How to mark the spot with a bait boat
We ask boat expert, Keith Williams for his advice
If you’re marking up to a feature that you’ve found with a marker rod, how do you do this? Do you drive the boat to the marker float and then mark your line or do you go past it a certain distance depending on the depth of water you’re fishing in?
“Once I have found the feature with the marker float I put my end tackle, minus the rig, into the boat. I then take the boat out whilst still holding the rod and keep a reasonable amount of tension between boat and rod; this will ensure the line remains straight on the way out. Once I have reached the marker float, I slow the boat down and tighten up before dropping once the boat is the depth of water past the float – i.e. if I’m fishing 8ft of water, I’ll drop the lead once it’s 8ft past the float. I then clip-up and use the Range Sticks to measure the distance and use a far bank feature for hitting the same spot each time.”
When it comes to dropping your end tackle and bait with a bait boat, how do you ensure the rig doesn’t swing back from the bait and the feature you’re aiming to drop it on?
“When I take out a rig in the boat I always hold my rod and gently feather the line out. Once I have reached the area that I am going to drop on, I slow the boat down and release the hopper, making sure I do this when I hit the line clip. Doing it this way you should be able to feel the lead hit the bottom, just like you would when feeling the lead down on a cast. Using this approach will also ensure the rig is tangle-free. Never leave your the rod in the rest with the bail arm open, as doing this could lead to a poorly presented rig.”
