Finding a watershed is a key skill that distinguishes a beginner from a pro. Using a boat allows you to explore areas that are not accessible to coastal fishermen and find the very fish tables where trophy fish feed. Statistics show that in large reservoirs, up to 70% of the bream catch falls on depths that can only be reached by sea. motorboat.
But just swimming in the middle of a pond is not enough. There are many nuances associated with echolocation, proper anchoring, and vertical fishing gear, and in this article, we will explore how to turn your boat into an effective platform for catching large, peaceful fish, avoiding the typical mistakes.
Selection and preparation of fishing craft
For comfortable fishing, the size and design of the boat are paramount. If you plan to fish in great depths, where wind and wave often walk, a small inflatable boat can be a source of danger and discomfort. PVC length from 3.2 to 3.8 meters with a hard transom, capable of withstanding a powerful motor and the weight of two people with a full set of equipment.
It's important to consider not only the length, but also the width of the cylinders. Wide cylinders provide better stability, which is critical when catching large fish or anchoring. Narrow boats can be dangerously tilted, especially if the angler stands up abruptly or reaches for a lift.
And don't forget to protect the bottom, use mats from the bottom. spandex Or special linings will prevent damage to cylinders by hooks or sharp objects, and the presence of comfortable seats with the ability to adjust the height will allow you to spend long hours in the boat without back fatigue.
- 🚤 Load capacity: Always keep a 30-40kg supply of the maximum safety limit.
- ⚓ Footholds: the presence of stops or the ability to rest with your feet in the opposite side is necessary to fight the fish.
- 🎣 Fixtures: The presence of linear lines or holders for fishing rods will facilitate the management of tackles.
A properly prepared boat is not just a transport, but a working tool, and small things like fixed buckets or rod locks can save the situation in a sharp gust of wind.
Navigation and search for fish using sonar
Modern fishing is unthinkable without a sonar, and it allows you to see the bottom relief, thermocline, and fish clusters in real time. To find a peaceful fish like bream or gustera, the most informative is a two- or three-beam sensor, albeit a single-beam sensor. Lowrance or Garmin It is able to give a basic understanding of the picture.
When driving at low speeds, watch the screen carefully. You should be interested in sharp changes in depths, eyebrows, pits and dumps. It is at the border of depths and shallow waters that fish most often stand. If the sonar shows "porridge" or scattered points in the waters, this is often a sign of active feeding fish.
⚠️ Attention: Don't blindly rely on depth numbers. The sonar can make mistakes on a rocky bottom or a strong algae thicket. Always double-check the bottom with a test drop.
Special attention should be paid to adjusting the sensitivity, too high sensitivity will create a lot of noise, and too low will hide small fish, and optimally adjust the device so that you can clearly see the separation of the bottom and the fish lying on it.
What is a thermocline and why is it important?
A thermoclin is a water layer where the temperature changes dramatically, and in summer, warm water is on top and cold water is at the bottom, and fish often stand at the edge of these layers, because they have optimal oxygen content.
Write the coordinates of interesting points in the navigator. Returning to a proven point (waypoint) saves time and increases the chances of success. Accuracy of positioning in the wind is a key factor in successful fishing.
- 📍 Marking: Keep the points with the anomalies of the terrain for future fishing.
- 🌡️ Temperature: watch the temperature sensor, sharp jumps may indicate the exit of springs.
- 📉 Bottom structure: The hard bottom reflects the signal better than soft silt, as seen by the width of the arc on the screen.
Using a sonar turns fishing from a lottery into a planned hunt, and understanding the underwater landscape gives you a tremendous advantage over those who catch at random.
Anchoring technique and boat staging
The right way to set the boat is to make it successful, and if the boat is going to swing, drift or turn across the stream, you can forget about good fishing, and you can use the "stretching" anchoring scheme or two anchors (forward and aft) to catch peaceful fish on the current.
The first anchor is always lowered from the side where the boat is pulling (usually from the nose against the current or the wind), and once the boat is pulled, you can carefully return and put the second anchor from the stern, which allows you to firmly fix the position of the boat above the fishing point.
☑️ Checking before anchoring
The length of the anchor tile should be 3-4 times greater than the depth at the fishing site. The use of the chain between the anchor and the cord improves the angle of attachment of the anchor's legs to the bottom, increasing the strength of holding. For clay bottoms suitable anchors such as "cat" or "Denforth", for rocky - it is better to use a plow or mushroom.
| Type of bottom | Recommended anchor | Anchor weight (kg) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il/Clay | Denforth, Plug | 3-5 | It is well buried, but it does not hold well on a stone. |
| Sand | Mushroom, Cat. | 4-6 | Universal options, medium hook |
| Stone/Shell | Traditional vellum | 5-7 | It is important that the anchor clings to irregularities. |
| grass | Mushroom with spikes | 4-5 | It takes weight to push the grass to the ground. |
In high winds, the boat can turn around. parachute It's a drag anchor that stabilizes the boat with its nose to the wave, even if the wind blows from the side, which reduces the pitching amplitude and makes fishing more comfortable.
⚠️ Attention: Never tie the anchor tack directly to the transom or the structure of the boat without a tearing element (rubber or weak insert).
Equipment for fishing from a boat: board, ring and feeder
Boat fishing dictates its requirements for gear. The basic rule is compactness and strength. Long rods in a boat are not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Short rods 1.2-1.8 meters long or specialized fishing rods are ideal for fishing at depths. winter-axle for the flow.
The most popular strong current bream fishing gear is a ring, which consists of a large-volume feeder net that is lowered on a thick cord, and a main line with leashes that slides along this cord through a lead ring, which allows the hooks to be kept strictly in the feeding plume.
Use fluorescent fishing line or fireflies for night fishing – at depth, the fish often pecks more confidently when they do not see the thick main fishing line.
For feeder fishing from a boat, rods with a test of up to 100-120 grams are chosen. The feeders use metal to keep them from being carried by the current, or special feeder bullets. It is important that the coil has a good friction, since the pulling out of the boat often occurs by "swinging" the rod without the ability to move back.
- 🎣 Kiwok: For the side fishing rod, a hard nod is required, visible in the side wind.
- 🧶 Leska: It is better to use a wicker cord of 0.10-0.14 mm for maximum sensitivity.
- 🪝 Hooks: Choose hooks with a wide underdress from thick wire for reliable cut-off.
Don't forget the suckers. When you're fishing from the board, the suckers should always be at hand and open, and getting a large bream or a sazanne on board without sucking is a very difficult and risky task.
Feeding tactics from the boat
Boat bait has its own specifics: if you're fishing on the current, the bait must be heavy and viscous, so that it is washed out gradually, creating a long plume. For standing water, the mixture must be lighter and more blazing.
There are two main ways of delivering them: hand-throwing or dumping truck feeders. For deep-sea fishing (more than 4-5 meters), throwing balls is inefficient, they are carried by the current, and they do not hit the point.
It's important to start with a lot of bait, and the feeding should be abundant to collect fish from a large area, and in the process of fishing, you need to feed them in small portions, so that the fish do not overfeed, but also keep them from leaving.
The key to success is that the feeding of bait is constant, and the fish gets used to the rhythm and waits for the next meal at this point.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use flavors with a pungent smell in cold water. This can scare away cautious peaceful fish. In cold water, animal components (moth, cornworm, chopped worm) work better.
The bait must match the nozzle. If you're fishing for barley, it must also be in bait. The basic mixture can consist of millet, breadcrumbs and cake. Adding soil from the shore will make the mixture heavier and less visible to the fish.
Safety and behaviour at water
Boat Fishing is not only a pleasure, it's a responsibility. Safety rules should be known to everyone. First of all, there are life jackets for every person in the boat. Even if you swim well, in cold water, a cramp or a fall blow can be fatal.
Always watch the weather forecast. A sudden squall in open water can turn even a steady boat over; when the wind is stronger, you need to immediately move to the shore; it is also important to have a scoop for pumping water and a spare set of oars.
- 🆘 Communication: The phone in the sealer should be fully charged.
- 🔦 Lights: A flashlight is a must, even if you plan to return early in the day.
- ⚖️ Centration: Do not make sudden movements and do not get on board, distribute the weight evenly.
Respect GIMS rules and catch codes. Using prohibited gear or spawning ban can lead to severe fines and confiscation of tackle. Remember, nature is renewable, but only with a reasonable attitude.
What if the boat started to fall on the snags?
Don't panic. If the anchor gets caught and the boat turns sideways to the wave, creating a dangerous roll, it's sometimes safer to cut the anchor torch (if it has a burst insert) or try to get the motor to the snag to get off, with care.
Can I catch from a boat in a storm?
Not at all, because storm warnings are prohibited, because the water's turbulence makes it impossible to operate a boat, and the risk of being thrown overboard or crashing on shore is 100 percent.
What is the minimum depth that is safe for the engine?
Depending on the type of propeller and boat, but the general rule is that the depth should be 30-40 cm more than the rotor depth. For most engines, a safe depth of at least 0.8-1 meters is at least to avoid sucking sand and grass into the cooling system.
Do I need to register a PVC boat?
Under current Russian law, boats weighing more than 200 kg in running order (along with the engine) are subject to registration. Light PVC boats with low-power engines often do not require registration, but the presence of rights to operate a small vessel is mandatory if the engine power exceeds 3.68 kW (5 hp).
Why does the fish stop pecking after a series of captures?
This is often because the pack is frightened by the noise or vibrations of the boat, and the fish can get enough, so changing the nozzle, reducing the size of the hook, or switching to a thinner line helps, sometimes just pause and stop making noise.