In reply to Post #101
I've tried to use a fleshy appendage AS a lure but with only limited success. ...
I've tried to use a fleshy appendage AS a lure but with only limited success. ...
what do you do then handline the ****ers in That did make me chuckle 
I don't get the whole bait boat thing, it's just another aid, like a rod and reel.
Spombs are welcomed with open arms because that requires skill to snap off and leave it trailing line as a death trap for wildlife but placing it without the risk with a bait boat isn't angling.
Time is precious, we only have so many days fishing a year so I'll thrash the water to death with a marker rod and write off that day scaring the fish in my swim and possibly others as 'just something that happens'...lets not mention the increased risk of snagging by dragging the bottom, pulling for a break and leaving a trailer on the bottom, rather than using a bait boat quietly and disturbing no one.
I've done both, I can easily do both, but given the choice I prefer to use a bait boat. If someone has a better bait boat than me I don't lament it as cheating...just degrees of difference really and where you put your mark in the sand.
Yes there are idiots who abuse bait boats, but that's not the boats fault, the angler should be banned for using it dangerously, because if they're prepared to do that what else are they prepared to do 'at all costs'
@ Mal
I don't get the whole bait boat thing, it's just another aid, like a rod and reel.
Spombs are welcomed with open arms because that requires skill to snap off and leave it trailing line as a death trap for wildlife but placing it without the risk with a bait boat isn't angling.
Time is precious, we only have so many days fishing a year so I'll thrash the water to death with a marker rod and write off that day scaring the fish in my swim and possibly others as 'just something that happens'...lets not mention the increased risk of snagging by dragging the bottom, pulling for a break and leaving a trailer on the bottom, rather than using a bait boat quietly and disturbing no one.
I've done both, I can easily do both, but given the choice I prefer to use a bait boat. If someone has a better bait boat than me I don't lament it as cheating...just degrees of difference really and where you put your mark in the sand.
Yes there are idiots who abuse bait boats, but that's not the boats fault, the angler should be banned for using it dangerously, because if they're prepared to do that what else are they prepared to do 'at all costs'
@ Mal
In reply to Post #106
I've caught a few things with mine over the years but never a carp
I've caught a few things with mine over the years but never a carp
In reply to Post #29
Exactly this. Personal choice and the fishery rules. I have a bait boat and a member of two clubs. One of them allows boats, the other doesn't.
Exactly this. Personal choice and the fishery rules. I have a bait boat and a member of two clubs. One of them allows boats, the other doesn't.
In reply to Post #107
Good post 👍
Good post 👍
In reply to Post #107
Agree totally, have used bait boats in the past, great tool, if used correctly. Up to the anglers if they want to use or not to use. Quite often on waters that get hammered by boats, boats are the worse thing to use
Agree totally, have used bait boats in the past, great tool, if used correctly. Up to the anglers if they want to use or not to use. Quite often on waters that get hammered by boats, boats are the worse thing to use
In reply to Post #94
if your fit enough to load & unload your car walk with all your tackle to the lake and set up then surely casting you rods out is achievable? surely all of the above does more damage to your shoulders than casting?
The damage to the shoulders gets worse all of the time. I don't carry my tackle to the lake. I am fortunate enough to fish waters where I can park behind or very close to the swim. Casting now, my left shoulder will not follow the correct arc pulling down on the rod butt. It randomly pulls left (I cannot stop it) meaning I cannot predict where the cast is going. My right shoulder is not as bad but bad enough that I cannot put as much power into the cast which means the distance I fish (and I am not a long range merchant) is greatly reduced. I can hit 40 yards comfortably but not accurately. This is getting progressively worse rather quickly.
I have been angling for over 60 years and carping for getting on 46 of those. If you ever get bad arthritis you will find your self looking for some way to make life easier and I would like to continue as long as I can.
if your fit enough to load & unload your car walk with all your tackle to the lake and set up then surely casting you rods out is achievable? surely all of the above does more damage to your shoulders than casting?
The damage to the shoulders gets worse all of the time. I don't carry my tackle to the lake. I am fortunate enough to fish waters where I can park behind or very close to the swim. Casting now, my left shoulder will not follow the correct arc pulling down on the rod butt. It randomly pulls left (I cannot stop it) meaning I cannot predict where the cast is going. My right shoulder is not as bad but bad enough that I cannot put as much power into the cast which means the distance I fish (and I am not a long range merchant) is greatly reduced. I can hit 40 yards comfortably but not accurately. This is getting progressively worse rather quickly.
I have been angling for over 60 years and carping for getting on 46 of those. If you ever get bad arthritis you will find your self looking for some way to make life easier and I would like to continue as long as I can.
In reply to Post #112
Not much of a fan of bait boats myself but in Mick's case I can't see any argument. Respect to him for still going most people would've given up years ago
Not much of a fan of bait boats myself but in Mick's case I can't see any argument. Respect to him for still going most people would've given up years ago
In reply to Post #1
A big part of the reason for any ban must be inconsiderate use of them. One of the lakes I fish allows them which I'm fine with as long as they don't interfere with my fishing. Recently I've had experience of two extreme users on the lake.
The first was only a about 10 rod lengths away but I never noticed him using it to drop bait under overhanging trees for quite a while. Very slow and quiet use so barely made any disturbance or noise, which is as it should be.
The second was when I was floater fishing, several freebies out and a carp had just shown some interest so it was looking promising until a boat came through the lot at what must have been close to full speed, did a u turn and went back to its owner the other side of the lake. Waves everywhere and no sign of the carp there all afternoon.
I think it's fairly obvious if the latter happened much then the lake owner would get complaints and a ban would follow
A big part of the reason for any ban must be inconsiderate use of them. One of the lakes I fish allows them which I'm fine with as long as they don't interfere with my fishing. Recently I've had experience of two extreme users on the lake.
The first was only a about 10 rod lengths away but I never noticed him using it to drop bait under overhanging trees for quite a while. Very slow and quiet use so barely made any disturbance or noise, which is as it should be.
The second was when I was floater fishing, several freebies out and a carp had just shown some interest so it was looking promising until a boat came through the lot at what must have been close to full speed, did a u turn and went back to its owner the other side of the lake. Waves everywhere and no sign of the carp there all afternoon.
I think it's fairly obvious if the latter happened much then the lake owner would get complaints and a ban would follow
In reply to Post #112
Hats off to you for continuing to fish. I suspect I will suffer similar limitations due to two operations on my right shoulder and arthritis in both now. I have noticed that I much weaker now than a few years ago, at the ripe old age of 55.
In my opinion the waters that ban bait boats do so because you will always get a small minority that have no idea how to use them in a considerate manner. Personally I have had someone bait boat a bait across the lake and drop it just to the left of my rod tips, almost certainly because they had seen me catch from my margin. We had words.
Here's an amusing story (I was told it and really hope it's true) about why bait boats were banned on Virginia Water.
It wasn't unusual for films to be shot in the grounds of Virginia Water as it's a beautiful and scenic country park and on this occasion they had set up to film an early morning scene for a Harry Potter film with the misty lake in the background. Anyway the director shouts 'Action!' quickly followed by 'CUT! WTF IS THAT!?' as a bait boat trundled quietly across the water in the background. Boats were banned shortly after that event.
Hats off to you for continuing to fish. I suspect I will suffer similar limitations due to two operations on my right shoulder and arthritis in both now. I have noticed that I much weaker now than a few years ago, at the ripe old age of 55.
In my opinion the waters that ban bait boats do so because you will always get a small minority that have no idea how to use them in a considerate manner. Personally I have had someone bait boat a bait across the lake and drop it just to the left of my rod tips, almost certainly because they had seen me catch from my margin. We had words.
Here's an amusing story (I was told it and really hope it's true) about why bait boats were banned on Virginia Water.
It wasn't unusual for films to be shot in the grounds of Virginia Water as it's a beautiful and scenic country park and on this occasion they had set up to film an early morning scene for a Harry Potter film with the misty lake in the background. Anyway the director shouts 'Action!' quickly followed by 'CUT! WTF IS THAT!?' as a bait boat trundled quietly across the water in the background. Boats were banned shortly after that event.
In reply to Post #112
fair play too you then mate, if using a bait boat means you can carry on fishing im all for it
fair play too you then mate, if using a bait boat means you can carry on fishing im all for it
In reply to Post #115
about why bait boats were banned on Virginia Water.
They were already banned back in the 80's when I fished there (for pike). However, it is amazing how well a decoy duck body can be grafted onto a small boat (they were all home made then anyway) and at distance you had trouble spotting it. I never used one but I had a mate who did.
about why bait boats were banned on Virginia Water.
They were already banned back in the 80's when I fished there (for pike). However, it is amazing how well a decoy duck body can be grafted onto a small boat (they were all home made then anyway) and at distance you had trouble spotting it. I never used one but I had a mate who did.
In reply to Post #117
This would have been in the late 2000's or early 2010's I think, although I'm not sure. Certainly some were using bait boats in that period as I fished it a few times in that period.
This would have been in the late 2000's or early 2010's I think, although I'm not sure. Certainly some were using bait boats in that period as I fished it a few times in that period.
In reply to Post #114
I think ‘waves everywhere' may be being a little over dramatic from a plastic model boat..
I think ‘waves everywhere' may be being a little over dramatic from a plastic model boat..
In reply to Post #119
It may sound a bit dramatic but if you are delicately trying to present a floater to cautious fish and an unnecessary wave from a plastic boat upsets it may feel like waves everywhere.
It may sound a bit dramatic but if you are delicately trying to present a floater to cautious fish and an unnecessary wave from a plastic boat upsets it may feel like waves everywhere.