|
Your skiff’s poling platform can be your ally or your enemy, take a
look at how this seasoned veteran makes the most of his battle
station.
Long before I decided to take up inshore fishing as a profession, I was
first and foremost a hunter and one of the things that immediately
caught my attention when I began guiding was the similarities between
shallow water sight fishing and bird hunting. I quickly realized that
poling a skiff along the edges of a shallow water grass flat and
hunting the fringes of new growth forest have much in common.
As I polled my boat along the outside of a pristine flat, I was actually hunting my prey – and it was indeed reminiscent of working a hedgerow for grouse or poking through a stand of softwood while stalking unsuspecting deer. Both hunting and inshore fishing focus heavily on stealth and anticipation with strong emphasis on being able to see your quarry before it sees you.
When I purchased my first skiff more years ago than I care to remember, I spent most of my time on what’s known as the poling platform. I was a newcomer to flats fishing and the added elevation provided a visual aspect that was a novelty, one that hasn’t worn off yet. Until this day, even when I am fishing alone I still find myself spending most of my time on the platform. On occasion, I’ll use the poling platform for a vantage point to locate fish before hopping off the boat and wading to them. I also enjoy actually fishing from the platform, even when clients are onboard. There are occasions when a client or guest may not be able to see the fish from deck level or if the client misjudged and missed the fish with his cast, I can back him up from the poling platform and hand the rod off should I hook up.
Right from the get-go it didn’t take long for me to come to the realization that poling and fishing from a platform was advantageous but not without a few obstacles. When I first started fishing from my platform, I would tuck the butt of my rod in my belt behind my back and when I had to make a cast, I would grasp my push-pole between my knees and attempt to cast to the target. It was a clumsy maneuver but nevertheless productive. Realizing I needed to make some adjustments, the first improvement I made in my poling repertoire was the installation of a push-pole holder on the platform, one that strapped the push-pole in place with the use of a short bungee cord. The concept worked fine for securing the push- pole when I wanted to drift for a while but it was hardly an agile move. I found that when I’d come across a pod of nervous redfish, it was difficult to get rid of the pole in time to make a cast before the fish spooked. I still use this holder when securing the pole for an extended period of time but I’ve learned to be cautious about it. I once left an expensive push-pole strapped in while idling around a flat in search of cobia. Needless to say the pole slipped out of the holder, never to be seen again!
Low and behold one day I came across a hip worn device called the Polemate. The Polemate allows me to quickly and easily secure my push-pole into a plastic clip with just one hand. With a minimum of motion, I could quickly secure the push-pole and make a well aimed cast. Once hooked up, I then get the pole off my hip and secure it to the platform mounted holder. This way if the battle requires it, I’m free to hop off and move around the boat. After purchasing the Polemate I also noticed the same company (www.FloridaBackCountry.com) manufactured a similar device called the Rodmate. Suddenly, managing a push-pole and a fishing rod on the platform was fast and simple.
The Rodmate was actually a pleasant surprise because I really didn’t think I would enjoy using it. The Rodmate like the Polemate, securely holds your spinning or fly outfit by the handle and keeps it out of the way while you’re poling along. Instant access to the rod is a quick and simple one-handed maneuver. Trust me when I tell you, both of these ingenious products are very affordable and if you spend any amount of time on the platform, both are worth their weight in gold.
Occasionally while hunting the flats and mangrove shorelines I’ll come across a cobia or tarpon. The rod I generally use for snook and redfish is light and whippy – designed to cast small jigs or spoons great distances on ultra-light line. Wanting to take advantage of these larger targets, I needed instant access to a heavier outfit that could handle these bigger, more powerful fish. For some silly reason I considered mounting a couple rod holders on my poling platform but it quickly occurred to me that they would get in the way while I was poling. The best solution I found was to set an extra rod in a 5-gallon bucket on the deck in front of the platform where I could reach the rod tip without even bending over. This way I always have a long, light flats rod at the ready and a stout, heavier rod for those pleasant surprises with bigger fish. I keep the lures on both rods reeled tight to the tip so that I don’t have to fumble with getting the hook out of a keeper or off a guide when a fish is sighted. I just grab the rod, open the bail, drop the leader knot through the rod tip and make the cast.
All professional inshore guides will tell you that on occasion keeping the boat away from the fish is as critical as actually getting into casting range. For a brief period in my guiding career, I kept an anchor on a short rode on the deck with the line coiled on the platform. When I wanted to maintain my boat’s position and keep my distance from the fish, I would ease the anchor over the stern where the line was tied off to a cleat. It worked well enough, but bringing the anchor in and out meant getting off the platform, making noise and getting the boat all muddy. The ultimate solution was the installation of an innovative piece of equipment called the Power-Pole. The Power-Pole is a mechanically powered stake out device that’s controlled with a small wireless remote. It will stop and hold the boat in seconds in up to 5 ft. of water by nothing more than the push of a button. The Power-Pole deploys a fiberglass stake on a hinged arm – its fast, its quiet and the light weight remote conveniently attaches to a belt loop. Being able to instantaneously hold position is an incredible advantage in sight fishing - especially when a school of jittery redfish are dead ahead and the wind is at your back. The Power-Pole lets you stop and get that first cast in before the fish get too close. Often, that first cast is the difference between fishing and catching!
The final and deadliest part of my equation for effectively and successfully fishing from a poling platform is a custom built flats rod. My personal favorite is 8’3” long with a high quality spinning reel spooled with fresh 8 lb. mono. The outfit is designed for long distance casting. With the wind at my back I can throw a 3/8 ounce jig about a country mile. It will reach out and touch fish that are 40 or 50 yards from the boat. If you don’t already know, in crystal clear shallow water the further you can cast, the more fish you will catch!
As I mentioned earlier when fishing from my poling platform redfish and snook are my primary targets. I strictly use artificial baits for this application because I can cast them further and with greater accuracy than I could live bait. Depending upon the mood of the fish and the prevalent forage in the area the lure on the light rod may be a realistic 2” RipTide Crab on a tiny jig head, a deadly D.O.A. shrimp, a tried & true gold spoon or maybe even a flashy 7MR Mirrolure. When I cross paths with a cobia or tarpon, I quickly grab the heavier outfit which is usually rigged with a 1/2 ounce jig head and a plastic shad tail or imitation eel.
To maximize the effectiveness of your poling platform, conditions have to be on your side. Obviously if it’s too windy or cloudy the extra elevation doesn’t offer much of an advantage. However on calm days with clear skies the view from above allows you to see much, much further than if you were standing on the deck. Being able to pin point individual targets before the boat alerts them of your presence is crucial to your overall success.
Another equally important factor when it comes to sight fishing from a poling platform is the accuracy of your cast. It’s important to cast your lure far enough away from the fish so as not to spook them. Then, naturally draw the bait into the strike zone – which for most fish on the flats is about a 3 ft. diameter. Boat noise is also critical. A slammed hatch or a kicked over tackle box will quickly blow fish out. Prior to starting to fish, make sure the deck is clear of all obstructions and every piece of equipment and accessory is secured.
Overall, poling the shallows provides an extremely stealthy presentation. The only technique that’s quieter is approaching fish on foot, but then you lose the advantage of being able to pin point targets from a distance.
To effectively fish from a small 3 ft. X 2 ft. elevated space, you have to be extremely comfortable up there and once you secure the push- pole, there is nothing to hold on to for support. You can install what some refer to as a sissy bar but personally I prefer a clear platform free of obstructions that may hinder mobility. For a newbie, it’s really nothing more than a matter of spending as much time as possible on the platform so you can get accustomed to the small space and the amplification of wave action. Let your knees and waist absorb the motion of the boat while keeping your upper body steady. It’s really similar to what a downhill skier does in moguls but not nearly as hard or as critical. In over 10 years of poling and fishing from my platform, I have never once fallen off. Whatever it takes, the overall advantages of being able to fish from the highest vantage point on the boat are more than worth the effort.
If you’re new to backcountry fishing or even a seasoned veteran, take a close look at the above mentioned products and tactics. Utilizing these simple little products will enhance your overall experience and leave you feeling more rewarded. Plus, these simple little devices will without a doubt, increase your odds of success.
Thanks for your time and looking forward to seeing you on the water!
|
