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Bait boats have revolutionised certain areas of modern carp fishing, and are without doubt gaining popularity among ‘big water’ carpers. However, their overuse at certain venues has caused some consternation to other anglers sharing those facilities, as well as opening a heated debate as to whether or not they remove an element of skill in one’s fishing. Clearly there are pros and cons of using them, and like any other piece of complex equipment, it requires a modicum of common sense when used in a public arena. Particularly, on busy waters where consideration of other anglers should be exercised. Sadly that is not always the case, and only serves to pour fuel on the fire from a minority group of less thoughtful boat users.

Like any other type of equipment there is a right time and place for its use. This article is not an attempt to help cement the vast difference of opinion concerning bait boat use, but merely to illustrate some points that I’ve recently become aware of regarding their application. Love them, or hate them, they are here to stay, and I don’t think anyone can argue against the fact that they are a highly innovative advance in carp fishing technology.

When bait boats are mentioned, I find hard not to replay the image in my mind of Chris Yates blowing one to smithereens with a double-barreled shotgun, when the hapless skipper of the boat allowed it to chug through his swim! (A priceless scene from the enchanting BBC Television series: A Passion For Angling). Leaning heavily toward the ‘old school’ style of fishing myself, I totally understand where Mr Yates was coming from, and the point he was trying to put across with this dramatic footage. But, as entertaining as this viewing was, I would’ve been a little miffed if I’d seen my £1000 bait boat being destroyed before my eyes!

There ability to place baits accurately in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible by virtue of overhanging branches or distance, has been well documented in many other articles similar to this, and I would be stating the obvious if I were to pursue that thread. However, in their defense I feel there is one salient point that is not mentioned as frequently; that being of safety!

I recently had the pleasure of fishing alongside a very accomplished carp angler and staunch advocate of bait boats, on a public lake surrounded on one side by housing. He expertly placed two baited rigs and a substantial quantity of pellets with the aid of his boat, one under an overhanging bush on an island at a range of approximately eighty metres, then a second at around one hundred metres, in close proximity to the opposite bank. Both spots would’ve been impossible to cast to with any accuracy due to a strong side wind, and certainly would’ve been without any free offerings.

Due to a battery terminal problem, he had to resort to casting the third rod with a single bait to the end of the island – which I thought was rather ambitious considering the wind, and a long chuck in any one’s book. A powerful cast sent the 4oz lead and rig hurtling toward the spot, as it neared the tip of the island he feathered the line to slow it down. Regrettably though, an over compensation for the wind saw the lead hit the island with a resounding thud, startling some nesting geese in the process!

It was only after he was forced to pull for a break, leaving the baited rig behind in the process. That we both realised that had he ‘cracked off’ the lead on the cast, in all likelihood it would’ve landed in the back garden of one of the houses directly behind the small island he was aiming at! Or worse still, though someones back window! I don’t have to paint a picture for you to make you aware of the damage, injury, or fatal consequences being hit at high velocity with a large lead projectile can have. I know personally of two people who have been hit with leads, one received a broken nose, the other a fractured scull and was in a coma for two weeks!

A similar incident occurred when the same angler arrived at another lake, and proceeded to set up and ship out his baits with the aid of his bait boat. Before he’d completed this task he was approached by the bailiff, and was advised that fishing in this section of the lake was no longer permitted, due to an ‘accident’. Opposite to this particular swim was a lakeside cafe with a wooden alfresco deck area overhanging the waters edge. The bailiff further explained that the ban had come into effect due to two young boys ‘cracking off’ leads, one of which landed on the deck area, narrowly missing a patron! But kudos to this bailiff, he let my friend continue fishing in the swim seeing as he was not casting.

Sure, bait boats can be a pain at times, I can’t argue against that, but there are instances where they are far safer than casting, to people, and of course wildlife. And I doubt that there are many true carper’s out there that don’t feel a pang of guilt, when they leave a baited rig hung up on a tree; as the result of a dud cast. There is nothing worse than seeing a tethered bird, or a dead one entangled in fishing line!

I have just created an Australian based carp fishing blog, funnily enough called: Niblet’s Carp Fishing Blog

If you enjoyed reading my bait boat article above, a similar one can be found here: http://www.carpfishingblog.com/carp-baits/happy-sacks

Happy Hippo Hunting

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Wallis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bait-Boats—Love-Them-Or-Hate-Them?&id=3299500
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