Inflatable Boat Fishing: Essential Safety Considerations

Inflatable boat fishing is becoming increasingly popular, but these issues must be addressed for your safety:

1. Proficiency in Swimming is a Must

This is a fundamental requirement for all anglers using inflatable boats. It provides a critical safety net should you fall into the water, allowing you to stay safe long enough to get back on the boat or swim to shore. The consequences of falling into the water without knowing how to swim are potentially devastating. Even wearing a life vest, non-swimmers are in grave danger.

2. Proper Seating Posture

While in the boat, preferred seating positions include legs extended, cross-legged, or legs curled. Especially with small, soft-bottomed inflatable boats, it is important to maintain balance. Particularly when the boat is unstable on the water and not anchored, avoid sudden turns, leaning to the side, rolling movements, or reaching out over the edge of the boat. Avoid large movements or repositioning heavy items like anchors within the boat. Absolutely no squatting or standing within the boat is permitted, as this can cause instability and a loss of balance, potentially leading to falling into the water.

3. Weather Conditions

• Wind Speed: Always choose weather conditions with winds of force 4 or below. This corresponds to waves less than 0.6 meters high. If wind and waves increase, raise anchor and seek shelter on shore.

• No Fishing During Thunderstorms: Thunderstorms present a significant hazard. In stormy conditions, the air has high humidity, which makes it more conductive and the water surface is relatively open. Immediately turn off your mobile phone, quickly lower your fishing rod to a horizontal position, and retract it, then raise anchor and go ashore to seek a safe place to take shelter from the storm. Anglers who continue fishing, talking on the phone, or holding up a carbon fiber fishing rod on open water during a thunderstorm are essentially acting as lightning rods. This is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

4. Summer High Temperatures: Release Air

During summer or early autumn, especially in mountainous regions with significant temperature differences between morning and evening, the air inside the inflatable chambers will expand due to the sun's heat, even if the morning temperature was low. Whether you go ashore at midday or not, release some air from the boat to reduce pressure. This prevents the chambers from over-expanding in the afternoon sun, potentially leading to deformation or bursting.

5. Prefer Hand Rods (Pole Fishing)

Some anglers like to use surf rods or spinning rods (hand-held surf rods) with multiple hooks on the boat. This is not recommended because it’s cumbersome and unsafe. The limited space inside the inflatable boat makes using multiple rods with multiple hooks risky. It is easy to accidentally puncture or snag the boat's air chambers, causing leaks, disrupting your fishing, and ultimately being counterproductive. Therefore, it's best to stick to a single hand rod when fishing from an inflatable boat.

6. Keepnet/Fish Stringer Usage

Modify your keepnet/fish stringer designed for boat fishing with the addition of a fabric ring (e.g. from a rain coat) a foot from the mouth of the net. Add a cover to the mouth of the net to keep the fish from jumping out. The most important consideration is preventing the fish's sharp fins from damaging the boat. You should cut the fins from the spines of fish like bullhead catfish, tilapia, or snakehead before placing them inside the fish keepnet.

7. Safe Storage of Tools

When using an inflatable boat for fishing, remove your shoes before boarding and store them in a plastic bag. Place items like scissors, knives, hook removers, and keys in a designated box. Don't leave sharp or bladed items exposed or lying around.

8. Anchor Selection

When using inflatable boats made from rubber, plastic, or rain-proof fabric, avoid using metal anchors with sharp points. They are heavy, inconvenient to carry, and easily damage the boat's hull. Instead, use small nylon mesh bags filled with rocks, or makeshift anchors made from denim jeans legs filled with sand and stones.

9. Essential Repair Supplies

Use an inflatable cushion for seating. It will provide seating comfort and can serve as a backup flotation device in an emergency. In addition to the boat's repair kit (patches and glue), carry a roll of wide medical tape. This is useful for temporarily sealing minor leaks by cleaning the area around the leak, applying the tape in a criss-cross pattern, and pressing firmly for a few minutes. Repair the damage permanently with the proper glue and patches when you get back to shore.

10. Inflation and Deflation

      Before inflating or deflating the boat, remove any mud, sand, or small shells from the boat. Wipe the boat dry and allow it to air dry before deflating. Place a plastic sheet or tarp under the boat to protect it from sharp reeds, grass, stones, broken glass, or shell fragments. These items can damage the boat during inflation, deflation, or storage.
    

11. Boat Interior Coverings

      Spread a thin cloth and a sheet of plastic that matches the boat’s dimensions on the bottom of the boat. The cloth keeps you from sliding around on the boat and also protects the boat from the sun. The plastic helps keep moisture off of you and protects the boat from the mud and sand on the anchor.
    

12. Phone Safety

Place your cell phone inside a sealed plastic bag along with a piece of soft foam, or a waterproof cell phone case before going on the water. This keeps it dry if the boat leaks or if you drop your phone into the water. Enlist the help of a friend to search for lost items that fall into the water. Never search alone.

13. Launching and Landing

Launch and land the boat in areas with no weeds, sharp plants, sharp stones, or glass. If the boat runs aground, ask a friend for help in bringing the boat ashore, or step out of the boat to lighten the load. Never drag the boat over the ground.

14. Safety in Flowing Rivers

When fishing from a boat in a river, learn the water release schedule of dams and power plants upstream. Watch the weather upstream and the level of the water in the river. In the event of rising water from heavy rains, dams, or power plants, raise anchor and get to safety.

15. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking

Remember: “Don’t drink before going on the boat, and don’t drink while on the boat!” This prevents accidents. Also, don't smoke on the boat: smoking is bad for the environment, bad for your health, and the smoke can repel fish. Sparks or smoldering ash can damage the boat.

Everything has two sides. Inflatable boat fishing can be a lot of fun, but it is important to understand and avoid safety hazards. Use inflatable boats correctly and safely to enjoy fishing in the boat.