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

[Ratherbfishing]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[tomustang]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[zachb34]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[ww2farmer]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Once you go boat you can never go bank