Jed Windsor, email

QI’ve just got my first bait boat, and my first trip out was a nightmare! I was wondering how I make sure that the line is tight to the rig when I drop it off? Is there a trick I can use?

AIf possible, try to hone your skills with a bit of a run around on a boating pond first, because the way a boat runs and steers changes as soon as you have a rig and line attached. While running your rig and loosefeed out I’d recommend keeping your rod-tip dipped below the surface (while holding the rod) and controlling the line coming off the spool with your finger tip, keeping a light tension on the line. Running it out ‘sub-surface’ stops the wind causing a bow to form, which is what will happen if the line is allowed to fall uncontrolled from the spool and there is any kind of a crosswind.

When it comes to dropping the rig, simply lift the rod tip and feel the lead down, as you would if you had cast. Then, as the line is sunk already, you can put the rod down on the rests and run the boat in without any potential issues of the line getting tangled on the hull.

If you’re running your boat under overhangs (or you’re simply unsure of the boat’s reliability or your driving skills) you can always attach a marker line to the back of the boat that can be used to retrieve the boat ‘in case of emergencies’. Good luck - as with any new tool, ‘practice certainly makes perfect’!