Rabon River RunnersWeb Guide for River Cruising, Boating, Fishing & Travelling

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  River Cruising

  River cruise vessels are smaller than most ocean liners, allowing for docking in the heart of small towns and villages. This convenience gives passengers additional time on land, exploring romantic castles and historic monuments, visiting local shops or enjoying favorite beverages at outdoor cafés. Between land excursions, you'll have plenty of time to relax, indulge in fine dining or participate in various onboard activities, such as local entertainment.
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  Boating

  Boating is a great sport that can be enjoyed all year round in most parts of the country. Taking the boat out on the lake, a river or into the ocean is one of America’s favorite pastimes, full of fun and adventure. However, boating is serious business and any boater will tell you that you need adequate boating equipment to make sure that your outings are as safe as possible, for you and your passengers. Everyone knows that there are a few essentials of boating equipment, like life preservers and other personal flotation devices. But did you know that there’s so much more that should be stowed on every boat? Let’s start with the basics. The law requires that any passenger under the age of 12 must wear a personal flotation device while on an open boat deck of any kind. When it comes to purchasing personal flotation devices of any kind for your boat, there are several things to consider. First, everyone on board must have a flotation device, child or adult, and those devices must be within easy reach. These flotation devices must be approved by the Coast Guard and bear their seal of approval. Lastly, these flotation devices must be in good condition. Other kinds of essential boating equipment consist of a throw-able flotation device such as a floating donut or some buoyant item that can be used to keep a person afloat for an unlimited amount of time. Every boat longer than sixteen feet in length must have one of these on board or face fines. Ski belts don’t count. Some flotation devices are designed to turn an unconscious person around in the water so that they are face up instead of face down, and are also effective for all types of water. Some flotation devices protect the wearer from hypothermia, while others are meant for sporting activities like skiing, sailing and fishing. Another valuable piece of boating equipment is a fire extinguisher. While many don’t think such would be necessary, with so much water around, engine fires require a certain type of extinguisher while cushions or interior cabin materials might require another. Boats more than twenty-six feet long are required to have at least one fire extinguisher on board. There are additional requirements for the installation of fire extinguishers on board, so check with state boating regulations to determine what those are before taking your boat out on the water. Another boating equipment must for boats with inboard mounted gasoline engines is a flame arrester that is fitted onto the carburetor for backfire flame control. Again, check your state boating laws to determine whether your boat needs such an adjustment if it doesn’t already come with one. Also keep in mind that boats with gasoline engine compartments must also be properly ventilated. A sound device is also a necessary piece of boating equipment, most especially for boats that are over thirty-nine feet in length. Some sort of distress signal flare gun is also a good piece of boating equipment to have on hand, as is a first aid box and extra bedding and blankets in case of emergency. Boating is great fun, but can be dangerous if you don’t plan properly and carry the right kind of boating equipment that ensures the safety of both yourself and your crew or passengers.
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  Fishing Tips

  Keep all your bait scraps and bait fish carcasses and keep them in the freezer to use as burley on your next fishing trip. Even when surfcasting from the beach, just throw in a good lump of burley and within a very short time you will attract the fish. Try to use keeper hooks on your rigs. Not only does the keeper hook help to present your bait nicely, you will be amazed at how often the fish is actually caught on the small keeper hook. Not just small fish either! Use Attractor Beads, Luminous Tube, and flashy things on your rig near the hook to help attract fish to your bait. If you know that snapper or other large bitey fish are being caught in your area at the time, use strong rigs and put some protective tubing on your trace near the hook to help avoid being bitten off. When going out on your fishing trip, take a variety of bait with you. Usually pilchards, bonito, trevally and mackerel work well. If you know fish are there and they are not biting what you are offering, then try some other type of bait. When you do catch a fish, open it up and inspect it's stomach to see what they are eating. If they are eating very small baitfish then try to cut your bait in the same style to represent a small baitfish (a strip bait). If they are eating crabs then cut a big blobby shaped piece of bait. If they are eating worms, tie on a strip of red material to your bait to represent a worm. Increasing your distance with your cast can be very useful for getting into the right channel or hole where the bigger fish are. We've designed our rigs to enable you to achieve those extra few metres by making them more streamlined. Rigs with only a single trace with a strip bait fly much better than double or triple traced rigs with big chunks of bait attached. Rigs with bait clips on them fly even better with the whole rig set-up being very aerodynamic. The shape of the sinker also makes a difference. Use a good quality mainline (no heavier than 18lb) but be sure to use a shockleader, or your line will keep breaking off. (preferably a tapered shockleader so that you end up with a nice small knot where the shockleader joins onto your mainline and will fly through the guides easily) Straight off the ground cast. Good casts require a lot of practice. With this cast start facing in the direction you want to cast to. Place your sinker directly behind you in a straight line with it resting on the ground. Your rod tip should be pointing down in the same direction and in-line with the sinker. Maintain enough pressure on the line to just feel the weight of the sinker. (Don't forget to open up your bail arm on your reel and make sure drag is up tight). Start the cast by using your body weight to pull the rod up in a smooth movement (to load up the power in your rod) and turning your body to face the right direction while pulling down your leading arm and finishing with a 'punch' from your trailing arm. Releasing the line off your finger at the right moment also takes a lot of practice. A lot of people find it falls of their finger automatically, but try to release it when the rod is at about the 1 o'clock position. After casting, wind up any slack line, loosen off the drag a bit and place rod in your rod holder. Have fun! but watch out for other people around you when casting. The odd stray cast does happen from time to time.