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Boat Fishing - an introduction

Our November 2001 contribution from Henry Lowe

In the first of two articles on starting fishing from a boat, Henry Lowe writes about the basic loch style using a floating line and offers plenty of good advice on how to manage a boat on the water for the novice boat angler including how to fish safely and not upset other anglers and users of lakes and reservoirs.

Starting fishing from a boat

Left alone, a drifting boat settles to lie across the wind. This is the basis of the traditional loch-style fishing practiced on natural lakes and lochs in Scotland and Ireland, with developments of this style currently used by most boat fishers on reservoirs.

A boat drifting freely makes for easy, enjoyable fishing. If with a partner, you sit side by side at bow and stern, allowing comfortable conversation. As the boat drifts, you cross the lake searching for fish. You cast your flies with the wind, "in front of the boat". This makes good presentation of a set (or team) of flies easier.

Start with a floater

Summer is the best time to start fishing in this way, with a floating line. The angler fishing the true traditional style extends only about 1 or 2 rod lengths of fly line beyond the tip ring, so that rod movement is enough to control and work a team of wet flies, with little hand retrieve.

Sitting in the boat, you can extend fully the short line without false casts. Almost as the flies alight, start to work them back towards the boat. The critical skill is to draw the fly on the top dropper, the bob fly, along the surface causing a small wake - dibbling. Tension the leader against the sunk flies beyond and lift the upper part clear of the water with the top dropper hanging down. When the flies are close enough, lift into a back cast and cast them forward again.

This style is effective for wild brown trout which rise quickly to a fly that interests them. Reservoir trout respond less quickly than wild brownies. A modified style can be used, making longer casts to keep the flies in the water longer for each cast (see below).

Etiquette for sharing a boat

The water in front of a drifting boat is divided to right and left. The person on the right fishes the right side and vice versa. This division, at right angles to the middle of the boat, also applies to the air space behind.

The person with the motor is the "captain" for the time being. This job may be shared or not as you wish by changing ends.

Do keep quiet in the boat as a boat's hull transmits all the noise of heavy footfalls, banging box lids, dropped rod butts etc most efficiently into the water. Don't scare the fish you are trying to catch! Follow these rules and you may have a good day with a new boat partner.

Basic cast and retrieve

A sequence for fishing on the drift on reservoirs should settle to the following:

Cast and make a shoot of line, just as much as you can present easily and consistently without slack. Allow the flies to settle, then make a sharp pull to start the flies swimming back to you. Work the flies with your hand retrieve, recovering the line you shot out on casting. Then lift the rod tip to dibble the bob-fly through the ripple or waves. Keep retrieving by hand with the rod tip high but forward, so that the bob fly makes a visible wake as with the short-line style described above. When near enough, hold the flies a few moments longer, waiting for a late rise. Then roll cast the flies out of the water; make a back cast, and follow with a cast and shoot of line to complete the action. One or two false casts may be needed to make longer casts.

Practise this routine until it becomes easy, using minimum effort, to fish comfortably all day. Fish with a long enough line to separate the stages of your retrieve. It is important to be able to control the speed of the flies in the water. Faster retrieves are relatively easy and, especially with bright flies, can be effective.

Slow retrieves without loss of contact with the flies are difficult from a moving boat, but often appreciated by the fish. You need to work the flies slowly without slack line, even when the boat is drifting quickly towards them. You lose control if you leave the flies inert until the drift takes your rod tip beyond them.

A sinking line shortens the distance moved in stage four, and with a deep-sunk line the retrieve ends with the leader and flies hanging up and down in the water. Lift the flies in stages with pauses between, this is called "fishing the hang".

If after casting forward, you are distracted from control of the flies, the boat may overrun your line. This can get the flies caught under the boat, leading to their loss, or worse as you reach over into the water trying to free them. If you must pay attention to something else when your flies are in the water, always ensure that they are clear of the boat (out to the side).

Use the boat

Fishing from a boat provides great freedom as you can search for places where conditions suit your preferred fishing tactics. Equally, you may look for good places and find the best tactics for fishing them. The boat is much more than just a convenient seat to fish from. Use it as part of your fishing equipment to search the water and make a wide range of tactics possible.

Anchoring

Instead of drifting, you may use the boat as a platform which conveniently carries you and all your kit. At anchor, you can fish much as you do from the bank, ie cast the fly or flies out and, after allowing them to reach the necessary depth, work them back to the boat. In shallow water, fish quietly from an anchored boat.

Often an anchored boat provides a pleasant and productive day's sport. Most of the lake is now no longer beyond casting range and you can fish hot-spots from a convenient angle. You can fish nymphs very slowly on a floating line at moderate depths, or let a slow-sinking line sink far enough to offer slow-moving flies when fish are near the bottom. On a windy day, anchoring can be the way to get a sinking line well down in deeper water.

Hooking fish

When drifting loch style across open water, the trout often don't hook themselves. It is important to detect takes and be ready to tighten on the fish. Watch the water, and the leader for any sign of a check to its free movement due to a take. When the flies are sunk, immediate tightening against the slightest check or pluck is the way to hook the fish. In contrast, a steady lift is needed when you see trout rise and take floating flies.

Your kit

When fishing in front of a drifting boat, extra rod length allows better control of the flies. Rods around 10 or 11 feet are good, but for continual casting all day, should not carry lines above #7 weight. #6 or #5 weight lines are nicer to use, provided you do not try to cast big heavy flies with them. Heavier tackle is better for trolling. At first, a floating line and a sinker will get you started. Later, and especially for fishing on the drift, a full set of different floating and sinking lines will come into use at some time or other.

Loading

The items you need to take for a day in a boat include: a drogue to control the speed of drift; thwart boards or boat seats for greater comfort through the day, plus cushions; a choice of rods (or a least a spare if you have it), and your tackle box or carrier with all reels, lines, mono, flies and accessories; a large landing net; a fish carrier to keep your catch in good condition; food, drink and adequate waterproof clothing including trousers. Always take an extra sweater and waterproof clothing. Even if the forecast is fine, conditions can deteriorate quickly and in an open boat out in a steady breeze, you can get soaked even on a sunny day.

Also, usually supplied with the boat, be sure you have oars and rowlocks, an anchor attached to the boat on a good length of rope, life jackets and a bailer.

Before you leave the harbour

Be sure that you know the fishery rules, out-of-bounds areas and latest time to return. Check that you have with you all important items (above). Check that the drogue and anchor are attached. Ensure that you are thoroughly familiar with the engine (ask if not) and that the fuel tank is full. Check the fuel from time to time during the day. It is better to return and refill before having to row back!

Be safe in the boat

Always wear spectacles when fishing with someone else in a boat, and keep your casting clear of your partner. At all times wear a life jacket, properly secured outside other clothes.

Standing in the boat to fish is a dangerous practice. It is very easy to fall over even in calm weather. Cast and fish from a sitting position in a boat: it's much safer and less visible to fish.

In rough weather, motor upwind at a moderate speed to sheltered water. Sit down on the fixed seats or the floor whilst moving. Keep clear of steep or rocky shores and dam faces.

If drifting broadside with a drogue in a stiff breeze, prepare to stop and retire to calmer water before the waves become too large. When alone, move the drogue to the bow.

If near a thunderstorm, stop fishing and lay the rod across the boat. If possible, move to the nearest sheltered bank and go ashore until it has passed.

When motoring, give way to sailing craft, canoes and other water users. Keep a very careful watch for fast sailing craft, especially sailboarders, particularly when it is windy. Avoid racing lines between racing marks. Do not drift or anchor in the way of other water users.

If you are allowed to beach the boat, and you want to spend some time on the bank, take care. Drive the boat in slowly at right angles to the bank to avoid damaging the motor. Be ready to lift the motor and use oars if the water is shallow.

If in trouble on the water, hold an oar vertically in the air to attract help.

Safety in Boats Keeping aerialised line and hooks clear of people

A. Drifting or anchored broadside-on with anglers side by side, back to wind. Casts outside the boat are safe; casts over the boat must be kept within conventionally allocated air space, unless the partner's permission is given.

B. Drifting or anchored by the stern in strong winds, anglers in line; lines are kept outside the boat, the angler in the stern now fishes on the other side of the boat and must observe their partner’s casts and avoid them.

C. Drifting Northampton style with anglers in line, upwind (sternmost) angler in danger from his own cast if wind too strong. Anglers should not cast together

Etiquette in using the boat

Do not motor across or start fishing less than 100 metres/yards in front (down wind) of a drifting fishing boat. If another boat starts to drift closer behind you, that is their affair, you have fished that water.

Avoid bank anglers, both when fishing and when motoring past; allow at least 100 yards distance in normal conditions; 50 yards is a minimum. Keep as far (normally at least 50 yards) as you can from an anchored boat. If you must pass close, row or motor with as little disturbance as possible.

Do not anchor yourself in an area of water being fished by other drifting boats. A boat on the drift covers a substantial area of water; join them and you may do the same. Equally, don't drift through an area fished by several anchored boats.

Don't motor over water where you and other drifting boats are fishing; swing out wide when returning upwind to repeat a drift.

When other activities (eg sailing) are taking place, keep well clear of turning marks, racing lines, or other intensively used parts of the lake as best you can. Obey instructions from wardens or authorised officials. Usually other users do not persist for too long and you can return to fish when all has settled.

Interpretation

Sometimes these rules cannot be followed exactly, for instance if you fish amongst a number of boats drifting onto the bank. You must not encroach on bank anglers' space, but you may have to return upwind close to other boats. In this case, aim to return as near as possible on the line of your completed drift, motoring as quietly as you can whilst passing other boats still fishing. Allow these as much distance as the positioning of the "fleet" permits.

The key to proper conduct is to avoid or keep to a minimum any disturbance to other anglers, to their fishing water, and to other users.

Using the boat kit

In rough water or in emergency, anchor from the bow, where the anchor rope should be attached (never detach it). The boat then rides the waves safely. In calm water, loop the rope back to hold the boat across the wind for two people to fish comfortably side by side. Tie the rope off on the rowlock or seat if no cleat is available.

Alternatively, take the anchor rope back to an attachment at one or other of the stern corners. This position is safer than broadside on, as the boat can ride the waves better, and also holds steadier than anchoring by the bow.

If you fish regularly from a broadside drifting boat, a drogue is vital to slow and steady the drift of the boat. However, a drogue does make the boat move sideways, usually towards the stern (engine). Also, the drogue is a hazard once a fish is hooked, as not all can be kept away from it. Do not use a drogue where rocky reefs or shores might snag it, placing the boat at risk. Beware of fences on reservoir banks.

In his next article, Henry Lowe looks at some key skills that will help you enjoy your first outing in a boat, how to find trout, fishing with sinking lines and ends up with some more practical tips.

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