Fishing from the boat opens up completely different horizons for the angler, inaccessible when fishing from the shore. Feeder's out of the boat. It allows you to capture local points that are not accessible to long-range casting, and accurately get into the aft stream at the desired depth. Unlike the shore feeder, here the distance is reduced to a minimum, and the accuracy of the positioning of the boat and the verticality of the feeding of the tool comes to the fore.
Many anglers mistakenly believe that fishing from a boat requires some specific, exclusive gear, but this is not quite true. editing Using a short but powerful form has a tremendous advantage in comfort and control over the snag, especially when the current is raging overboard and the wind is blowing strong. Understanding the water dynamics of the river and the ability to anchor properly are key success factors that we will examine in detail.
Before you get on the water, you need to be aware that the conditions of fishing from a boat dictate their strict safety and ergonomics, any unnecessary movement can lead to a hook or, worse, to a loss of balance. tooling It should be as reliable as possible and the gear should be compact, and in this article we will discuss all the nuances, from the choice of rods to the feeding tactics, so that your trip is effective.
Choice of rod and coil for boat fishing
When fishing from a boat, the length of the rod ceases to be a determining factor for the range of throwing, giving way to ease of control. The optimal length of the form varies from 1.8 to 2.4 meters. Longer "sticks" will interfere with the limited space of the boat, cling to the sides or elements of the equipment of the vessel, which creates discomfort. rod It allows you to work with one hand, freeing the other to control the boat or suck the trophy.
The test range of the rod should match the weight of the feeder you plan to use on a given current. A moderate-to-strong river often requires feeders weighing between 80 and 120 grams, and sometimes heavier, so the form should have a margin of safety. Medium or Heavy A class with a test of 120-150 grams will be a universal solution, and it is important that the formation is fast or superfast, which will ensure a clear cut even at great depths and with a long squint line.
The coil must be reliable and have good traction power. The size of the squid 3000-4000 according to the Shimano classification will be optimal. The presence of a friction brake with fine tuning is critical, since the catching of large fish from the boat often occurs "on short notice", and the extinguishing of the jerks has to be mainly with a form and friction.
⚠️ Warning: Never use too long rods (more than 2.7 m) in narrow PVC boats. With strong winds or a sharp jerk of fish, a long form can play the role of a lever and turn the boat over or knock you out of balance.
Equipment and installation: specifics for the flow
The current makes its own adjustments to the type of installation, the main task is to ensure that the feeder is stable at the bottom and that the bite is well transmitted. paternoster and Paternoster is easy to make directly on a pond and less prone to entanglement, which is important for frequent over-throws. Asymmetrical loop gives better sensitivity when careful bites, when the fish just tries the nozzle.
The use of feeders also has its own peculiarities: Bullet feeders with ground hooks or rectangular metal nets are ideal for strong currents; plastic feeders can tear down with a stream of water even if they are stuffed with viscous feeding; the weight of the feeder is chosen experimentally: it should lie on the bottom, but it is easy to break away from it when choosing a slack if you want to move the gear.
Line or wicker cord? In the high current and deep, the wicker cord has the undeniable advantage of being non-stretchable, which allows instant licking, and has less sailing in the water. The cord is usually chosen between 0.12 and 0.16 mm. The monophilic line only makes sense as a leash or if the fishing is done at a very short distance in standing water.
- 🎣 Paternoster The most popular and reliable installation for a boat.
- 🎣 Gardner's loop It is fast, but less sensitive on a strong current.
- 🎣 Helicopter Good for fishing in the water column or on an overgrown bottom.
Tactics of anchoring and positioning at the point
Proper anchoring is 90 percent of the success of feeder fishing from a boat. Unlike spinning, where you can drift or use an electric motor to move slowly, the feeder requires staticity. The boat must be fixed so that the current does not blow it across the jet, otherwise the line will constantly get confused by the anchor tile, and the angle of attack of the water on the fishing line will change.
There are two main ways to anchor: one anchor from the nose and two anchors (stretching). For feeder fishing on the current, two anchors are preferred. One anchor is thrown upstream, the other one is lower, which allows you to rigidly fix the boat and, most importantly, turn it with your nose against the current, which minimizes the boat's sailing and allows you to lower the tooling exactly under the keel.
If two anchors are not possible, then the anchor from the nose + paddle / blade scheme is used, in which case the anchor tack should be long enough to keep the angle of demolition of the boat as low as possible, and if the wind blows sideways or against the current, the boat will turn around and fishing will become impossible.
The secret of a quiet anchor
Use the anchor cable not as a wicker cord, but as a thin chain or combination of chain and rope. The chain at the bottom extinguishes vibrations from the current, which are transmitted directly to the rod by a thin cord, creating a false sensation of pecking.
Feeding: Creating a feeding table
In boat fishing, feeding has its own specificity, because we're directly above the fishing point, we don't have to throw the feeder 80 meters. We can lower the feeder vertically down. This allows you to create a concentrated feeder. feed-spot However, the current quickly erodes the bait, carrying the plume down the river.
The feeding must be heavy and inert to flow. It must be added weightings: clay, soil from the shore or special attractants, weightings. The consistency must be such that the feeder washes out in 5-10 minutes. If the feeder is empty in 1 minute, the current is too strong or the mixture is too dry. If in 20 minutes, the fish can not wait for the table to approach.
The feeding is done in a series of 5-10 feeders, and then pause, and the catch is done in a rhythm of "fishing - waiting for a bite - overfishing." Intervals can be from 3 to 7 minutes. It is important not to overfeed the fish, especially bream, which is very voracious, but can quickly become satiated.
| Type of current | Weight of the feeder | The consistency of bait | Throw interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weak. | 40-60 | Flush, blazing | 3-4 minutes |
| Average | 60-90 | Medium viscosity | 5-6 minutes |
| Strong. | 100-140 g | Tight, weighted. | 7-10 minutes |
| Very strong. | 140+g | Very dense, in lumps. | 10 minutes. |
Fishing and catching techniques
The technique of fishing from a boat is very different from the technique of fishing from the shore. You don't make long-distance casts here. You just lower the feeder vertically down to the bottom, then you pick a slack and you put the rod on board or in the holder, and the angle between the rod and the water should be sharp so that the current is less pressing on the line.
The pecking on the current often looks like a confident bend of the nod or, conversely, its weakening if the fish raised the feeder. The cut should be short and sharp, but without excessive amplitude, so as not to pull the feeder to the surface and not scare the flock. The fish is forced to go under the boat, it will confuse the anchor ropes, you need to quickly but without jerks to raise the trophy to the surface and start in the lifts.
☑️ Checklist before fishing begins
Safety and equipment of fishermen
Boat Fishing, especially on the current, is associated with increased risks. Getting up in a boat while catching large fish is strictly forbidden, this is the main reason for coups. All manipulations should be done sitting. If the fish is large, it is better to loosen the friction slightly and let it walk, than to pull "snort", risking losing balance.
The equipment should be comfortable and not restrictive, shoes with a non-slip sole are a requirement. lifejacket It's not just a recommendation, it's a necessity, especially if you're fishing alone, and if you fall into the water in a strong current, it counts for seconds, and the vest can save a life.
⚠️ Warning: Never wind an anchor tile or fishing line on your hand or fingers! A sharp jerk of a boat or a powerful pull of a fish can lead to serious injuries or even loss of a limb.
Use a rod holder with the ability to adjust the angle quickly. During the course of the boat position may change, and you will have to constantly adjust the form so that the line does not touch the side.
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
One of the most common mistakes of beginners is the use of too long leashes: on a strong current, a long leash (more than 50-60 cm) constantly gets tangled behind the main line, and the nozzle can be outside the range of the aft plume. The optimal length of the leash for the flow is 30-40 cm.
The second mistake is ignoring the bottom of the topography, and the boat often gets on the navel or the brow, but the flow under it can be uneven, you have to probe the bottom before you curl up to find a smooth patch, and if the feeder rolls into the hole or gets stuck in the rocks, the fishing will not take place.
The third mistake is that you don't have control over your gear, and you get pulled and weakened by the boat's wobble, and you have to keep your hand on the form, or you have to keep your nod on the line, so you don't miss the moment when the tooling is blown away.
The main secret of success is not super expensive gear, but the ability to properly anchor the boat perpendicular to the flow and choose the consistency of bait, which will be washed out at your depth and flow speed.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can I catch a feeder from an inflatable boat without a motor?
Yes, you can. PVC inflatable boats are great for feeder fishing, they're stable and lightweight, and the key is to organize the rods and anchors properly so that the cylinders are not damaged by hooks or sharp objects.
What weight is optimal for the Oka or Volga?
On large rivers like the Volga or the Oka, the current is often very strong, the weight of feeders can reach 120-160 grams, sometimes fishermen use special feeders-parachutes or weight standard models with lead.
Do I need a sounder for feeder fishing from a boat?
The sounder makes it much easier to find promising points (brows, dumps, snags); however, experienced anglers can determine the bottom relief using a marker load or simply by probing the bottom with a feeder. Echo sounder is a convenience, but not a strict necessity.
What to do if the boat is very windy?
If the boat is turning around, it's not anchored properly or the wind is blowing into the side. Try using a second anchor from the stern or move to a more secure place (outside the island, into the backwater), and it's impossible and dangerous to catch in a boat that's constantly rotating.