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Flats Fishing[/s ...

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Flats Boats
A number of different boats are used for flats fishing, including jonboats, canoes and specialized flats boats designed specifically for flats fishing.
Flats boats are designed almost exclusively for fishing on saltwater flats. As such, they draw little water (usually 6 to 12 inches), provide a wide, stable platform for casting, and are easy to maneuver by poling. They are light and sit high in the water. They also provide plenty of storage and are tough enough to speed across long stretches of open sea en route to the flats.
Flats boats look similar to freshwater bass boats, but there are differences. Most flats boats have higher sides, which are flared to help deflect spray in rough water. Also, the hull of the flats boat is more V-shaped, which makes for a smoother ride but draws more water than a flatter hull.
A unique feature of the flats boat is its poling platform, situated at the rear of the boat. This platform greatly increases visibility and maneuverability, and is useful for sitting or casting. It can also be used with a remote-controlled transom-mount electric motor, which many anglers shun because of the added equipment, the battery needs and the noise.
When looking to purchase a flats boat, there are several things to consider. Perhaps the most important is its draft capability. If you plan on going after bonefish or redfish, get a boat that draws less than 10 inches of water, or you won’t be able to access the thin waters where they often feed. If you’re going after striped bass or bluefish in the deeper northern flats, a 12-inch or even 14-inch draft is fine, and your ride across miles of open sea will be smoother.
Many flats game fish are affected by hull noise, so take this into account. Aluminum hulls and hulls with large reverse chines are noisier than others. Precise maneuverability is also important. The lighter and skinnier the boat, the easier it is to pole, but the rougher the ride in open water.
Flats boats have nonskid surfaces, but anglers should wear shoes with boat soles, as they will spend most of their time standing.
Other boats besides flats boats can be used for flats fishing. Some bass boats and jonboats can be used in the shallows, but they don’t offer smooth rides across open sea en route to the flats. Also, they don’t offer flat and uncluttered casting platforms, as do flats boats, and they don’t have poling platforms, which will affect visibility and perhaps maneuverability.
Some flats are too shallow even for flats boats. For these thin waters, there are several options. Canoes can go places that flats boats can’t, but they aren’t very stable or good for casting. However, some canoe-like fiberglass boats offer a very shallow draft along with decent stability. They are also much lighter, more maneuverable and less expensive. They can be equipped with a small outboard.
Thick-aluminum 15- to 17-foot jonboats are durable and pole almost as easily as a canoe in less than 6 inches of water. Some versions have a shallow V-shaped hull that offers a much smoother ride than flat-hulled jonboats.
Another boat that can access very shallow water is the “scooter,” which is similar to a flats boat but has very low sides. It’s used mainly on the Gulf Coast.

Flats Fishing Methods
There are three ways to fish the flats: wade fishing, fishing from shore, and fishing from a boat. Each method has its benefits and drawbacks.
Wade fishing is one of the most common and economical ways to fish the flats and many anglers consider it the most effective way to stalk fish. However, one drawback is the difficulty of getting in range of game fish, which can and often do move quickly out of range. Another disadvantage is the low angle of vision, which makes it more difficult to spot fish and their movements.
Shoreline fishing has the advantage of being less strenuous than wading, but it is also less productive, as you must wait for the fish to come to you. However, it offers the advantage of a higher vantage point and wider angle of vision, where anglers can more easily spot game fish that come into range.
Fishing from a boat combines the advantages of high mobility and a high vantage point. The angler can quickly move within range of feeding fish, or pursue fish as they move away. But make too much noise in the excitement of the chase and the fish will be gone, or too spooked to bite. Often times, once fish are spotted from the boat, an angler will climb into the water and stalk the fish via wading.
Observation
To fish the flats, careful observation is necessary. Spotting the fish, or honing in on momentary or subtle signs that fish are there, is a skill that takes practice and perseverance. But first, anglers have to know when and where to look, what to look for, and how to look effectively.
Optimal Sight Fishing Factors:
· The higher up you are, the wider your angle of vision and the more you’ll be able to see. This is a major advantage of boat and shore fishing. Boats come in many different heights, from the sunken well of a canoe to a mini-tower on a flats boat. If your boat sits low on the water, standing up will give you a better vantage point. If fishing from shore, seek out high areas.
· A sunny day with no wind is optimal for sight fishing. For best visibility, fish with the sun behind you. If the sun is more or less overhead, you can face anywhere. To protect your eyes and block out the sun’s blinding glare, wear wraparound polarized sunglasses and a cap with a wide bill and dark underside. If viewing is still difficult, cup your hands around the corners of your glasses to reduce side glare.
· Wind disturbs the water’s surface and makes it difficult to see game fish or the wakes they and their prey make. A calm day is much more conducive to sight fishing.

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Favorable Water Characteristics:
· It’s important to look for water with characteristics that attract fish or stimulate activity. Such characteristics include water clarity, baitfish movement, current flows, underwater structure, water temperature, near-surface vegetation, and shade.
· Water clarity is a very important factor, influencing fish movement and location as well as lure selection. Some species favor clear water or are more likely to strike lures in clear water because they can see them better. Other species prefer areas where clear and turbid water mix, such as runoffs, tidal influxes and wind-affected edges. Where turbid water rich with nutrients and small forage enters a clearer body of water, bait species are often attracted, which in turn attract game fish.
· Where baitfish congregates, predators aren’t far behind. Look for bait darting about on or near the surface or in the shallows, and put your lure there. It should be easy to spot the baitfish in sunny, calm conditions. If unfavorable conditions prevail, look for shorebirds like herons and terns, which feed on the baitfish.
· Most often, baitfish can be found where there is a combination of current and structure. The current moves the bait over, around, through or into structure. The faster the current, the more aggressively the game fish feed and the easier they are to catch. These hot spots stay fairly consistent, and include such areas as creeks, holes and rips.
· Water temperature, too, is important. In spring and early summer, warmer water is more productive; in mid- to late summer, colder water yields better results.
Spotting, Stalking Fish
In the right conditions, you can see game fish as they rest or forage below the surface. If fishing from a boat or wading, it’s important to spot them so you can get into casting range without alarming them. Look below the surface and at the bottom for anything that stands out or moves differently. Scan a wide area, and pay attention to your peripheral vision. When you spot a fish, stalk it to casting range and cast your lure to a spot that will allow for interception.
Occasionally, the water will be shallow enough that the tails of the fish will stick out of the water as they feed on the bottom. It’s hard to miss your quarry in such a situation.
When predators chase baitfish, the action is often easy to spot; just look for schooled baitfish moving rapidly. Other times, viewing conditions aren’t as favorable or only one or a few fish are being pursued, so you should keep your eyes and ears open for disturbances on the water surface. Watch for the wakes of moving game fish, and listen for splashes as fish capture their prey at or near the surface. These fish will be easiest to catch while in this aggressive feeding mode. When making a cast intended to intercept a fish, remember that the forward edge of the wake is behind the fish.
Watch closely as you retrieve your lures. Sometimes a fish will strike a lure and miss it, creating a boil in the water. You need to catch these instances so that you don’t give up on the spot and cast elsewhere.
One particularly subtle indicator of the presence of game fish is what anglers call “nervous water.” This is a surface patch of slight rippling caused by a pod of bait in an agitated state – usually because a predator is lurking nearby. The patch is just a few yards across, and looks different than water disturbed by wind. If you see such a spot, work it hard with a lure that might imitate an injured or struggling baitfish.

J34

WOW! So many fishing method and info. Some really never hear it before. ^_^

Thanks, brother Thomas!

thomas8847

I also don't know this before i found is article.

alexchong

thanks for sharing