Boating Tips

Boating Regulations
Make sure that you have a basic idea of the boating regulations for the state you are boating in. Nothing will kill a boating trip then getting a ticket for something you did not know about.

Live Well Fish Health
Always add a bottle of frozen water into my live wells during summer months. keep those hogs healthy!

Unplug Before you Launch
Tired of your trailer lights and brakes screwing up on the way home, after a day on the water? Try this trick, unplug the trailer before you launch, this will prevent electrical current passing through wiring while trailer is submerged. Saving bulbs and brake components.

Drift Sock Fishing
when its windy and your drifting a drift sock will slow you down and make your boat alot more stable.

Small Bass Boat Tip
buy a bigger boat!, ok that may not be an option, but if you have a 16ft bass boat and are getting beat up on rough water try zig zagging with the waves, ride the top of one, trim down a bit, if really big, get off the water, if the wind is 20+ dont even try it. Check the weather hourly report before going out, and be careful not to get in a shallow cove with 18mph wind pushing into it, the waves can get 3-4 ft in the shallows. Also dont fish any serious tournements, It is not fair to a non-boater.

Stuck Anchor
If you find that your anchor is stuck on the bottom, and if all attempts to free it have failed, attach a float to it, and return later when the tides have changed direction. This will oftentimes loosen a trapped anchor.

Pay Attention to Weather
Pay attention to the weather, before and after you are on the water: Before leaving for the day, check all available sources of weather information, especially if you know there is weather approaching. Don’t rely on the weather reports from the night before. VHF radios have up-to-date weather information on specific channels (weather band) running constantly. Another good reason to have a VHF radio with you. Set the weather band to automatically announce weather warnings during the day and you can be assured that unpredicted or developing weather won’t catch you off guard. Keep an eye to the sky. Wind direction changes can be harbingers of impending weather changes. Don’t ignore thunder.

Float Plan
1. File a “float plan” so people will know where you are: Map out your plan for the day, know where you are going and how to tell someone where you are. Call your spouse or friends and let them know your general vicinity and the approximate time you will return. If help is needed, that contact person can send help in your direction. Better yet, a waterproof, handheld GPS (about $130) will give your rescuers exact coordinates of your location. It will also help you backtrack out to safety should you be caught in a fog or blinding rain.

Bring in the Battery
If you use a battery powerd trolling motor, take in the battery everynight if you leave your boat on the lake. If it gets left in the rain, the water somehow steels energy from the battery. It also ruins the battery so it has less power time.

Trolling Motor Safety
If you go to take out weeds off of your trolling motor propelor, take it off the battery so that if you accidently turn it on while pulling off the weeds, you dont chop of a bunch of fingers. It sounds stupid but it does happen

Bale Bucket/Funnel/Scoop
A plastic milk jug with the bottum cut out at an angle makes a great tool around the boat. With the handle to the top side it makes a good scoop for many things but really nice for baling water. Unscrew the cap and it doubles for a funnel.

Electrical Connections
When adding electronics to your boat you don't want the connections to get wet and corrode. Use liquid electrical tape you can brush it on just about anything you want and its waterproof and seals up soild. When it comes time to remove it it comes off very easy.

Sea Sickness
If you have a problem with sea sickness always stay on the deck and try to watch things in the distance, like the horizon. Also stay upwind from the boat's exhaust Breathing fumes makes things worse.

Keeping Cats from Crawling Under Your Boat Cover
To keep cats from crawling under your boat cover in the winter time and leaving their scent behind, put a few moth balls around on the floor. No more cats.

Trolling Speed
When trolling use a rpm guage on your motor because there are too may variables. Also you might want to try a low speed mph guage. Remember, current adds or detracts from trolling speed, and waves also cause a fluctuation.

Small Boats for Hard to Reach Places
If you love to fish the hard to reach places that are too hard to reach even by boat try the following ideas. Use a small 2 man boat or a flat bottom boat in the 10-12 ft class.

Tire out Bigger Fish for an Easier Retrieve
If you fish from a canoe, kayak, or small boat, there is a method that you can use to have some fun and catch larger fish like catfish or muskies out. If you get a bit, open the bail and let the fish take your bait. As it's swimming, manually close the bail, which should cause a good hook set. This will cause the fish to panic or try to escape. If the fish is deep, wrestle it to a middle depth, then let it swim around for a few minutes. This will often let the not only tire, but it will tow the canoe, which is like a human pulling a car or truck. The fish will quickly tire, allowing you to reel it in more easily.