Budget cut bassing

Fishing from the deck of a high-end, high-cost, sophisticated bass boat is without a doubt the ultimate experience in bass fishing. Unfortunately with the way our South African economy has gone, there are not many of us who can afford to purchase a 50k-plus bass boat anymore or the added expense of keeping that boat on the water.
So what are our options when we need to get our fishing addiction fixed but the budget is really tight? 
Fishing from the bank will certainly cost the least but for me, it is also the most frustrating of all our choices. Being used to fishing off the deck of a boat, I hate having to deal with overgrown shorelines and unreachable spots. Next option up would be a kickboat.
Kickboats are one of the cheapest and easiest ways of getting yourself onto the water and into spots impossible to reach from the bank. There are two kinds of kickboats: (1) float tubes and (2) pontoons. Commonly powered by the angler via the legs and feet with flippers or a light battery-powered trolling motor, kickboats are easy to set up and easy to transport. The increasing popularity of this method of fishing in South Africa has merited the creation of fishing clubs and tournaments in South Africa to cater exclusively for the kickboat bass angler. The South African disadvantage to fishing out of a kickboat is the fact that hippo and crocodile populate the majority of our dams, small ponds and rivers. I would not want my feet dangling in the water in this case!
The last of the least-expensive options would be Kayak fishing. This fishing platform has grown so much in popularity over the last couple of years that there are entire websites, Facebook groups and clubs dedicated to this sport. The thing about kayaks is that you have small-craft affordability but you can trick it out with all the bells-and-whistles associated with a modern bass boat. Many of the major kayak builders have realized the huge potential of the fishing market and have started to produce kayaks with rod and tackle storage, sonar devices, rod holders and some models even come with a built-in livewell.
However, there are a few safety rules to follow when fishing from a small floating craft, especially when you are on public waters.
Wear a life-jacket (PFD – personal flotation device) at all times.
Visibility to other vessels - Wear a high-visibility vest over your PFD or fabricate a high-visibility flag attached to a car aerial and attach this to your boat’s frame.
Keep within the ‘100m from the shoreline’ zone.
Keep your cell phone, car keys, GPS and other valuable items sealed in a waterproof bag or container and secure it to your craft with a lanyard for safekeeping in case you overturn.
Before your trip – check weather reports.  Weather, wind and rough water can be potentially life threatening when you are in a super-small watercraft. As you fish along the shoreline, scope the area and determine potential areas for an emergency landing should conditions out on the water suddenly turn dangerous.
Notify your friends, fellow club or family members when you leave for a fishing trip.  Leave a note on your vehicle with information of your destination and length of stay in case you get stranded out on the water somewhere and people need to come looking for you.
For more information:
www.kayak-sa.co.za - South African kayak suppliers.  (Photo credit)
www.kickboatfishing.co.za - South African kickboat fishing forum.
www.basschallenge.co.za - fishing tournaments for South African bass anglers who fish from float tubes, kickboats, kayaks, inflatables and small bass boats.