Anyone having luck?

[hanson]

What a fun time you guys!!

Sorry Dennis. I was more concerned about not screwing up the photo that I took like 5 of them just in case. Sort of forgot you were holding that big fish out there.

I don't know about you guys but when I got home, I couldn't stand still, I kept rocking back and forth and kept trying to lean against things. The sea legs got a workout, thats for sure.

And don't forget who caught the biggest channel cat of the day! That fish had lunch written all over it but we let it go.

Can't wait to do it again!

[hanson]

Dave-

Sea Ark makes some very nice boats- jons, tunnel jons, jet tunnel jons, and the Predator which is similar to my favorite boat.

The one nice thing about the Sea Ark jons is you can get them configured so many ways, even with a center forward console on many of their models. That center forward console is a "Must Have" in my opinion.

Unless things have changed since the last time I've been on a river, there is still current, and it still sweeps all your lines to one end of the boat. It is nice, no, a necessity to have all that floor space in the back to work with. Take the St. Croix for example the other day; 3 guys, 6 rods, and doubling up on fish to contend with and you need some room in the boat.

[Dennis Steele]

Sea Ark???

After the traffic we saw I can think of only one quote.

"were going to need a bigger boat"

Ever think about a Grady White?

I think I could cat fish out of that!

[I Da Man]

Quote:

---

What was that you were saying about those guys who drive lunds yesterday?

---

No, no! I was told that the guys with the cigar boats all have ...ummm...little fish! Can I say that here?

Bayliners!? Dude, we've been melting too much lead!

No, River Pro has the best built rig hands down for my catten adventures...but sometimes a guy just can't go with what he knows is right.

PS...I heard that people that own River Pros...awwwwe, never mind...

[Dennis Steele]

"I heard that people that own River Pros"....have friends who think theyre funny.

[I Da Man]

Guess it's not true...

[Guest]

Quote:

---

No, River Pro has the best built rig hands down for my catten adventures...but sometimes a guy just can't go with what he knows is right.

---

Which catting adventures? (said in most respectful way)

RP's have a great layout(wish the counsel was forward.. oh well), and has some advantages for fishing out the back side of the boat.. but unless you plan on running many new locations in shallow rivers.. or decide to make a new path across the top of wing dams.. I really dont see where you gain that much over your Lund.

I guess you wouldnt have to worry about getting the carpet dirty?

A RP wouldnt be right for me either.. I fish rivers all the time.. pools 1 & 2.. lots of water, lots of distance to cover.. all dredged channels... lots of boat wakes(nothing like the croix).

No Pun intended on RP, awesome boats.. I will buy one right after I win the lottery for when I do hit the Minnesota, and upper Mississippi, and it will park in my 3 boat garage next to the others.

[I Da Man]

I hear what your saying Dave, but there is a whole St Croix River...up nort that has the best catfishing of the River...many of these places you just can't take a prop. Also, back waters of the Mississippi Pool 3 and 4 I've avoided for the same reason.

It's just surprising to me that I've never seen a River Pro out there...maybe they just don't know that they exist?

[Guest]

Oh.. I've done plenty of skeg bouncing in the backwaters myself on pool 2.

Just do what I did recently... Borrow a friends motor!!

I thought you might have found that funny considering its YOURS I Da man (might make it funny to someone else too)

[I Da Man]

:doah:!

[Dennis Steele]

I tell ya what....What.

I have fished the lower St Croix in a league tourney in my RP on one of the nicest weekends in august one year.

There was a LOT of traffic! Endless parades of 40 foot cruisers. With the RP having a flatter bottom, I won't kid you, it was rough. I could only run just barely on plane, to stay comfortable when the big wakes came rolling toward me.

But I would rather be in that High Pro than even a 22 foot jon boat.

A mod vee jon boat has a flat bottom too, but the sides are not nearly as high as the RP. Matter of fact the Hi Pro was designed to allow use on larger river systems. Desinged to take wakes from barges and big cruisers. Even though you can't run wide open in the main channel on a busy day, you know you won't be swimming if a wakes hits you wrong!

[Guest]

Wont be swimming.. as long as you dont fall out or get thrown from the boat anyhow? I cant remember who went out of the boat a while ago(could have happened in any).

There is no way that RP is going down in a wake that you have Dennis.. I guess I was just trying to make a point that it would likely be more comfortable in a boat designed to get pounded in the waves(cuts them) vs a boat thats designed to fly through the shallows(skips across).

There are advantages and disadvantages to everything... This is a comparison similar to a Cadillac to a Humvee... Ill take a ride in the Cadillac if we are taking a trip across state.. just as long as we dont have to drive cross country to get there. The Caddy isnt going to make it across contry.. but you dont need the Hummer if its a paved road.

[Dennis Steele]

I think that guy was testing the limits of his boat as well as his skill. From what I hear, he found the limits of his skill but not the limits of his boat.

There is no boat for all water.Heck I have had as many as half a dozen boats at one time and each one for was a different species, type or section of water.

If I was to exclusively fish the Croix from Stillwater to Prescott and was fishing only cats and sturgeon. I'd be running at least a 20ft fiberglass center console offshore type boat like a Mako, Bayrunner, or smaller Grady.

For walleye, maybee a Ranger or a big Lund.

Now if I was to fish the backwaters and side channels of Pool's 2 through watever (Only seen 2 through 4 personally) The RP isn't a bad choice. It would be rough in the main channels on busy days but the shallow water performance would be worth a little bit of a bumpy ride.

Do you NEED an RP to fish those waters. No, not at all. But unless your fishing out of your basic 16 foot and under vee, or a jon, your going to have some trouble getting into the backwaters. In addition your back to a bumpy ride in the main channel, and I might add, I'd wouldn't feel as safe as being in the RP.

[I Da Man]

You two are in K-hoots!

I liken boats to fishing rods...I can use my walleye gear..yes I have some somewhere...for cats..and it will work...but they all have their limitations.

Bottom line is...sometimes you have to pass on a hummer when you looking at a....Sea Ark...

PS the upper St Croix is very similar to the backwaters of P3 or the upper 'sippi...except more rocks!

It still surprises me that I don't see any River Pro's on the St Croix...well, not counting when the sturgeon are jumping into your boat Dennis...

[Dennis Steele]

Dude! You'd look good in an RP! Probably the only way you'd look good

I've never seen the upper Croix. When we going?

Fished a few miles above Stillwater on a regular basis over 10 years ago.

[I Da Man]

Quote:

---

Dude! You'd look good in an RP! Probably the only way you'd look good

---

My wife and I couldn't agree with you more. I think I'll have to have a picture taken of me in your boat and send it to a certain someone...

Upper Croix? Good question. Family duties this weekend...hopefully a sinker party the next...gotta get the ice gear home pretty soon too. Hanson's gettin itchy...already!

Ok...twisted my arm...I'll see what I can do...are you available any weekdays?

[hanson]

When you guys are talking Upper Croix, how far north are you talking? I'm fairly familiar with the stretch near Grantsburg, WI. Really good canoeing up that way!

There are some stretches of rapids that you couldn't run in anything other than a jet. But there are some deeper runs as well. Always wanted to try fishing up there, just never gotten around to it. Interesting looking water.

I know there are Muskies up that way, I'd have to imagine walleyes & smallmouth as well.

[I Da Man]

There's some great catten water south of Taylors Falls...