Boat fishing is not just bank fishing with a better view. You have to factor in where you are on the water, and sometimes adjust for the movement of the boat. Fish can hear your approach from the water and you can’t just blindly fish the way you can from the bank. A boat gives you access to areas the bank anglers can’t cast to, and you can fish further from the shore.
Anchoring
Anchoring keeps you over the same spot. You’d use it for bait fishing and to build up a swim, as well as when the fish have been located and you’re just waiting for them to bite. Having an anchor at either end of a small boat helps to stop it swinging in the wind and the current.
Using an anchor, fish upstream or upwind from your target spot, and then drift your boat back into position to fish there. When you finish fishing for the day, drift back and fish upstream to lift the anchor. Always use the anchor winch to pull the anchor up slowly to avoid spooking the fish.
Drifting
When fish aren’t being located or are spread out, drift fishing with lures is a good way to cover a large area. Drift fishing is also great for predator fishing, like for perch and pike. Using lures means the fish don’t have to come to you, and you can cover a lot more water by moving your location, like a boat.
A drogue is used to slow a boat that’s moving too quickly. It is a small sea anchor that is towed behind the boat and acts like a brake. Once you locate a school of fish, take note of where your drift starts and where your boat needs to be returned to in order to perform the drift again.
Fishing from a moored houseboat
While houseboats are already anchored, the real decision is the location of where you will moor. Look for points of interest such as a shallow water reed bed, a river bend where the water is moving the slowest, a side stream where the water is meeting the main stream, or a deeper channel that is close to your houseboat on your side. A mooring next to any of these will fish way better than an average straight mooring. To get more ideas check out The Best Fishing Spots You Can Reach by Houseboat.
One advantage with house boating is you can stay in the same spot for a few days. The fish will learn to come to the spot that’s feeding little. If you want to be quiet while fishing the side that is farthest away from the tow path will typically be the more peaceful spot.
Keeping it quiet
Sound carries through the hull and into the water. Footsteps and banging hatches all spook fish, and on calm water can even put a bite off. Putting a thin carpet or mat where you sit makes a noticeable difference.
Shadows also play a role. On a bright day your shadow on the roof is clear to fish below, so fishing a bit further out and sitting low helps.
The sections on bait and rigs covers what you put on the end of the line. For boat friendly rods see Best Fishing Rods for Boat Use. There’s more on Boat Fishing on the Boat Fishing page.
Most anglers who end up in the water do so from leaning out to net a fish, which is a good reason to wear a PFD in a small boat.