Baitboats – they have their role to play in angling like any other item of tackle
Bait boats…a word sure to split the fishing community! You either love ’em or hate ’em. Those that don’t use them will tell you they take all the skill out of angling, and fish caught using them are of less merit. Those that do point out that they are merely using the technology available to them, and that people said the same things about electronic bite alarms, bolt rigs and boilies!
I’ll say right now, I have a baitboat, and I normally have it in the car when fishing, but don’t necessarily always use it. Sometimes I don’t need to, sometimes if I think it’ll upset others I won’t (can’t be bothered with the aggro!) and sometimes I think it will detrimental.
Picture 1
Picture 2
I do believe that people should learn to cast, spod, and use a throwing stick competently first, as there’s always going to be that time the batteries go flat, and there are many lakes that don’t allow them. Like anything, it’s not the use; it’s the misuse that spoils other people’s fishing. Like spods…..
The Angling Technics Microcat
People have said that anglers who use boats should learn to cast. Do you think you’re a good, accurate caster? Picture 1 shows an island approximately 30 yards out. From the front, it looks quite simple. From the side is another matter. Picture 2 shows what I mean. Point ‘X’ is a really, really good cast. Point ‘A’ is the beginning of the marginal shelf (41/2 foot) and point ‘B’ where the shelf levels off in 2ft of water approximately 3ft wide. There is about 15ft from point ‘X’ to point ‘A’. Close, but not close enough? On the day these shots were taken, it was – 4 deg C, and the only take I had was on the 2ft ledge after the sun had been up for a couple of hours. No way I would have cast that one!
The ‘known’ boats
There are a few different boats on the market, ranging from £ 200 for a Badger one (I’ve yet to see one), to £ 1220 for an echo sounder fitted Angling Technics job. As always each corner will argue theirs are better. Personally I use the Angling Technics Microcat. With it I can take out two rods to two different spots in one trip. Being a low profile catamaran I can manoeuvre it under low trees, and it doesn’t catch the wind as badly as their standard bait boat. Also, as it has forward and backwards facing jets, so you can go straight in and reverse out, which their Standard Baitboat can’t (it has to spin).
Handset for the graphical echo sounder
The only downside to the Microcat is that because it sits so low in the water, waves can break over it if it is really choppy, so you have to make sure you seal the battery compartments, and I have heard about the seals failing on the door release mechanism, but haven’t personally had the problem.
The Viper baitboat is another popular model, similar in cost to the Microcat, and again available with an echo sounder if required. One advantage is that the pumps don’t need ‘priming’ like the Microcats do, so no cold hands in winter! The main reason I didn’t go that route are twofold really, they sit much higher in the water and seem more prone to crosswind, and also the controls are like a tanks, ie, push two levers forward to go forward, pull the right one back to go right. It just seemed a bit fiddly, especially if trying to hold the rod and echo sounder at the same time, but a couple of mates swear by them.
The Broadlands Baitboat looks to me like a modified normal boat, the one big disadvantage (as I see it) is that it uses a propeller. This could cause problems with catching the line when manoeuvring, and also in heavy weed.
The new Tri-Pod Models R-6 Baitboat is creating a few waves (just like that!). Well specced, many extras available, but at a very reasonable price. Looks as if it’s destined for good things.
The Angling Technics Standard Baitboat
Haven’t seen a Badger Baitboat so can’t comment, but does seem a little cheap, and its had a few teething troubles. Do a Google search on ‘Badger baitboats’ and you’ll read a few interesting things.
DECISIONS TO MAKE
Is a modified remote control speedboat ok, or do you want a custom job?
Do you want a low profile boat so its less affected by wind and more stable, or a taller boat that is better suited to rough water, but more affected by crosswinds?
Can the boat be driven with one hand, leaving the other free to hold your rod/binoculars/cup of tea?
Do you need the manoeuvrability of the more expensive boats?
Do you mind having to prime the pumps on some models?
How fast is the boat when loaded? Do you need that speed if you only fish at medium range?
How much bait are you likely to take out at one time?
The Tri-pod Models R-6 Baitboat
What’s the running time on the standard batteries?
Are things like bankside chargers, solar chargers and other accessories available? ( though you can buy these much, much cheaper from electrical wholesalers)
Which brings us neatly onto echo sounders…..ethical or not? Again each to their own, but the way I see it is that the skill (as with a marker float) is in interpreting the features in front of you, you still need to know where to position your baits. Nobody bats an eyelid about their use abroad, or when pike fishing the broads or loughs, so why is it any different for carping? I do still believe a lot of things that show on the sounder aren’t necessarily big fish (ie, it could be a shoal of fry) – see the demo on the Angling Technics website. Also, no point dropping a kilo of bait on a fish 2ft from the surface in 12ft of water……..mind you fish in the winter do tend to hang mid water, and finding the depth can be a pain…;)
A few points to bear in mind
You never see baited rigs dangling from trees on lakes where bait boats are widely used
No need to drag a marker float through feeding fish!
The Viper Baitboat
I use less bait when using a boat. You are fishing “bang on the money” so don’t need as much to allow for a misplaced cast.
You can fish over deep silt without worrying the leads too buried
I can put out 4kg of bait in one drop. That could take 40+ casts with a spod – and people think boats cause disturbance.
No need for heavy leads at long range… a little edge?
Some argue that there is merit in using a ‘real’ boat and paddling out your baits, and remote baits are toys. Splitting hairs??
One of the big advantages to me is that I ‘only’ get to fish an overnighter, usually at the lake at 6.30pm, off it by 7am. Obviously, its dark this time of year, but I can still fish tight to islands if need be. You can still use a marker to find bars in the dark with practice (another article maybe!) but it’s a complete pain, and difficult on overgrown lakes – and also not good when its tipping down with rain in a gale. And if you’re not comfortable and, more importantly, not confident, you won’t stick with it at this time of year.
‘Home made’ Baitboat made from plans on the DIY baitboat website
Baitboats are not the answer for every situation, but rather another ‘string to your bow’. Give them a go – you might surprise yourself. Some tackle shops even hire them now if you’re curious, but you might not want to give it back…….
