking pride in learning to use that rod and line so that it does what want you want it to do. That is the beauty in learning a skill and becoming proficient. If I wanted to learn how to be proficient with a remote controlled boat, that would be my hobby.
It seems from this thread that actually the non bait boaters don't care if other people want to use one. They are easy to avoid as most lakes don't allow them. It's the bait boaters feeling the need to justify using them. Maybe as much to themselves as anyone else.
It has nothing to do with snobbery, elitism or ‘being carpy'. It's about enjoying a pastime in its fundamental form of angler, rod and line. It's about taking pride in learning to use that rod and line so that it does what want you want it to do. That is the beauty in learning a skill and becoming proficient. If I wanted to learn how to be proficient with a remote controlled boat, that would be my hobby.
It seems from this thread that actually the non bait boaters don't care if other people want to use one. They are easy to avoid as most lakes don't allow them. It's the bait boaters feeling the need to justify using them. Maybe as much to themselves as anyone else.
In reply to Post #72
Quote::: It's about enjoying a pastime in its fundamental form of angler, rod and line. It's about taking pride in learning to use that rod and line so that it does what you want it to do.
And that just about sums it up.
Little analogy, wild salmon fly fishing is the most difficult form of angling I've ever tried and most of the best salmon rivers ban any other type of angling for them although some more recently allow spinning. If you were to trot a 🐛 on these rivers you would most likely out fish any fly angler but the fly anglers would see you as a cheat regardless if you could fly fishing you would be taking a short cut to success.
Quote::: It's about enjoying a pastime in its fundamental form of angler, rod and line. It's about taking pride in learning to use that rod and line so that it does what you want it to do.
And that just about sums it up.
Little analogy, wild salmon fly fishing is the most difficult form of angling I've ever tried and most of the best salmon rivers ban any other type of angling for them although some more recently allow spinning. If you were to trot a 🐛 on these rivers you would most likely out fish any fly angler but the fly anglers would see you as a cheat regardless if you could fly fishing you would be taking a short cut to success.
In reply to Post #71
@55s / Beyonce - Totally understand your position on this and everyone has a right to an opinion; but to infer baitboats are some kind of 'magic bullet' that can turn an insta-carper into Terry Hearn overnight is a fallacy . . .some proportion is required here I think.
Whilst boats certainly do negate casting / accurate baiting / consistency in general (they help mitigate human error) they don't replace water craft and a general understanding of carp and their environment . . .unless you are fishing overstocked puddles, to be successful you still need to gain the knowledge of how when and where to place baits just as you would with any other method; and if the fish aren't there (irrespective of what your supa dupa sidescan may or may not tell you) captures are still not 'guaranteed' just because you've used a boat . . .
For me (and as already stated) baitboats are primarily a time saving device to enable me to maximise the time I have as efficiently as possible . . .and if they add an edge to my carp fishing on the lakes I can use them on then so be it; tech is not going away - its about to become even more prevalent in the next few decades. I don't need to prove I can find fish / apply bait / cast accurately / fish effectively; I have been doing so for years without a boat so to infer all boat users don't have this ability is nonsense!
There are other less static disciplines that I do associate with these 'skills' and maybe I get the same 'satisfaction' you are inferring from these (which I appreciate you may or may not do yourself if you exclusively fish for carp) Being accurate on moving water takes more skill - trotting a float in a boiling river whilst standing in it up to your waste for several hours or watching the tip of a feeder rod reacting to plucks and twitches or freelining a lump of meat and 'feeling' it through a weedy run takes far more concentration than carp fishing . . . . . . IMO. As for flyfishing - lets not even go there lol . . .
@55s / Beyonce - Totally understand your position on this and everyone has a right to an opinion; but to infer baitboats are some kind of 'magic bullet' that can turn an insta-carper into Terry Hearn overnight is a fallacy . . .some proportion is required here I think.
Whilst boats certainly do negate casting / accurate baiting / consistency in general (they help mitigate human error) they don't replace water craft and a general understanding of carp and their environment . . .unless you are fishing overstocked puddles, to be successful you still need to gain the knowledge of how when and where to place baits just as you would with any other method; and if the fish aren't there (irrespective of what your supa dupa sidescan may or may not tell you) captures are still not 'guaranteed' just because you've used a boat . . .
For me (and as already stated) baitboats are primarily a time saving device to enable me to maximise the time I have as efficiently as possible . . .and if they add an edge to my carp fishing on the lakes I can use them on then so be it; tech is not going away - its about to become even more prevalent in the next few decades. I don't need to prove I can find fish / apply bait / cast accurately / fish effectively; I have been doing so for years without a boat so to infer all boat users don't have this ability is nonsense!
There are other less static disciplines that I do associate with these 'skills' and maybe I get the same 'satisfaction' you are inferring from these (which I appreciate you may or may not do yourself if you exclusively fish for carp) Being accurate on moving water takes more skill - trotting a float in a boiling river whilst standing in it up to your waste for several hours or watching the tip of a feeder rod reacting to plucks and twitches or freelining a lump of meat and 'feeling' it through a weedy run takes far more concentration than carp fishing . . . . . . IMO. As for flyfishing - lets not even go there lol . . .
In reply to Post #74
I guess my views on baitboats are pretty much the same as those of 55/Beyonce, in that I'm not a fan.
Obviously, if someone has a genuine disability (as opposed to being a lazy obese slob) or is simply elderly and unable to cast more than 30 yards, then that's totally different then I see no issue whatsoever in their use.
I'll also add a caveat about waters (that are of a decent size, let's say 20 acres plus) that they're allowed on, and why their use may not always be a particular edge, in fact it can be the opposite....If everyone uses them, and boats to gravel patches and island margins in excess of 150 yards away, then this leaves tons of open water that rarely, if ever, gets fished. These areas, especially those deep silty bits that are ignored by all the boaters, can be very very productive I've found, especially for the bigger fish.
I guess my views on baitboats are pretty much the same as those of 55/Beyonce, in that I'm not a fan.
Obviously, if someone has a genuine disability (as opposed to being a lazy obese slob) or is simply elderly and unable to cast more than 30 yards, then that's totally different then I see no issue whatsoever in their use.
I'll also add a caveat about waters (that are of a decent size, let's say 20 acres plus) that they're allowed on, and why their use may not always be a particular edge, in fact it can be the opposite....If everyone uses them, and boats to gravel patches and island margins in excess of 150 yards away, then this leaves tons of open water that rarely, if ever, gets fished. These areas, especially those deep silty bits that are ignored by all the boaters, can be very very productive I've found, especially for the bigger fish.