Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/2701
to be used when the boat is under power, drifting, at anchor or tied to shore. Trolling is a popular way to fish and cruise at the same time, and involves towing a bait or lure designed for being trolled behind a boat while under power. Because most baits can be towed at speeds of only a few miles per hour with- out spinning or popping up to the surface, trolling is usually done at near-idle pace, rarely faster than three miles per hour. That easygo- ing headway is not a problem with many houseboaters who appreciate a leisurely pace while still making headway. Like trolling, drift fishing involves dragging a bait or lure behind the boat, but one being moved by wind, current or both rather than with the engines. This is a favorite way of hands-off fishing for many houseboat owners who simply motor to the upwind area of the lake, turn off the engines, and drift the day away while saving fuel yet still enjoying the passing scenery while swimming or relaxing on deck. By dropping a line or two on the upwind side of their boat, the baits slowly drift in front of cruising fish and the action can be surprisingly good for this sedentary style of fishing. Houseboats that are anchored or secured to shore make excellent platforms for what is called "vertical" fishing. Usually featuring live baits or lures that are intended to be dropped straight down and given action rather than cast and retrieved, such as jigs and jigging spoons, vertical fishing is the most popular among houseboaters simply because it is easy, productive and offers something fun to do between bouts of cruising. After a time, the houseboat itself can become a fish- attracting "structure," offering shade and protection for bait- fish and the gamefish that follow them. That means some of the best action is literally underfoot when fishing from a houseboat. That's when bobbers come into their own, offering anglers the chance to keep their baits at whatever depth the fish are located, as well as giving visual cues as to when the fish are biting. Sliding bobbers make the best choice for vertical fishing in most houseboat situations, for they allow you to set the depth at which the bobber stops the line from slip- ping through the float to suspend the boat much deeper than is pos- sible with traditional snap-on bob- bers that are attached to the line. One of my favorite houseboat fishing methods comes after night- fall, when you tie up and guests gather on the deck to play cards, tell stories and relax. By sunset I have usually put an underwater light or two under the water, powered by batteries, and their glow starts at- tracting insects and baitfish. So has the "chum" I have been tossing into the water, including smashed-up crackers, pieces of bread, live minnows and worm pieces, cat food and din- ner scraps. An hour or so after dark, when it's time to wet a line, there are often bass, walleye, trout, crappies or sunfish gathered just outside of the circle of light, waiting for our minnows, worms, dough balls or jigs to arrive from on high. The fishing action can be as fast as anglers can bait their hooks—for awhile anyway. The fish often wise-up after a bit, when it pays to have a variety of live baits and lures to tempt them with something different after seeing their comrades fooled by certain meals. Often, the after-dark action suddenly shuts down altogeth- er—just about the time the kids need to hit their bunks to rest up for another action-packed day on the water anyway. hooked 21 October 2009 More Options. These houseboaters keep an auxiliary boat handy for fishing trips, but often find action when fishing off the deck of their houseboats, which serve as fish-holding shade and structure. Full House. This houseboat is equipped with an inflatable Zodiac, a PWC and a fishing kay- ak—in the water to port—to allow the owner to get out on the water to do some fishing.