Golden Paws Posted November 4 Report Share Posted November 4 9 hours ago, yonny said: We could call it the noddy section 😁 "I am Noddy" (to quote Kirk Douglas!) I tutted a bit when bait boats first started to become common but when my mate had a 32lb'er within about an hour of dropping a rig and bait under a tree at about 70 yards that you dare not cast to, I started to see the potential. I've been having my best ever season and I'm sure a lot of it is down to the boat. The accuracy and stealth you can achieve is a huge edge. I'm only using a "basic" boat and no GPS or sonar. Obviously fishing to features is easy but for open water I'm still wrapping the rods out. When casting, I always hit the clip and take the sting out of the cast by holding the rod parallel to the bank and "placing" the lead down but it's still no match for a boat. You can't turn the clock back. Boats are here to stay and you can either embrace them or reject them but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if everyone else is using them. jules007 and commonly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules007 Posted November 4 Report Share Posted November 4 12 minutes ago, Golden Paws said: "I am Noddy" (to quote Kirk Douglas!) I tutted a bit when bait boats first started to become common but when my mate had a 32lb'er within about an hour of dropping a rig and bait under a tree at about 70 yards that you dare not cast to, I started to see the potential. I've been having my best ever season and I'm sure a lot of it is down to the boat. The accuracy and stealth you can achieve is a huge edge. I'm only using a "basic" boat and no GPS or sonar. Obviously fishing to features is easy but for open water I'm still wrapping the rods out. When casting, I always hit the clip and take the sting out of the cast by holding the rod parallel to the bank and "placing" the lead down but it's still no match for a boat. You can't turn the clock back. Boats are here to stay and you can either embrace them or reject them but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if everyone else is using them. For many years i was completely against bait boats but yes they do have there uses and place, i dont see me getting one as i can still cast pretty accurate and cant afford one with sonar/gps, though i have looked at the really cheap basic boat for under £100 that actually gets pretty good reviews.....still not getting one though and thats coming from an RC guru (drones,fixed wing planes and rc cars/crawlers) Golden Paws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted November 4 Report Share Posted November 4 47 minutes ago, jules007 said: For many years i was completely against bait boats but yes they do have there uses and place, i dont see me getting one as i can still cast pretty accurate and cant afford one with sonar/gps, though i have looked at the really cheap basic boat for under £100 that actually gets pretty good reviews.....still not getting one though and thats coming from an RC guru (drones,fixed wing planes and rc cars/crawlers) I wouldn't bother with a cheap boat tbh, I bought one off Ali express, for similar money it was terrible, wouldn't go straight or open when you wanted it too, then I bought an actor plus and while it was a lot better to use, I found I was getting bogged down by tech, I had a deeper attached and in the end I felt like I was taking hours to get my rods out, I've sold it now and just use a good old fashioned spod rod, distance sticks with a lead, x spod, catapult or throwing stick, and I enjoy my fishing more again. Don't get me wrong there are times when it would be a godsend, but keeping it simple, gives me more time to focus on the important stuff like chilling out and looking at the water. commonly and Golden Paws 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Paws Posted November 5 Author Report Share Posted November 5 The old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is almost certainly true with bait boats. On the other hand £3.500 for an RT7 is probably a step too far! I still find my spots with a lead and clip up, so I'm not entirely relying on tech. I still fish a lot of margin spots and literally "place" a spod on it, which is even stealthier than a boat. I don't use a spomb as you have to smack the nose to open it, which defeats the object. On some waters they are banned but on others where the owners had to clear bushes of end tackle, I'm sure they are quietly encouraged. commonly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higham1987 Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 (edited) I got 1 of the "Cheap" camo RC500 Bait Boats of Amazon, £89 yeh was cheap but it out lasted my mates Actor Bait Boat on battery usage....only difference being that his was a Hatch drop, mine was a rear flipper, both did the Same job ? Then came my Actor copy Bait Boat, didn't use the rear flipper a was abit 💩....but the middle Hatch was bang on. Both sub £100 and both lasted 2yrs + Edited November 5 by Higham1987 commonly and jules007 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higham1987 Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 2 hours ago, Golden Paws said: I don't use a spomb as you have to smack the nose to open it, which defeats the object. Try a wolf spod, as they use magnets they open when any side hits the water, awesome bit of kit for baiting. commonly and elmoputney 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpbell3 Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 Thought about a boat just for baiting up still tempted I hate spodding really can shut a smallish water down. commonly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yonny Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 12 hours ago, Golden Paws said: Boats are here to stay and you can either embrace them or reject them but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if everyone else is using them. Luckily, the places I tend to fish are run by anglers, for anglers, and boats are banned on all of them. I cannot see myself fishing a place on which boats are allowed unless there's something very, very special in there and even then, I'd be happy to take my chances against those that need a boat to place a bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, Higham1987 said: Try a wolf spod, as they use magnets they open when any side hits the water, awesome bit of kit for baiting. Wolf spods are much better than spombs. an actual spod is better than a spomb even with spod spill 😂 Edited November 5 by elmoputney Higham1987 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 7 hours ago, Golden Paws said: The old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is almost certainly true with bait boats. On the other hand £3.500 for an RT7 is probably a step too far! I still find my spots with a lead and clip up, so I'm not entirely relying on tech. I still fish a lot of margin spots and literally "place" a spod on it, which is even stealthier than a boat. I don't use a spomb as you have to smack the nose to open it, which defeats the object. On some waters they are banned but on others where the owners had to clear bushes of end tackle, I'm sure they are quietly encouraged. Apparently spombs now have a setting which you can click/adjust in the nose that makes them open easier, X spod is still better though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yonny Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 1 hour ago, elmoputney said: Apparently spombs now have a setting which you can click/adjust in the nose that makes them open easier They've always had that bro. It's just that very few people realised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 12 minutes ago, yonny said: They've always had that bro. It's just that very few people realised. Oh really I didn't know that, that would've been a feature to brag about when they have so many people complaining about them not opening 😳😂 yonny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higham1987 Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 14 minutes ago, elmoputney said: Oh really I didn't know that, that would've been a feature to brag about when they have so many people complaining about them not opening 😳😂 29 minutes ago, yonny said: 30 minutes ago, yonny said: They've always had that bro. It's just that very few people realised. elmoputney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 Can't do this with a spomb though can you? commonly and Higham1987 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higham1987 Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 51 minutes ago, elmoputney said: Can't do this with a spomb though can you? Remember seeing that 🤣🤣 elmoputney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 On 05/11/2024 at 14:52, elmoputney said: Oh really I didn't know that, that would've been a feature to brag about when they have so many people complaining about them not opening 😳😂 I actually posted about it on here when I think @kevtaylor mentioned that he was having premature release. I normally switch it to higher pressure to open it as I nearly always have it dropping vertically. Hitting the clip on a low cast Spombs can 'skid' not hitting the clip, often a problem with braid. I much prefer the Spomb to Dot spod, Fox spod and the dropping of bait is quicker than a standard spod, which 'trickles' out. A standard spod has the advantage with high liquid mixes of bait, as you can tape the holes. A Spomb just sprays you as you swing... On 05/11/2024 at 09:21, yonny said: Luckily, the places I tend to fish are run by anglers, for anglers, and boats are banned on all of them. I cannot see myself fishing a place on which boats are allowed unless there's something very, very special in there and even then, I'd be happy to take my chances against those that need a boat to place a bait. On 04/11/2024 at 18:22, Golden Paws said: You can't turn the clock back. Boats are here to stay and you can either embrace them or reject them but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if everyone else is using them. I have fished against anglers using bait boats on Alton Water and honestly my results were better, but that was down to spending so much time walking round the reservoir I had got a few of the patrol routes and feeding areas sorted. They are banned on my syndicate, as are Deepers and drones. kevtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted Friday at 09:55 Report Share Posted Friday at 09:55 13 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said: I actually posted about it on here when I think @kevtaylor mentioned that he was having premature release. I normally switch it to higher pressure to open it as I nearly always have it dropping vertically. Hitting the clip on a low cast Spombs can 'skid' not hitting the clip, often a problem with braid. I much prefer the Spomb to Dot spod, Fox spod and the dropping of bait is quicker than a standard spod, which 'trickles' out. A standard spod has the advantage with high liquid mixes of bait, as you can tape the holes. A Spomb just sprays you as you swing... I have fished against anglers using bait boats on Alton Water and honestly my results were better, but that was down to spending so much time walking round the reservoir I had got a few of the patrol routes and feeding areas sorted. They are banned on my syndicate, as are Deepers and drones. What if you fished with a bait boat too though would your results have been even better? kevtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevtaylor Posted Friday at 11:21 Report Share Posted Friday at 11:21 (edited) 15 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said: I actually posted about it on here when I think @kevtaylor mentioned that he was having premature release. I've always known about spombs having 2 settings since the very beginning and do adjust to open easier, my problems with spombs not opening are since swapping to braid, same is happening with the Wolf, but not as often. I'm hitting the clip too hard - simple as that, landing on it's side not nose first. Doesn't matter with mono it just stretches and lands nose first regardless. I'm more concerned about not dropping short then over gun it. Not sure where you got the premature release bit from - I've never confessed that 🤣 Edited Friday at 11:24 by kevtaylor elmoputney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted Friday at 20:44 Report Share Posted Friday at 20:44 10 hours ago, elmoputney said: What if you fished with a bait boat too though would your results have been even better? I don't think so. Only 1 fish came from any sort of marginal or 'surface' feature, a marginal lily bed in a bay, the rest came from wide open water. I did get through plenty of calories walking and Spombing. My Spombing and casting was normally to a marker float. I also didn't have to worry about a sailor or windsurfer hitting a bait boat as happened to someone up near the dam where the sailing club are. 9 hours ago, kevtaylor said: I've always known about spombs having 2 settings since the very beginning and do adjust to open easier, my problems with spombs not opening are since swapping to braid, same is happening with the Wolf, but not as often. I'm hitting the clip too hard - simple as that, landing on it's side not nose first. Doesn't matter with mono it just stretches and lands nose first regardless. I'm more concerned about not dropping short then over gun it. Not sure where you got the premature release bit from - I've never confessed that 🤣 When I was Spombing there, I used mono, the marker rod was used with braid. As @kevtaylor says, no problems with it not hitting nose first at the distances I was fishing, which was up to 100 metres I guess, hit the clip and it drops. When I use the Spomb with braid I do get the occasional not opening problem, but it's a whole lot more aerodynamic in any cross wind than the Nash Dot Spod, and that seems cheap and tacky, I really dislike it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted Monday at 12:51 Report Share Posted Monday at 12:51 Having seen what I saw yesterday a decent angler with a bait boat can certainly do things you can't with a rod and line, I watched someone drop a good handful of bait and rig on an actual bin lid sized gravel spot at about 28 wraps in open water, you wouldn't even find that spot with a lead I don't think, if you did you would probably give up before you found it again. certainly made me regret selling mine a bit. He had a winch camera on it, was pretty amazing to see what lies beneath tbh. commonly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
framey Posted Monday at 16:10 Report Share Posted Monday at 16:10 3 hours ago, elmoputney said: Having seen what I saw yesterday a decent angler with a bait boat can certainly do things you can't with a rod and line, I watched someone drop a good handful of bait and rig on an actual bin lid sized gravel spot at about 28 wraps in open water, you wouldn't even find that spot with a lead I don't think, if you did you would probably give up before you found it again. certainly made me regret selling mine a bit. He had a winch camera on it, was pretty amazing to see what lies beneath tbh. Surely if a bait boat is good enough for Terry then that makes it ok for everyone to use. elmoputney and commonly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted Monday at 20:01 Report Share Posted Monday at 20:01 7 hours ago, elmoputney said: Having seen what I saw yesterday a decent angler with a bait boat can certainly do things you can't with a rod and line, I watched someone drop a good handful of bait and rig on an actual bin lid sized gravel spot at about 28 wraps in open water, you wouldn't even find that spot with a lead I don't think, if you did you would probably give up before you found it again. certainly made me regret selling mine a bit. He had a winch camera on it, was pretty amazing to see what lies beneath tbh. My map work: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmoputney Posted Monday at 20:04 Report Share Posted Monday at 20:04 3 hours ago, framey said: Surely if a bait boat is good enough for Terry then that makes it ok for everyone to use. Yep certainly a useful tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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