Bait boats...fair or foul?

10:07am Friday 4th January 2008

BAIT boats, some very sophisticated, others basic, are one of the latest technological gadgets to push the boundaries of coarse fishing even further.

Some anglers love them and others hate them.

Those in favour argue that it enables the accurate positioning of bait at even greater distances or in more inaccessible areas without regularly leaving lines and hooks in overhanging bushes to endanger wildlife.

Others argue passionately against them in that it removes the traditional skills, especially casting.

They have been used on more southern carp waters for a while now and are beginning to make an appearance on some of our local waters.

While most southern fisheries have been happy for them to be used, provided the users consider other anglers, some fisheries have banned them.

The boats have small underwater cameras that can be used to see fish approaching the bait, but where is this all going to end?

Perhaps users will soon be able to stay at home in bed and send a robot down to the fishery!

The jury is still out not only on bait boats, but also other technological gadgets.

Here in the Lake District where nearly all waters have wonderful scenery and where people go to not only fish but enjoy the peace and tranquillity, do we really want a possible growing intrusion of bait boats?

Perhaps it is more important is to think about the fish, which need more inaccessible areas, whether through distance or vegetation, give them safe refuge from their predators - including humans.

Is it not good for the fish to sometimes to be able to escape - surely it has to be?

Angling should be about chance rather than almost certainty otherwise it becomes a somewhat pointless sport.

Bait boats are another strand of the age old arguments between traditionalists, who some would say are purists and even dinosaurs, and others who embrace with open arms what they see as the benefits of modern technology.

Whatever one's view, here in the Lake District there is a most important consideration.

The Environment Agency does not have a specific policy on the use of bait boats, but their use is covered by by-laws. Those using bait boats should familiarise themselves with the by-laws and also check fishery rules to ensure that their use is allowed.

Editor's note: What do you think? Write to Letters to the Editor, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright's Yard, Kendal, LA9 4DP. Or start a forum.

Rainbow stillwaters...

ON MILDER days at High Newton trout have been high in the water with some good catches to floating lines and small spiders, producing an exceptionally good rod average of 4.1 for the time of year. The best area remains between the end of the dam and Fantasy Island.

At Ghyll Head there have been catches to either a sinking line with small lures, alternatively nymphs fished deep and slow on a floating line with a long leader or an intermediate line.

Once the ice broke up at Bigland sporadic hatches of small black buzzers reappeared with trout feeding on, or just under, the surface.

Those who kept on the move have recorded catches of rainbows to 4lb plus on floating lines with black buzzers, nymphs or bloodworm patterns, or alternatively lures, such as cat's whisker or Fritz.

Boat users at Esthwaite have been catching rainbows to 6lb plus on sinking lines, lures and a very slow retrieve.

Sheltered Wych Elm has continued to fish well with many good catches including John Pratt's 17 on egg flies; Paul Jackson's 16 on black buzzers; Raymond Harwood's 15 on red buzzers and olive lures while a number of other anglers recorded ten.

The heaviest recent rainbow of 9lb was landed by Shane Sephton along with four others, all on bloodworm patterns.

Farltonview was frozen for ten days, then milder weather brought anglers out with best catches from Steve Shinwell, who took 11 on stalking bugs; Fred Leigh with six on cat's whiskers and junior angler, Andrew Smith (11) who caught six to 4lb also on cat's whiskers.

Others have been catching on bloodworm patterns.

Hawkshead Angling Club has some vacancies for new members - for further information contact David Barry, on 015394 36506.

Rivers...

FLOODS have meant that the Eden has been over the bank in many places, which has put paid to grayling fishing over the holiday period.

The Eden salmon season opens on January 15 and there should be a few spring salmon about, particularly below Armathwaite. The beats at Wetheral, Warwick Hall, Holmegate and Crosby should see the first fish of the season to spinner or heavy fly, fished deep.

Coarse Waters...

FISHERIES have generally suffered much more with the exceptionally wet weather.

Although Esthwaite has been high, boat users have caught pike on spinners and deadbaits with the best recent ones from Darren Ward, 25lb 8oz, and Alex Barton, 22lb.

Both Grasmere and Rydal are high with just the occasional pike caught before the levels rose. A dry spell is needed before either of these waters will again fish well for roach.

Similarly, Windermere and Coniston are bank high with just the odd pike to low doubles caught on deadbaits.

One of the only areas on Windermere for roach is the public jetties at Miller Ground, using feeder or straight lead tactics with maggot.

At Bigland there have been catches of quality roach using swim feeder with maggots, or on calmer days float-fished pink maggots. Pike to low doubles have been taken on deadbaits.

Loughrigg Tarn is very high and no-one has been out recently.

On Ulverston Canal there have been catches of small pike on deadbaits and lures with 12lb pike to deadbaits from the Lancaster Canal from Stainton down to Holme.

With our wilder waters mostly out of condition at the moment, local anglers will generally be heading just over the border into north Lancashire for the smaller, more sheltered, waters.

Try Borwick for carp up to 5lb; The Villa, for carp on boillies; Littledale, for carp, bream, roach and skimmers using pole with maggots, casters or chopped worm; Cleveley Bridge, for roach on pole with maggot, caster or chopped worm; Copthorne, for small carp to pole with maggot or caster; and Manor Farm, for bream, roach, skimmers and carp using pole with maggots or chopped worm.

Sea Angling...

THOSE who have been out have caught flounders from Plumpton, Greenodd, Canal Foot and Priory Point, also codling to 2lb, from Walney Channel, the South End of Walney and at Silecroft. Lugworm has been the best bait although anglers who managed to get crab have scored better with the codling.

Buzzer www.lakedistrictfishing.net

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