Following the current trend
One aspect of modern reservoir trout fishing that I really like is the
use of electric outboard engines.
They have come down in price a lot recently and are fairly light to carry
and fix to the stern of a boat.
Of course, petrol engines get you to distant parts of a big expanse of
water quickly, but they do so in a noisy way that frightens the fish and
disturbs other anglers.
When you are starting a drift from well offshore and gradually approaching
the most likely spots, and as your boat gets quite close inshore, you
need to be able to start the engine very smartly.
Maybe you have hooked a fish and are in danger of smashing the prop of
the engine on inshore stones and boulders.
Try playing a fish with one hand while trying to start a petrol engine
with the other hand, vainly pulling the starter cord.
So often, the engine fails to fire in time.
A mere twist of the tiller will see you avoiding the shallows immediately
with an electric engine though.
And how can you approach a shoal of rising fish quietly when you use a
petrol engine?
The electric takes you stealthily within range of the fish without putting
them down though.
There are drawbacks with electrics, of course. They are not good for driving
a boat into the teeth of a strong gale and in such conditions you soon
run a battery down.
It is surprising, though, just how long a fully-charged good-quality battery
will run for.
You simply must buy the very best battery you can afford, and better still,
a spare battery too.
Fortunately, top-class batteries for the engines to run on have also come
down a lot in price recently.
Once out in the middle of a great water like Ladybower you are at peace
with the world – such a contrast to what you see and hear on the
television or radio news.
I’m having withdrawal symptoms at present because illness, and in
my case old age, has severely curtailed my fishing trips, along with my
boat partner and driver – hopefully not for ever though.
If you do decide to buy an engine and battery, I can recommind having
a word with the manager Allan in the office at Ladybower. He will get
you a top-quality job.