| #1  06-27-2011, 01:11 PM | ||||
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| Boat disturbances! Hi all, I am sure that we have all got different thoughts on the subject, but what effect do you think boat/barge traffic has on a river swim during a fishing trip? Obviously, the depth would play a role, with somewhere like the river Severn at 15-20 feet being less effected than the much shallower Warwickshire Avon, but have you had any surprise findings? Personaly I have found barges to be a lot less of a problem than the deeper draught boats, such as river cruisers, but none the less they do disturb to an extent. Do fish get used to constant traffic? Or do the scarper to the reeds as soon as they hear an engine? Your thoughts?  ATB John __________________ Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Per Ardua Ad Astra.     |
| #2 06-28-2011, 07:24 PM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! I guess that it's what they are used to in the end. Other than a temporary effect on the flow and possibility of getting loose feed washed out of the swim (stop feeding), I doubt hte fish pay too much attention. On canals , although they seem a pain , they help colour the water . You also need to bear in mind that canals were not long fishing ponds they decided to put boats down but the other way round. __________________ Just remember, not all the heroes died. www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
| #3 06-29-2011, 06:57 AM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! Thats my thought basically. If anything, I would imagine that it would stir up the bottom a bit, so presenting a few natural offerings to the fish, and add a bit of colour to the water. I'm certainly not one for blaming boats for a poor session, and because of the ways that I present the tackle, I don't even get a cut line. Its just that everyone has a different opinion on the boats effects that I want to guage. John __________________ Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Per Ardua Ad Astra. |
| #4 07-01-2011, 10:55 AM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! I don't often fish navigatable water for Barbel but have fished small streams where dog owners let their dogs wade in and splash about and that doesn't seem to put the Barbel off at all, I have had Barbel take my bait with a dog splashing and wading nearbye upstream. However, if a human made any noise or movements on the bankside then that does seem to put the Barbel down. What is strange however; is that while wading in clear water I have had large chub swim right up close to my legs even while I was slowly wading along with my rod in my hands. On a Canal It seems that the fish will move to the side of the canal when the boat pushes through then they move into the centre as soon as the Barge has past, looking for food that has been disturbed. The only bug to bear is that I constantly need to wind in as a boat goes past and recast afterwards. __________________ My Web Site (The Average Coarse Angler) Happiness is Fish Shaped (It used to be woman shaped but the wifes getting on a bit now) |
| #5 07-01-2011, 11:20 AM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! I have had a similar experience Boldbear, with fish at my feet, only on this occasion it was a pair of very good sized wild Brown Trout! It was in the river Coln near fairford, about 30 or so inches of water, taking up residence, one to the side and one behind my right leg. I must practice my 6 inch casts of a fly line! Lovely to see them though. J __________________ Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Per Ardua Ad Astra. |
| #6 07-06-2011, 06:14 AM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! concur with BB I don't think the barbel mind. I always find it strange that barbel will put up with a massive wolfhound lurching into the swim & will return to their original position within 5 minutes however when a rig is positioned in the same swim the fish spook...odd that. Mind you I've not fished navigable waters for barbel either mainly the Hampshire Avon & Stour. Have to say most of my fishing is at close range anywho & it probably wouldn't make much difference anyway. Rob. __________________ So many types of fishing ... so little free time... |
| #7 07-11-2011, 06:31 AM | ||||
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| Re: Boat disturbances! All normal thoughts about disturbance(like no heavy footfalls etc.) seem to make no sense on canals , escpecially. When you think about it there are boats up and down all day, joggers pounding the path and cyclists and dog walkers up and down most of the day. As for wading, cattle are in and out of lakes and rivers up and down the country. I think the fish get used to certain types of disturbance as they either largely ignore them OR they associate them with food (cattle must stir up the bottom , as do boats). What does spook them is either noise they are not used to (heavy foot fall away from footpaths) or associations with danger (surface shoals of rudd always seem to spook when something flies over them). I'd suggest that few fish have naturally heard the sound of a mallet whacking rod rests in. __________________ Just remember, not all the heroes died. www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
