Big Water

[waterwolff]

Just curious when you hear of someone talking of fishing big water what comes to your mind. What do you think constitutes a big water boat.

[2thepointsetters]

Not sure what your getting at...

I fish Lake Superior and I see everything from 14 foot aluminum boats to 50' foot cruisers out there. I have had the chance to fish on a lot of different type and sizes of boats. On a decent day a 18' to 19' will do the job, but its not always fun if the wind picks up. A 21' to 23' seems to make a big difference over the 18/19's when the waves get 3'plus. Fiberglass is a way better ride when the lake gets real rough. I have a 27' Baha now and I can fish comfortably in waves/wind that I would not have dreamed of taking my 22 foot boat out in. If you choose your days carefully you can take a multitude of different boats on big water if you respect it.

[Northlander]

Lake Superior is Big water everything else is just smaller.

Mill Lacs, LOW, Vermillion, Rainy are some of the big bodies that come to mind.

[JohnMickish]

Big water= big waves. Big water lakes to me are

Mille Lacs

Green Bay

Leech

LOW

Devils lake

Oahe

URL

Erie

Superior

Winnebago

[motley man]

Missouri River or Mississippi on windy days has a nasty current.

[Kyhl]

Big water= big waves. Big water lakes to me are

Mille Lacs

Green Bay

Leech

LOW

Devils lake

Oahe

URL

Erie

Superior

Winnebago

What he said.

I've been on Vermilion and URL in a 16 foot 25hp tiller. Also been on Vermilion in a 14 foot with a 15hp tiller and you have to be smart about it and pick your days.

My dad and I ran 7 miles each way one day in that 14 footer. Caught some eyes and smallies and had a blast. 45 minutes each way but quiet enough that you can carry on a conversation. Good times.

[Chode2235]

What he said.

I've been on Vermilion and URL in a 16 foot 25hp tiller. Also been on Vermilion in a 14 foot with a 15hp tiller and you have to be smart about it and pick your days.

My dad and I ran 7 miles each way one day in that 14 footer. Caught some eyes and smallies and had a blast. 45 minutes each way but quiet enough that you can carry on a conversation. Good times.

I dont think of Vermilion as Big Water, even though it is one of the biggest lakes in the state. Vermilion (other than big bay) has so many little islands, bays and coves you can always get out of the wind and enjoy the scenery.

When I think of big water I think of vast expanses of open water (LOW, Erie) where the conditions are fickle at best.

[BassNut33]

I would have to say that Vermilion is big water, due to the fact that you have to go through the high wind area to get to the smaller bays. A few years ago my Dad and I were up there in our 16 foot lund w/ a 40 tiller. I would have to say that we were under-sized for the wind we were fishing in. The fishing was tough, but what a great place to be regardless of how the fishing is.

[tacklejunkie]

Lake Superior, of course.

I also fish LOTW and that's pretty big water. I have a 17 footer so I don't go way far out from the Gaps like some of those charters do.

There also isn't alot of landmarks on that big open water.

I also consider the SLR big water

[mainbutter]

Out in the 'big water' is the phrase I use to mean a few miles out in the Pacific Ocean, away from the protections provided by being close to land.

[Finns]

Big water = makes the pucker factor kick in. Big water boat = makes it relax.

[JohnMickish]

I just noticed there is a part two to your question. Here is what I consider a big water boat for this area

Anyting 19 foot or bigger, preferably glass with a windshield, 200+ HP motor LIKE a

Ranger 620/621

Skeeter WX1990/2100

Yarcrafts

Lund Tyee/Baron/Pro V

I specifically left off Lake Vermillion in my big water list. White it does have a big water (high wind) area, I do not consider the entire lake to be "big water".

[waterwolff]

Lake Superior is Big water everything else is just smaller.

Mill Lacs, LOW, Vermillion, Rainy are some of the big bodies that come to mind.

I agree with Northlanders statement. To me big water has pitch and roll to it. You can get to feeling pretty small when your in a 30 foot boat in the bottom of a swell and all you see is blue all around you kind of thing.It's Not that I think you can't get into trouble on our bigger lakes when the wind picks up they just tend to be shallower so the waves are tighter together giving you more chop. But than again I have never been on one of them when she is really blowing. Generally as soon as the wind is strong enough that my rod tip feels like I have a bowling ball hanging off it I head in.

[traveler]

Pacific. Superior. Everything else is just a lake:)