| Want to go fishing but don't have a boat? No problem. | | | | that boat. A used canoe or kayak in good condition |
| I have some solutions for you right here. | | | | may be an affordable option for you and can be |
| 1) You can always fish from the bank. I know it's not | | | | transported on top of a car or in the back of a pick-up |
| ideal and sometimes the fish seem to be just out of | | | | truck. More and more people are fishing from canoes |
| reach, but a lot of nice fish have been caught from | | | | and kayaks now and some folks even fish in the |
| shore. Fishing from the bank is better than not fishing | | | | ocean from a kayak. |
| at all. Small farm ponds can produce great results for | | | | 7) Fish from a headboat. For about $60 pr. person you |
| bank fishermen who target largemouth bass and | | | | can go deep sea fishing on a headboat all day. |
| bluegill. A few miles from where I live a lot of | | | | Headboats usually provide you with all the tackle and |
| fishermen gather in a river where water is released | | | | bait you need. In addition, there are mates on board |
| from the dam. Most people fish from the bank for | | | | who will help you if you hook a big fish or get your line |
| catfish, but I've caught some huge largemouth bass | | | | tangled. Usually headboats carry about 50 fishermen |
| just a short distance downstream in the Spring. They | | | | and also offer half day trips and overnight trips. You |
| like to hide close to the bank under logs and other | | | | never know what you will catch. The first fish I ever |
| submerged structures. | | | | caught from a headboat was a 35 pound amberjack! |
| 2) Try fishing from a dock or pier. Try to find one that | | | | 8) Hire a fishing guide. This is not an inexpensive option, |
| isn't too crowded if possible. You may have to fish at | | | | but on occasion it can be really fun and productive. I |
| a time of day or night that is inconvenient for most | | | | have fished with guides on four different occasions. |
| people. Sometimes large fish hang around the | | | | Two of my four trips produced awesome results, one |
| structure of a pier or dock for protection and to hide | | | | was so-so, and the other produced one small fish. In all |
| so they can ambush bait fish. | | | | cases, however, the guides worked extremely hard to |
| 3) Waders - Trout fishermen have been using waders | | | | provide a good experience. Don't have unrealistic |
| in streams for years. Waders are made from a | | | | expectations of your guide. Sometimes weather |
| variety of waterproof materials and serve to keep the | | | | doesn't cooperate and other times the fish just don't |
| angler dry as he walks through water that is almost | | | | bite. However, hiring a guide usually improves your |
| chest deep. You should know how to swim if you are | | | | odds of catching fish since these guys are out there |
| going to use waders. You will need to be careful not | | | | almost every day and usually specialize in certain |
| to step in a hole. Be sure to take a fishing buddy with | | | | species of fish. They know where the fish are likely to |
| you. Waders are best suited for stream fishing and | | | | be, what they are eating, what time of day they are |
| surf fishing. | | | | most likely to bite and what techniques will work for |
| 4) Fish from a float tube also known as a belly boat. | | | | catching them. |
| OK, so maybe technically a float tube is a boat, but not | | | | 9) Fish with a friend who owns a boat. What are |
| in the traditional sense. Float tubes offer an angler an | | | | friends for? If you can't afford a boat or don't want |
| inexpensive alternative to a boat and it allows you to | | | | the hassle of boat ownership, maybe you can fish with |
| reach fish you would not be able to get to from the | | | | a friend who does own a boat. Quite often boat |
| bank. You will also be able to access ponds and lakes | | | | owners are happy to have other fishermen go with |
| that are inaccessable to trailered boats. Be willing to | | | | them to share fuel expenses. Help out with the duties |
| hike in with your float tube on your back and inflate it | | | | necessary to getting the boat launched, bait ready, and |
| when you arrive and you can fish remote ponds that | | | | equipment cleaned up, and you may find yourself |
| rarely get fished at all. You will need to wear waders | | | | getting invited to fish with your boat-owning friend on a |
| while in a float tube unless the water temperature is | | | | regular basis. Take along a digital camera to take |
| pretty warm. I hope you don't mind if branches hidden | | | | photos of your buddy with his prize catch, submit your |
| under the surface of the water tickle your legs now | | | | photos to the local paper or sportsman's magazine, |
| and then. | | | | and you will be a hit with the boat owner for sure! |
| 6) Fish from a canoe or kayak. Cheaper than buying a | | | | Besides that, you will have made a great new friend. |
| boat especially if you include an outboard motor with | | | | |