Pro Staff Question

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 5:15 am

Hi Guys- On the Tournament Board, a fella named Clif has posed a question. He wants to know the basic differences he can expect going from bank fishing (without a boat) to bass fishing from a boat.

I told him I would post his question here and that he can follow it on this Board.
Thanks in advance. Joe

MPJBASS · Post by **MPJBASS** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 5:10 pm

Well humm, how do i reply to this one....fishing from the boat has major advantages vs. the bank. With the bank your pretty much limited to fishing in certian spots and structure. With the boat aspect you can get out away from the bank and throw in. Alot of bass and other fish will position themselves with their heads looking towards the bank waiting for baitfish to move out into deeper water especially at drop off points etc. When your fishing from the bank your basically throwing out past the fish and coming in from behind them. Not saying that fish cannot be caught that way but I think that you have a better chance to find more structure from the boat and throwing into the bank vs throwing from the bank.
FISH, EAT, SLEEP...........have fun!!pj

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 9:30 pm

Boat fishing gives you more angles but you tend to fish quicker where as bank fishing forces you to slow down due to less access. There was a time where I used to wade only. I did very well. A boat just opens the options up a bit more for you.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 10:12 pm

Both styles of fishing have their advantages and disadvantages.
Going from shore to a boat will take some patience. Boat position is very important and therefor learning to control the boat under a variety of conditions is critical. To present a bait properly you must be in position to make an accurate cast. Practice makes perfect here and you must decide whether you are more comfortable with a foot or hand controlled trolling motor and then master it. It may sound intimidating to a first time boat operator but it is not hard to learn.
One tip I will give you is to whenever possible fish into the wind or current.
This is important for 2 reasons;
1. Fishing and casting into the wind will allow you to retreive your bait at the fishes face. Fish almost always will be looking into the current for their food, by bringing your bait to them it will appear natural.
2. It is much easier to control your boat when facing the wind or current. This gives you very good control and will allow you to fish along at your pace, not the pace of the wind or current.

I hope this wasnt too simple, I wanted to cover the basics the best I could.
Good luck and tight lines.

johnnie crain outdoors · Mon Jan 20, 2003 10:58 pm

Excellent question and good answers from the staff. Fishing from a boat, in additional to all the other factors already mentioned, always anglers to carry much more tackle, therefore you are apt to try more and different techniques as you advance. Boat fishing affords you the opportunity to leave the hammered shorelines and beaten paths that most bank anglers must contend with. Boat fishing allows you to move quickly and quietly along a shoreline and gives you access to all those great looking places you can see from the bank, but are just out of reach. With lots of storage space boating anglers can carry more equipment, safety items, snacks and beverages and creature comforts that bank anglers simply don't have access to. I don't know if you have experience with boats, but be sure before you takle any major trips that you are familiar with how boats handle while being towed, learn to back the trailer and turn the trailer in a large parking lot until you feel comfortable doing it. Some folks have a difficult time backing trailers, especially under pressure like when there is a line of boats waiting to put in. I'm assuming you are talking about a trailerable boat? For flat bottom car toppers you won't have those problems. It may take a little time to get your "sea legs' when fishing from a boat. Learn to fish standing up, if needed lean against a boat set or something till your sure. In any boat, always be sure you have all the legal papers and proper safety devices and keep them handy. I think once you fish from a boat, it's hard to go back bank fishing. I love boats! Good luck and have fun, no matter what! Johnnie Crain, Iowa Pro Staff.

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 3:38 pm

I do have to clarify something. Apparently Clif is a veteran angler who posted the question for the benefit of those who might not be as experienced.

Thanks again, Clif. Much obliged. Joe

dansfishntales · Post by **dansfishntales** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 6:11 pm

Everything has fairly much been stated in the other postings. I like the posting where it says shore fishing makes you slow down, in many times this should be remembered in a boat.

In a boat you have better control of most situations, although there are many times in the wind I would rather ba on shore.

Current can be fished much easier from a boat, as it can be faced into the current, and since fish as a general rule, face upstream, waiting for their food, the cover areas can be fished much easier. Especically if you are a person who likes to flip and pitch, as most of you know I do.

More locations can be reached by boat, and it is the only way to fish many untapped, or nearly untapped, deap areas, such as ledges, drop offs, humps, etc. Another type area that a boat makes it much easier, especially in the Ozark Mountain areas, is the bluff. Very few bluffs can be fished from shore.

Even smaller bodies of water will have more benefits from using nothing more than a two-man bass boat, or jon boat.

Weed lines are another plus from a boat, and since most fish will hit a lure quicker coming from shore rather than going to shore, it is an obvious plus. In the same respect, paralleling a bank (although it can be done from shore) is much easier from a boat, and this can be a deadly technique, especially when finding the correct depth with a crankbait.

I know some of this may be a duplicate of things already stated, but thought I would through my 2-cents in anyway. Haven't been on the boards much lately, and hope to get back a little more.

Many things going haywire, and I'm also upgrading this computer. Not to mention fitting in a little ice fishing.
Dan