Canal bikes- yea or nea

[Back Beach]

What’s your take on canal bikes? Do you feel like they help you catch more fish?
Do you wind up carrying more stuff than you really need?
Is a bike strictly an accessability tool for you?

Let's hear it from the Hell's Angels of the surfcasting community.

[lurch]

I used to walk down those stairs to fish a certain area and because of the distance I would not head west. Now with a bike I can go from pips all the way to the RR bridge.

I keep my gear to a minimum because of all of the recent thefts but even before that I would not load the bike up....after all I do need to haul out my fish

Because of the bike I have learned more about the canal then I would if I did not have one.

[riverrat2]

Doubt it helps me catch more fish, but at least it makes me look like I know what I'm doing. I bet flaptail knows the answer

[ProfessorM]

The only way to go IMO. Gets you to places you would not probably walk and I like to fish daybreak tides if I do fish so you can cruise along looking. Plus if you don't like crowds you can get away from them. Accessibility is the key feature.

[Mike P]

I fish mostly at night. I find a bike necessary only for fishing the mainland side between the Run and the Bourne Bridge. It helps. I've hauled my rear up the "100 steps" (there are actually more than 100) for the last time. The bike is a big access tool in that stretch.

Capeside there are plenty of turnouts to park, and no reason for a bike.

I like to walk.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Mike P

I like to walk.

Me too. For me a bike is just another thing to carry and worry about.I like to keep surf fishing simple. Bikes definitely have their

plusses.You should see Keeperreaper's ride I figure without a bike I look like a total ham and egger, thus nobody pays any attention to me...

Except of course the hot chicks on roller skates.

[Bronko]

Matt's pink huffy with banana seat?

The best part is he can keep the crowd occupied doing wheelies and skid-outs when the action dies down.

[bart]

Originally Posted by riverrat2

Doubt it helps me catch more fish, but at least it makes me look like I know what I'm doing. I bet flaptail knows the answer

i think the only advantage to having a bike(from my limited experience, or lack there of) is that if a school of 40# fish start blasting mackerel 50 yards down from you, the biker is obviously going to beat you to that spot...

[Flaptail]

For years in the eighties I haunted the canal, day and night fishing commercially it was a reliable place to score (especially on eels at night).

I never used a bike, I tried it a few years back and didn't care for it.

One it was another thing to lug around in the truck and worry about, once I got a flat at one end which was not the end I parked at.

A bike makes you want to move when sometimes you should stay, like this past weekend I stayed in one place for two mornings while Stiffy, on his bike kept coming and going. I did better staying put in an area I knew had several things going for it like drop back bait, and fry which attracted other larger bait.

I did way better staying put then chasing breaks. I admit sometimes it works but for the most part if you have good intel and know how the canal works, you can fish one or two spots by foot and do just as well.

It's personal preference. For better without it. Keep it simple.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

A bike makes you want to move when sometimes you should stay, you can fish one or two spots by foot and do just as well.
For better without it. Keep it simple.

Couldn't agree more.
Don't worry about the snide comments from the young fellows, I'll take the leather strap to them next time I see them and remind them to respect their elders.
They're coming around slowly, still punks but good kids. They do respect the elvers though and that's what's most important to me.

[afterhours]

can't beat the mobility imho, plus the exercise factor....

[hyefisherman2]

a bike is a MUST in the canal....it allows one to carry all their gear, rods, and a fish and carry it fast....also in the morning if you see birds and breaking fish down current, what would you prefer? walking and trying to jog a little in hip boots, or hop on a bike and start pedaling and get there 4 times as fast?

i would get a bike if i were you

[Redsoxticket]

I've yet to use my rigged bike at the canal. However I do use it in areas that have public access to the water but no parking.

[chief10]

a bike is good if your fishing early am with breaking fish and you might like to move. if you night fishing you can walk to your 1-2 spots or if your bored with fishing and want to tail gate a hot chick on roller blades for 7 miles then a canal cruiser can come in handy.

Hell's Angels Chapter 02360

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

What’s your take on canal bikes? Do you feel like they help you catch more fish?
Do you wind up carrying more stuff than you really need?
Is a bike strictly an accessability tool for you?

Let's hear it from the Hell's Angels of the surfcasting community.

I have a canal bike, it is a crappy yard sale bike so i don't care about leaving it laying by the road while I fish. I only use it a handful of times per year, some years not at all. Mostly it is for those breaking tides for mobility if the schools move or to find them or just to eliminate a long walk to places like the cribbin or other spots like that without having to get back in the truck and park someplace else.

It's possible it may help me catch more fish, but that is speculative based on where I'd be fishing without the bike. When I bike I also bring 2 rods, 1 plugging and one jigging, but I don't bring more tackle, probably less stuff, one bag and it has plugs and jigs, maybe I might brings a container of skins along. If I walk down, I bring a decent amount of stuff so I'll have it with me if needed.

I guess it is an accessability tool for me, but it also gives me more range.

I'd mostly prefer not to deal with the bike but I could get used to it for exploring new spots, grass is always greener on the other side and I am guilty of that too much I guess.

I wouldn't catagorize anyone based on whether or not they use a canal bike, does not matter to me how experienced others are at the canal, as long as I can cast into the water and fish. Biking is a choice, a tool just an aid to enhance the experience much like a 4x4 on the beach.

I've taken mine only twice this season so far. I could take it or leave it, it really doesn't matter.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I figure without a bike I look like a total ham and egger, thus nobody pays any attention to me...

Except of course the hot chicks on roller skates.

They probably feel bad for your eel.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

They probably feel bad for your eel.

Hey George,

Many fish bite if you've got good bait

Wait a second.... who said that.....Ted Williams?

I forget now.

[Flaptail]

Taj Mahal but he only fishes out fifty foot sportfisherman.

[chris L]

when the plan is to hit only one or two places no bike ( which is most of the time ) , but If I want to cruise around to many places quickly I will bring my trike . for me carrying the trike takes up a lot of room in the truck .one of these days I will buy a rack for it on the back of the truck.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Taj Mahal but he only fishes out fifty foot sportfisherman.

my dad used to jam with taj

[Tagger]

Day Yea ,,, Night No .. Chicks dig guys on girls bikes.. I ride the whole length and back ..fishing here and there ... good way to eyeball whats going on .

[afterhours]

[QUOTE=Tagger;603965]Chicks dig guys on girls bikes..

thanks ed- salsa now on monitor......

[gone fishin]

A bike is a great help for those of us who like mobility but cannot walk any distance. It allows moility when the fish are moving.

[steve]

Back Beach- I wish there were hot chicks on roller blades at Frenchman's. You Cape guys have all the fun.

[Raven]

from cnn... nice design

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/....tricycle.wpty

[keeperreaper]

Bikes increase range of the fisherman on certain stretches of the canal. They also give you the ability to get somewhere quickly if you get a call. Plus all the roller blading hotties stop by my bike to talk.... Overall the bike is a tool and only a tool.

[redlite]

keepreap- I smile and chuckle everytime i think of you on your hot rod with the handle bars below your knees.....The chicks stop by your bike cause they are concerned you stole in from a little girl.
This is a good point. The other night i was thinkin about this as I rode west when suddenly i got a blow out in front of the camp ground. LOOOOOOOng walk back. Guess sometimes its not good.

[stiff tip]

after reading the question and the response .....my view is , only a fool would walk the canal when chasing braking fish... THE CANAL CAMAL. your bike , load it up and go. and follow the fish or carry all 2, 3 or 4 rods and all your gear on your back . plus if your lucky you can drag your kepper back, w/ all your gear ....... if u plan to fish 1 spot the hole tide thats different.. get a bike and free yourself......dave

[Bronko]

Overall the bike is a tool and only a tool.[/QUOTE]

As is he who rides it.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by keeperreaper

Plus all the roller blading hotties stop by my bike to talk....

Enough of the BS, get a pic of that thing up here for all to see.