Lake fishing can be quite enjoyable from the shore or the docks, but to catch the big ones, you’ll need to move to the middle of the lake and fish off a boat. Unfortunately, the financial burden and simple logistics of storing and maintaining a vessel are enough to deter most people, myself included. With an inflatable boat, however, you can enjoy all of the luxuries of a boat with out the enormous price tag or the hassle. Once you’ve detected a school of fish, make sure to adjust the length of your line accordingly, but avoid the very bottom or you risk your line becoming tangled in weeds and growth. Make sure you’re using the correct bait as well; often checking with other fisherman or at the local bait shop will yield advice about the best lures and even the best fishing spots.

When leaving the lake, be sure to check the hull of your boat for plant life and even for aquatic life. Transferring foreign plant or aquatic life to other lakes can contaminate the lake and even kill off native species.