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Bought a boat and pole during lockdown, had to do something! Anyway since used both and both have caught me fish, generally it's been the stealth that has been the successful element, measuring to areas of fizzing going on, then dropping a rig right on it once the fish have moved away. Those spots did loads of bites, especially in December when less active, and the quieter recast maybe sped up the next take. The pole is useful in the same way but more of a pain doing it, still a good tool though. Vast majority of the time I find my spots through observation first, then casting, first choice is still to cast the rigs and spod, however the tools are a decent alternative or addition to the casting and spodding. I've used the boat attached to the spod line just to bait up several times, that's an edge IMO. I spoke to a guy with the all signing all dancing boat, he explained that he was using the drop down camera to find little dinner plate sized holes in the weed and dropping the rigs on those, then checking the rig and amount of bait eaten the following day etc. Sounded mega but he hadn't caught anything in the 50 nights he had done on the lake to that point. To me this proves that it's just a tool, without the observation, watercraft, basic fishing skills it still will not help you catch fish. I see people blindly using boats a lot, no checking of drops, pulling back for snags etc nothing, even with sonar I have to check the drop manually, and I don't trust autopliot and spot saving completely either and still clip up the rods and have far back markers, nothing much changes tbh you have to be able to carry on effectively even if the boat stops working at the end of the day. Sonar has been really interesting on some lakes and has shown me features that I didn't know about, however on other lakes I've found the readout totally confusing, making it appear far weedier than it really was, areas that looked solid weed top to bottom were in fact fishable, I could get drops where I wanted them, very weird and misleading at times, although I'm sure that's rare, lots of suspended matter. At the end of the day casting gives me clear, instant and understandable info so it's first choice still.

Well it sounds like your Sister is helping now , just like Elmo suggested . Best wishes to you , Highy , you're too young to have to go through this stress . 😃

Oh no sorry to hear that mate, hopefully they will both start getting the care they need now, hope it gets easier soon for you

I can recommend the okuma 6000 inc great line lay, nice size spool, good drag and around £60 got a 5year warranty. I use them with esp 10 rods

I've beennofgered £110, but I paid £120 each beginning of year, then extra £12 per reel for ice washers, but I'm.looking for smaller reels and the Sonik Insurgents are on offer at A.D for £39.99 5000 & 6000.

Got my set off the eBay about the same price as yours used them for around 5 years then sold to my mate who uses them regularly, I had no trouble with them 👍

It’s crazy how they keep their prices…I use a set of 3 for years really abuse them on horseshoe dragging lots of weed in. If you can have a play with them give them a spin check the spools got no nicks on them …talking of spools I should have a spool or two handy if you get the reels.

I've found sonar can be misleading, especially if I have already baited a spot, I've found clear spots that I know are clear, that look like they are right to the top with weed, I've decided that's the pesky rudd now though. not happy with eating all the bait, they are also mimicking weed. Like you say though I need a drop and also prefer to cast. If I don't get It drop it gets redone.

Ccmoore recommending bottled water lol Yeah mate I guess with it being a new water I was just over thinking things, I've used tap water loads of time and caught lol

Terry Hearn uses tap water to make his GLM bait splash, made a point of saying as such, good enough for us.... I use tap water to wash my baits out and prepare particles, wouldn't even worry about such a thing tbh certainly wouldn't pay for bottled water unless I'm having it.

Just redone all my spod braid, took it all off and re-wrapped it back on, the Braid that didn't see day light, is now onto (fresh). Redone the attaching knot, 4 turn backnto back, 5 turns onto reel, then half a rod drop to spomb. You can see we're the line clip frayed the braid.

I suppose it’s a bit late to dig a well 🤔

A bait boat will help you put more fish on the bank for sure, simply because you can put a bait where it is impossible to cast to., but... I fished a lake in the Colne valley many years ago and one season a new angler arrived and I'd never met somebody who was so bad at casting i thought he was a proper noddy. I got chatting to him one day and asked where he'd fished before etc and he rolled off a number of impressive catches and i thought i had misjudged him but at the end of our conversation he mentioned that the lakes he had been fishing were all bait boats. He said he hadn't cast a rod in 6 years. So yes a bait boat is a huge help but if you rely on them then it may very well take away all your skills as an angler, which if your next lake didn't allow them you may well come unstuck. On a side note, I've never used one and had ample opportunities to use them, especially in France but I personally see it as is not right. I'm not knocking anyone who does use them by the way, each to their own and fish how you want to fish and not how others want you to.

So just a little update, used it for the first time on yesterday's session, right out the box it was loaded with 63% of battery, so I used it without trying the panels, will set it up later today and see how it charges with them 👍 The power pack itself is great, I charged my phone from roughly 15% to 85% twice and my vape from flat to full once, then charged the vape a again for a 2 bars, all its used is 10% of the battery. On my 5 day session starting next Sunday I will charge my laptop, phone and other stuff off it so will give another update then 👍 Overall im really impressed so far 😎

This is my issue on a pond I fish, the trees droop out over and getting a lead in under is a right pain, you can see the rigs in the trees where other people have attempted. I've had a feel by sending the marker lead right under with the boat and dragging it back slowly and never got snagged. It just makes life easier and the fish in that pond seem to spook easy so using the boat is a massive advantage to me lol. What are peoples thoughts on using baiting poles?

How many rigs do you find in the same snags with people that have snagged in them from casting too hard? While I agree with you that you shouldn't fish too close to snags I don't agree that it's just boats that are the only ones that fish irresponsibly. I've seen people fishing very irresponsibly without boats, doing things I wouldn't do even with a boat. Also are you just pub chucking a 2 bait stringer, probably no one will just fish a 2 bait stringer exclusively with no extra bait, no leading about and cast perfectly on the money with a nice donk first cast. It wouldn't happen.

I'll more than likely go all 3 on zigs .... & watch my water for a good few hours . Unless they've obviously got there heads down on a spot then it will be set the traps . Looking forward to meeting you all & here's hoping for a fish or two each🤞👍🎣

The difference is obvious The boa rig can’t be used as a weed rake

Well, the Inveitable has now happened, Grandad rushed into Hospital with his Hernia, having/had operation as it is strangling his bowls now, Full Time Carers in for mi Nan, Grandad will need Rehabilitation for at least 6x weeks and maybe care after it. Parents still on Holiday while Myself, Wife n Sister try to pick all this up, with all having full time jobs, kids, other commitments after work (10month old banys,coaching football, meetings, Karate). 😓

I've now found out I can't even fish this now 😭😭😭 Time for myself at moment looks like it will never happen at least in September....I've been on 1 quick overnighter since 7th July, that was by chance..... MIGHT be able for a overnighter on 29th September, as Wife is away Friday, Saturday that weekend, then she's also away for the next 3 weekends after that, so I could have at least 3x 24hrs on the bounce 29th September, 6th October, 13th October.....All Fridays.🤞🤞🤞🤞