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What Kind of Boat Should You Buy?
If you’re an avid fisherman, you’ve probably had consistent access to one boat or another during your tenure out in the water. But if it’s come time to upgrade – or buy a new boat entirely – you’ll have to ask yourself what kind of boat is right for you. In this article, we’ll explain the different types of boats and why they might or might not fit your specific needs.
Boat Type #1: Aluminum fishing boats.
Many fishing boats are made from lightweight aluminum and include a simple steering motor in the back. These boats are typically built with no-frills: they’re simply about the fishing. If you are buying a boat simply for yourself, or are on a tight budget, this might be the boat for you. You can use it to fish or to take relaxing cruises around the lake.
Boat Type #2: Bowriders.Bowriders are some of the most common boats you’ll see on the lake, a sort of all-purpose boat that is targeted to the whole family. They work well for fishing, cruising, and typically will have more seating as well as accommodations for swimming. This is the type of boat to get if you have a family with different needs. You can use it in the morning for a fishing trip and in the afternoon for water skiing.
Boat Type #3: Pontoon boats.
Pontoon boats are the slower boats built as “floating docks” that you won’t really be using for water skiing. These are also a good boat for the family, and the amount of space will be great for fishing. If you have an adventurous streak, this might not be the boat for you, but it is frequently the type of boat that lakeside families really enjoy.
Boat Type #4: Walkaround boats.
Called the “ultimate family fishing boats,” walkaround boats are popular on the Great Lakes as they typically are capable of hauling in larger fish like salmon and other anglers. These boats will often be equipped with rod holders, making them great for deep-sea fishing, as well, and leading to many walkarounds being used in coastal areas.
Boat Type #5: Houseboats.
For the true boat and fishing enthusiasts, what could be better than living where you fish? Houseboats can be parked along coasts and rivers and some people even choose to make them their way of life. They can also be fantastic to rent and experience for a brief period of time before returning back to land, or as a “trial period” to see how you really enjoy the houseboats.
Photo Credits: Jiths
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Should You Go Deep-Sea Fishing?
If you’ve gone fishing before and hated it, there’s a chance you’ve never gone deep-sea fishing. Even people who aren’t normally interested in the cast-and-wait strategy involved in lake fishing can be enthralled, and there’s nothing quite like seeing a shark come out of that deep water instead of a bluegill. The problem is that deep-sea fishing can be very expensive. So how can you make your decision?
Additionally, there are some side benefits to deep-sea fishing: first, you’ll learn about the different kind of wildlife that inhabits the waters near your vacation spot. If you never knew what a “bonnethead” shark was, you might be ready to find out. You might also spot some other creatures like stingrays. Of course, if you catch a well-muscled shark, your captain should help you in gutting it and storing the meat to eat for dinner.
First, there are a lot of reasons to go deep-sea fishing. The more people you have in your family, the more reasons you have. It’s not a good idea to take very small children out on the boat – and most deep-sea fisherman won’t let you – but if your children are in adolescence and can follow some basic orders, they should be able to handle it fine. It’s important to consider the kind of experience you want your children to have. Deep-sea fishing can be fun for you, but it can be a life-long memory for your children.There are some downsides to deep-sea fishing, however. The first is the cost – a great experience out on a boat doesn’t come cheap. Usually, you’ll be chartering a boat from the captain, who will be able to do much of the work for you while letting you reel in the big one. You’ll also be out on the water for hours at a time, which means that you’re essentially buying a large portion of the captain’s day.
If you’re not careful, there are some other potential problems – sunburn and dehydration. When you’re surrounded by water, it can sometimes be easy to forget that you need to keep drinking plenty of it (just not the saltwater, of course!). Keep hydrated, fed, and make sure that you keep on plenty of sunscreen.
Is deep-sea fishing for you? It may take a couple of times to really understand if you want to do it again. But if you have the right captain, you should be able to make some great catches and take pictures that can last a lifetime.
Photo Credits: Hello Daly
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How to Improve Your Fishing Today
Unless you’re truly avid about the sport of fishing, you probably don’t have the time to go out and became a truly dedicated amateur. After all, it’s tough to fish for just fifteen minutes a day – sometimes you need to spend hours out on the lake or on the stream. If you want to start improving your fishing right away, you’ve found the right article. Here are some quick tips for doing just that.
Ask more experienced fishermen for their lake advice. You can’t simply go to a lake and assume that the fish will be jumping – you have to know about the different lakes in your area and what kind of species of fish inhabit them. You can get the inside scoop by asking some fishermen you know – or even strangers – about where to find the fish. How can you tell when you’re being fed good advice? An experienced fisherman might ask you about the different fish you’re after or what kind of bait you’re using, and then recommend more than one lake. If you get the fisherman talking, you’re doing it right.
Cater to the fish you’re after. Once you know where you’re going and what kind of fish will be there, you need to rig your bait to make sure that the fish you’re after are actually interested in what you’ve got! If you’re going for the big fish especially, it helps to have the right kind of bait or lure that attracts the right kind of attention. You might find that a lake which seemed empty before didn’t have any fish, but when you pop in the right bait, they start jumping! Don’t expect this, but do make sure that you’re bringing the right bait to the fish.Cast plenty of hooks. There’s one sure-fire way to increase your chances of fishing success today: casting plenty of hooks. On deep-sea fishing boats, there are often slots where you can place your fishing rods so that you don’t have to hold them all. If you want to catch some fish today, it helps to cover more area and simply have more hooks in the water.
Will you automatically catch more fish today? Maybe, maybe not. But if you follow this advice, you’ll be on the right track to making some immediate improvements.
Photo Credits: moonjazz
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Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Is Best For You?
True fishing enthusiasts might consider the “Saltwater vs. Freshwater” argument to be moot, when the answer might be “why not both?” But for the rest of us, we’re not totally sure what kind of fishing is the best for us, our temperaments, or our families. In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fishing, and how you and your family fit in to the different approaches.
Saltwater Fishing
Advantages: Saltwater fishing satisfies the adventurer’s heart, especially if you’re going deep-sea fishing. Saltwater is connected to or in the ocean, resulting in a greater variety of sea life and a larger scale of the different types of fish you might catch. In addition to catching fish, however, you might also catch sharks or rays. Saltwater fishing can also yield some more “impressive” visual fish. Freshwater lakes tend to have a lesser degree of variety and will typically only yield certain species.
Disadvantages: Travel and location. Not everyone has access to saltwater, whereas freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams are more plentiful throughout the non-coastal areas. In the Midwest and along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri river basins there are plenty of lakes and rivers to provide plenty of convenient fishing spots. The problem? These are the freshwater spots. If you’re not on the coast, getting to saltwater might pose a problem.Freshwater Fishing
Advantage: As mentioned before, access is always a big issue. Freshwater is simply easier to get to for most people, as it’s more common to have a lake within driving distance than an ocean or gulf. Freshwater fishing goes great with certain lifestyles, especially with typically laid-back activities like camping. Freshwater fishing can also easily be an entire family trip, while deep sea saltwater fishing excursions might have to exclude a few children.
Disadvantages: Although there are plenty of fish to find in freshwater, the true variety of underwater life really doesn’t compare to the open sea. The more attractive and exotic fish are typically saltwater fish. Other species like shark can also be found in saltwater; with a few rare exceptions, this is not the case with freshwater fishing.
Determining which kind of fishing best suits you will depend on a few things: your travel plans, your location, and your temperament. Many people find freshwater fishing adventurous enough; for others, there’s no comparison. Some people want to avoid the adventure altogether. Take a moment to review the disadvantages and advantages to each, and keep a mental list about the kind of fishing that better suits your personality. What kind of fisher are you?
Photo Credit: colorblindPICASO
