How to go from a bank angler to a boat angler

By Robert Thornton

Ask any angler how they started fishing, and the vast majority will tell you that their early experiences involved fishing from the bank. If they stick with it for long enough, their fishing usually evolves to include some kind of vessel, be it a kayak, canoe, float tube or boat.

This is a common progression for anglers anywhere in the world, and it’s always an exciting time, as watercraft can really broaden your horizons in so many ways. Indeed, a boat is a gamechanger, and yes, a vessel automatically opens up so much more water for an angler who is used to walking along the bank. It also has to be established that the lessons learnt on land can be useful when finding your ‘sea legs’.

With that said, not all knowledge gained from successful bank missions necessarily transfers to success in the boat. In other words, successful boat fishing will require some adjustments to mindset, techniques and tackle.

Sure, there is a lot of crossover – I mean fishing is fishing, and anglers, whether on land or in a boat, ultimately want the same thing: to catch fish! This blog seeks to outline the ways anglers can leverage the advantages of a boat to their fullest. At the end of the day, boats are a tool anglers use to enhance their fishing, and in this blog we’ll be looking at how to get the most out of this tool.

Landlubber’s curse

Land-based fishing has many advantages. To name just a few, it’s simple and requires little preparation, it’s far more accessible and affordable for most people, and in some locations (such as small waterways) it can actually be the only viable way to fish.

I, as someone who regularly fishes from a kayak or boat, still spend plenty of time on the bank. For me, it’s about convenience and simplicity – very attractive features for a time-poor person. Additionally, some of the densely vegetated streams where I fish for bass are too small to manoeuvre even a small kayak, meaning I have little choice but to walk or wade.

In general though, fishing from a boat is usually a preferable option to the bank. An obvious advantage is they allow access to a far wider range of fish habitat. With this mobility comes the luxury of being able to quickly change location if one area isn’t producing. Techniques such as trolling, vertical jigging and ‘drifting’ (as well as other boat-specific methods) are another big tick in the boat. Lastly, boat anglers are able to travel with far more equipment at arm’s length than if they were confined to the shore, owing to the well-engineered storage capacity of most fishing craft.

Land-based thinking 

Recently while bunkering down for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, I found some old footage from the 1980s of US bass fishing tournament icon Rick Clunn (now in his late 70s) talking about the advantages of a boat. In his trademark southern drawl, he said something to the effect of “most of the old guys will tell you that the best bass fishing is at sunrise and sunset – and this is certainly true around the shoreline where they were fishing.” Rick then went on to point out that while bank anglers struggle to get bites during the daytime, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve stopped feeding. Rather, these fish have left the shallows to seek deeper water.

A boat allows an angler to present lures to fish in deeper water, well away from the bank. Fish move around a lot – most anglers know this – and one of the most limiting aspects of land-based fishing is the inability to follow fish once they’ve moved away from the bank. From this it’s easy to see some advantages a boat offers.

Techniques and tackle 

The other important lesson in this 40-year-old production was the need expand your range of techniques when fishing in new areas instead of relying on classic ‘bank techniques’ and other shallow water presentations.

To use a more modern example, it makes sense to throw a Kikker Curly in the weed-choked shallows of a barramundi impoundment or billabong when the fish are feeding in these areas. Once the temperature rises and the fish move out into deeper water though, that same soft plastic frog whizzing along the surface probably won’t attract as much attention. A smart angler would reach for something like a Steez Soft Shell 90, a sinking soft vibe that imitates a redclaw crayfish mooching along the bottom. If I was a lazy barra sulking on the bottom, something like that might convince me to eat again!

When employing different techniques Rick also stressed having the right tackle for the job. For example, Rick used a heavy baitcast outfit with thick nylon line when fishing around heavy cover with a Texas-rigged soft plastic worm – such tackle would only hinder precious casting distance for someone on the shore. Back then, a light spin outfit was the standard tool for casting poppers, bladed spinners and shallow divers from the bank.

Rick’s wisdom is still very prescient today, and if you look beyond its species and era-specific substance, the true lesson is that be successful in a boat, you need to adapt your fishing to make full use of the new opportunities it affords you.

‘Land-based thinking’ certainly has its uses in the boat, however it can stifle your progression if you let it dominate your approach.

General boat fishing tips

While each boat fishing situation is different, there are a few general rules that you can apply across the board.

Boat anglers tend to use shorter rods on average, and there’s a few reasons for this. Firstly, casting distance is less of a priority, given that you now have the freedom to move closer to where fish are, and shorter rods generally offer better casting accuracy. Another reason is that shorter rods make landing fish easier in the boat. Land-based anglers sometimes have to navigate bankside hazards in the dying stages of the fight, which longer rod are better suited to. Boat anglers, on the other hand, can simply slide the landing net under the fish, and a shorter rod reduces the chance of breakages.

Something else to think about is gear storage. Many fishing boats have storage hatches to accommodate tackle trays, lifejackets and rods, however the open tinnies and canoes that many novice boat owners start with might not have that option. This is where the Solus Boat Bag or Boat Bag Hard Base can be really handy. These bags allow for storage of several tackle trays and other accessories and are a good way to keep your kit together when built-in storage options are limited. Boat bags are especially good for anglers who chop and change between boat and land-based fishing, and also anyone who regularly fishes with other people in their boats.

Depth sounder and fish finders are a fairly standard feature of boat fishing these days, and while not everyone uses this technology, most serious anglers have a sonar unit of some kind on their boat. Given that sounder technology is constantly improving and updating, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with some sounder basics before you buy a boat with a sounder. YouTube is an excellent resource for learning about sounders.

Lastly, it’s important to think about sun safety. Boat anglers are far more prone to sun damage because they tend to spend more time in open areas, plus they often end up fishing for longer periods. The right apparel makes a difference, and Daiwa’s Ripple Jersey is a light, quick-dry material that offers full sun protection – perfect in Australian conditions!

For the hands, some Sun Gloves are a good idea. Hands often get burnt when fishing, as anglers often hold them in front of their body for extended periods, and sunscreen usually washes off pretty quickly – a good pair of sun gloves means you don’t have to worry about any of that, and a well-made pair of gloves will still allow the same dexterity as bare hands!

For the face, a neck scarf is a simple and highly effective form of sun protection. Paired with a good cap and sunglasses, just a quick smear of sunscreen around the exposed area around your temples and you’ll be able to keep fishing through the day without having to worry about sunburn. As with any sunscreen, it’s recommended that you reapply to any exposed areas every hour or so, especially during high UV periods.

Maiden voyage

Whether you’ve just bought your first boat, are still thinking about it, or are just wanting to start fishing out of any boat available to you, I hope this blog gives you the confidence you need to take your fishing to the next level!

Boats open so many doors, not only in the extra territory you can access, but also the opportunities to chase different species and try different techniques!

As with anything, the only way to really get your head around boat fishing is to try it for yourself, so what are you waiting for?