For Those Of You Who Have A Boat.... 2025

Ratherbfishing reply :

If you could access the places you fish without a boat (and without wearing yourself out in the process), would you keep your boat? How much pleasure do you glean from having your boat?

retiredbosn reply :

The two happiest days in a boat owner's life: the day they buy it and the day they sell it. That said I couldn't imagine fishing without one.

tomustang reply :

I'd say just fishing isn't what's only involved with having the boat. It also includes a different scenery and a chance to move away from others when you are stuck on the bank, among other things. Boating is a different experience in which I enjoy that comes with fishing and enhances it on certain levels.

So no, I wouldn't give up boating because I could.

Logan S reply :

Very few places I fish could be accessed without a boat.

The other huge bonus is that it not only takes you where you want to go, its also a 20 foot floating tackle box . 15+ rods and all the tackle I own can follow me where ever I go!

Skeeter Dan reply :

No. I love being on the water even if I don't catch any fish. IVE BEEN IN A BOAT ALL MY LIFE except for the 6 years in the U S Army. So that would make it 54 yrs on the water.

Scott F reply :

There is just no way to be able to access all the same places on foot that you can with a boat. Even if you could get to some of them, the time it would take to move between spots would eat up a large chunk of my fishing time. I also find a boat to be a very comfortable platform to fish from.

Ozark_Basser reply :

Although costly and sometimes a pain, having a boat is kind of half the fun.

tomustang reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 5:22 AM, Auggie14 said:
Although costly and sometimes a pain, having a boat is kind of half the fun.

Like saying the reward is greater than the risk. well worth it to me.

Ratherbfishing reply :

To answer my own question, it depends. The day we had to run immediately back into town to get a new cranking battery and then, later that day, when we barely avoided getting swamped when a rusty hose clamp broke, I could've done without a boat. But it would be nigh on to impossible to get to many of the places without one and it can be quite relaxing. And, as STRASO20SS said, it IS a huge floating tacklebox. I'd need a pack elephant (or at least a donkey) to carry all of my stuff otherwise.

Thanks for all the thoughts. : )

Jig Man reply :

I wouldn't need a boat if I could hover like a humming bird. Till I figure that out I'll have to keep the boat.

desmobob reply :

I'll always have a boat. I love being on the water, even if I'm not fishing. I have a kayak, two float tubes, three canoes and two boats. I even love being in the water... I got my first SCUBA certification immediately after high school.

If I'm traveling, I hardly ever pass up a chance at a boat ride, whether it's a harbor tour, whale watch, ferry ride, or whatever.

Tight lines,

Bob

long island basser reply :

I don't fish unless I'm on my boat. Been doing it this way for 25 years now. The last time I fished from shore,( not quite sure how many years ago it was) I did not enjoy it being limited to a couple spots.

slonezp reply :

I fish less now that I have a boat. I'm also older and have more responsibilities and less time. During my pre-boat days I fished the Chicago lakefront on a daily basis. I also spent a lot of time fishing smaller lakes in the suburbs. I was broke and single. I've owned boats going on 20 years I have a little extra spending money now. I have fished a number of the premier bass lakes in the south/southeast, compete in tournaments, and have taken up fishing for other species of fish. I no longer live in Chicago proper and the nearest lake I can launch the boat is a 45 minute drive. I try to get out every weekend during soft water. I can count the number of times I've been bank fishing, since I've owned a boat, on one hand. I have a small forest preserve lake within walking distance from my house. I think I fished there once or twice in the 10 years I've lived here. I have no desire to fish from the shore anymore.

tnriverluver reply :

How would you possibly access 10's of thousands of acres of water without a boat?

zachb34 reply :

I agree with some of the above posts boating is half the fun. If I fish from shore its in the canal in my backyard and I usually don't stay more than 25 minutes.

EvanT123 reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 4:27 AM, tomustang said:

I'd say just fishing isn't what's only involved with having the boat. It also includes a different scenery and a chance to move away from others when you are stuck on the bank, among other things. Boating is a different experience in which I enjoy that comes with fishing and enhances it on certain levels.

So no, I wouldn't give up boating because I could.

X2 being a first year boat owner and currently dealing with the winter freeze and malls at Christmas time. I am totally missing taking in the experience of being on the water. I have also learned and am learning a number of useful things about motors, electronics, trailers and become a better fisherman.

RSM789 reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 4:36 AM, Stratos20SS said:
The other huge bonus is that it not only takes you where you want to go, its also a 20 foot floating tackle box . 15+ rods and all the tackle I own can follow me where ever I go!

I agree. I look at my boat as a movable casting platform that carries all my gear so I don't have to. The electric motor are my robotic legs.

papajoe222 reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 4:36 AM, Stratos20SS said:

Very few places I fish could be accessed without a boat.

The other huge bonus is that it not only takes you where you want to go, its also a 20 foot floating tackle box . 15+ rods and all the tackle I own can follow me where ever I go!

My boat only has a 450lb. capacity. If I take someone with me, I have to remove about 100lb. of tackle!

I do bank fish, however. I just prefer to fish from my boat.

Catt reply :

I'm a Cajun...we fish by whatever means necessary!

Try setting hook standing in a 12' long 24" bottom pirogue!

ww2farmer reply :

Other than small ponds, and little parks on some of the lakes, shore access is limited for me, so I probably wouldn't fish as much.

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 4:27 AM, retiredbosn said:
The two happiest days in a boat owner's life: the day they buy it and the day they sell it. That said I couldn't imagine fishing without one.

This may be true for many, but I've never understood it.

This rings true for those who bought too much boat, or bought a boat for the wrong reasons. One of the best days of my life was when I bought my first boat. Buying my next boat will probably rate right up there too.

WIGuide reply :

Fishing with a boat is a totally different experience than fishing without one. Don't get me wrong, I love fishing either way, but I wouldn't be able to fish about 95% of the places I fish if I didn't have a boat. In college, the house I lived in was 2 blocks away from a small lake and about 3 blocks away from a river. I fished both of them quite a bit both from shore and wading, but it didn't do much to scratch my fishing itch. It was just a way for me to cope with my fishing fever until the weekend, when I could go home and get out on the water. Even if I could get to my spots without a boat, I wouldn't get rid of it. I've owned a boat since I was in 5th grade and I don't think there will be a day in my life where I don't unless I have to sell one in order to purchase a different one. haha

Sam reply :

Love my boat.

It keeps me dry on the water and allows me to travel places others can't go.

I will always keep my boat.

I fish too many places on each body of water I fish to move around to more than one or two locations from the bank.

S Hovanec reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 4:19 AM, Ratherbfishing said:
If you could access the places you fish without a boat (and without wearing yourself out in the process), would you keep your boat? How much pleasure do you glean from having your boat?

Impossible. I'm a pretty strong swimmer, but 3-4 miles off shore doesn't happen without a boat!

Chris S reply :

Once you go boat you can never go bank

Brnnoser6983 reply :

Most of the time I fish I am close to the shore. Could I fish without a boat? Yes, but being on the water, the ease of moving spot to spot, and the views.

I wouldn't ever not have a boat.

slonezp reply :

I've said this before. Bank fishermen spend their time casting as far away from shore as they can and boaters spend their time casting as close to shore as they can.

fish365 reply :

I use my boat 52 weeks a year and will always have one.

slimshad reply :

A boat is a hole in the water you throw money in. And I love it. I will have a boat til I die. My old Ranger is my baby. I wipe it down every chance I get and can't wait til the next time I get in it. Bank fishing is fun but nothing like going out in a bass boat. I read alot of guys on this forum that have kayaks and small craft. You can have those too, I will be in my bass boat. Too bad the new boats have out priced the working man tho. I would love a new one but just can't spend 50-60K.

flipin44 reply :

If I could still fish all the spots I fish without a boat and still get from spot to spot just as quickly I would still own my boat. Have you ever blasted across the lake at full throttle, trimmed up as far as you can go, throwing a rooster tail 30 ft. high and 50 ft. long at 70 mph? It's not easy on the wallet, but if you have then you know why I would still own my boat.

446

For Those Of You Who Have A Boat.... 2025

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