Making the switch from bank fishing to boat fishing... TIPS NEEDED

[scubajt41]

Hello all,

I am trying to enhance my fishing abilities and decided to apply what i do at work, to fishing. I am seeking help from my peers!

I have been fishing from a bank ever since i started fishing. I finally bought a boat and am starting to realize that boat fishing and bank fishing are two different animals!!

I am looking for tips and tricks to get me on the fish while fishing in a boat.. Any tips, techniques, lures, etc that you think will help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[dragfish]

IS YOUR PLUG IN???

 

[scubajt41]

yes... I even tried turning it off and back on again!!!

 

[EricM]

emoUpsmile emoUpsmile emoUpsmile

 

[EricM]

Best idea would be to tell us what species you are interested in. Lots of them out there, you know.

 

[scubajt41]

I love bass fishing.. But i also do the occasional all nighter jug fishing..

 

[EricM]

Blue and channel cats hit very well on cut bait, flatheads are known to like live fish of all kinds. For bass - just keep reading and asking questions, and invite known bass men to fish with you and teach you a bit. There are a zillion different method/place/depth/lure combos and everyone has their favorite.

 

[scubajt41]

Ill be honest.. My boat is not well suited for guest. I have a 14ft v-hull with a 9.9 in the back and a trolling motor in the front. Sounds like im buying lunch and gas for people i want to teach me.

 

[Smalliefan2]

A 14' will work for you and a guest. My brother and I am meeting to get my 14" back. Used it for years, including the first two times I lived in Tennessee. Had a blast ,fished tx, etc. Just couldn't run too far, too fast .It is the fisherman that catches the fish, not the boat.

 

[scubajt41]

I love that boat. Just not comfy for guest. The boat actually gets great gas mileage. I can run from HBSP to the dam or sequoyah (SP?) and back!

 

[groundcheck1]

patience

 

[dobass]

Start with an area(shoreline, cove) that you think looks good. One that has a weed edge, some laydowns, changes in the drop off from shore and/or points that extend into the water. This will allow for a variety of cover for the fish and baitfish.

I love the strikes from bass on topwater baits. So I will always be throwing one around the above mentioned cover. I will also have a senko type bait rigged weedless as it allows for a variety of presentations, casts easily and can be skipped into the heart of cover.

The fishing reports at this site are very detailed and will give a lot of information for all skill levels.
One of the best resources out there is what is written in these forums. You can go back thru pages and pages of information for almost every situation that arises.

Good luck!!

 

[tennfisher]

The best advice I can give you is to always wear a pfd, whether underway or at anchor somewhere fishing. I didn't always do that until one windy day a couple of years ago I stood up just as a wave broadsided the boat, it went one way - I went another. Had I not been wearing my pfd things could have gotten a bit interesting, even though I wasn't alone at the time.

Tennfisher

 

[scubajt41]

Thanks!

 

[fischnrod]

Stay away from the banks...

 

[procraft]

to find fish start with a good search bait find them then work that area very well then move to deferent places that look the same a search bait is a bait that you can cover a lot of water fast one of my favs is a crank bait then I like a jig good luck</p>

</p>

</p>

 

[outcaster]

The key to catching fish..... Is finding fish. Understand the seasonal movements of the species you are after. Don't limit yourself to one species. We are lucking to live in an area with good multi-species fishing. Something is always biting. The boat just gives you more access to the fish. Read the CFF fishing reports. There is a lot of good info there. Some reports have useful information some don't. Read the reports looking for information that can help you. Several fishing reporters give useful information. When I was learning, the best advise given to me was: On each fishing trip always fish at least 1 area that you have never fished before.

 

[SethColeman]

Try to learn offshore fishing as much as you can. First thing I did(still do) with a boat is beat the banks all the time. Although the shallows hold fish, learning ledges and deeper fishing will make you much better........now, with that said, someone take me ledge fishing!