Boat Fishing Tips and Tricks
by Steve Dolan
If you're keen to find a fun family activity,
then give boat fishing a
try. There's nothing
better than heading off
on your boat with the
wife and kids, talking
about the fish you plan
to catch that day.
It's important to
realize, though, that
there are lots of
different types of boat
fishing, and each one
has specialized boat
requirements. You can do
everything from dangle
some bait on a string
over the side of a
canoe, right through to
high-tech rods and a
powerful cabin cruiser.
It just needs to be
seaworthy - the rest is
up to you! But if you're
keen to buy a boat, you
need to do some homework
first. It can be very
confusing walking into a
boat show or dealership
and seeing so many
choices. You need to
think about what you're
planning to do with the
boat before you can
decide which one to buy.
Here are some popular
boat fishing choices.
Freshwater Boats
If you enjoy fishing in
freshwater lakes, rivers
or streams, then you
don't need a massive
boat. Instead, choose an
aluminum or fiberglass
boat. Make sure it's
easy to transport and
lightweight. Popular
choices include bow
riders, runabouts or
walley boats, with
either a small or dual
console. These boats are
fine for family
freshwater boat fishing
outings.
Offshore
Saltwater Boats
Fishing out on the open
sea is the most common
thing people think of
when you mention boat
fishing. Most people
enjoy fishing offshore
because they get the
chance to catch huge
fish and use heavy
tackle. It's important
to have a dependable,
heavy boat for this type
of fishing. You'll
encounter plenty of
different weather and
situations on the open
sea, so you need to be
able to rely on your
boat. You can choose
twin or single outboard
motors, and you
definitely need a cuddy
cabin or a center
console. If you want to
spend a bit more, you
can start to look at the
more luxurious boats,
including a bluewater or
convertible with luxury
quarters, and maybe even
an elegant living area.
Bigger boats generally
have powerful inboard
diesel engines as
standard.
Inshore
Saltwater Boats
If your tastes run to
tarpin, snook, trout,
bonefish or redfish,
then you will want a
boat suitable for
inshore saltwater
fishing. It's best to
have a light boat that
is smaller than a
25-footer. All you need
is a single outboard
motor. You're likely to
be in shallow water at
least some of the time,
so something like a flat
or baby boat works well.
These have a spacious
deck you can use for
casting, and are still
float well in shallow
water.
Bass Boats
This type of boat is
generally suitable for
tournament and sport
fishing. They're
colorful, fast, and ride
low in the water. It's
preferable if the bass
boat has a trolling
motor mounted on the
bow. Generally they have
a platform at both the
bow and stern ends,
which makes casting much
easier. You can choose
from aluminum or
fiberglass.
Float
Tubes
These don't
really qualify as boats,
but fly anglers find
them very handy for
fishing in mountain
streams, ponds and
lakes. A float tube is
simply a flotation
device containing a
seat. The angler is
partially submerged when
seated in the float
tube, and uses fins on
his feet to navigate
around on the water.
They're tricky to
handle, and fly-casting
requires lots of
practice. You can choose
between round float
tubes, which are similar
to an inner tube, and
pontoon float tubes,
which have an air
chamber either side of
the fisherman. The
pontoons are slightly
easier to maneuver, as
their v-shaped design
reduces the amount of
water resistance.
It's always a good idea
to speak to experienced
anglers who either have
their own boat or use
one regularly. They can
give you lots of help in
deciding which type of
boat is right for you.
Read magazines, guides,
and talk to your local
boat charter service.
Fishermen generally love
to talk about boats, and
you can learn a lot to
help you select the
perfect fishing boat for
your needs.
About the Author
Steve Dolan is an experienced and keen
fisherman, who enjoys
the outdoors almost as
much as catching the
fish! Click on
Boat Fishing and Boat
Fishing Trips to
find more articles and
information
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