Now Da Boat?

[Random guy]

Ok guys I had a boat lined up for river fishing but it became a compact after the snow slid of the roof and crushed it, glad I didn't pay for it. I have been looking around for a small cheap boat I can use for river fishing. I am new to rivers and I have to start exploring some of these waters, I have heard to many good things about the rivers.

What type and size of boat would be good for putzing up and down the rivers? I want something small enough to store and travel easy and push along with a little outboard. Is a smaller John boat something that works out or is there something I'm missing?

[Dennis Steele]

I have used small 14 foot vee hulls and jons.

There are several things you want to consider when choosing a small river craft.

Stabilty, boat control, shallow water capabilities, comfort and safety.

If we are considering your basic boat with no floor, Jon boats are probably the most stable and have better shallow water capabilites. They are also quite comfortable when set up with swivel seats and getting around on the flat foor is a bit safer than a boat where the bottom is rounded or angled like a vee.

Vee hulls have the advantage if your looking for a baot with more control. Drifting or hovering over schools of walleye or even anchoring in some cases. The keel of the boat helps give you that control. Keeping weight evenly distributed will help out in this area as well.

Vee hulls are also much safer in rougher water.

If for some reason, I could no longer afford to run the River Pro, I'd look at a jon boat.

The section of river that I fish, doesn't have too much large boat traffic and large waves from a hard wind isn't often a problem.

The rig I would look for is a 14 to 16 foot mod vee jon. It would be a plus to have a flat bottom near the stearn like some of the G-3 boats have. The mod vee up front gives you a smoother ride while the flat bottom rides higher in the water and also give you a little more stability.

If I had to use a prop driven motor, I'd get a prop gaurd right away.

[Guest]

The water I fish most of the time (pools 1 & 2) I would not be comfortable in a Jon unless it was a deeper(larger) boat. Barge wakes, bayliners, and all that good stuff.. or just a stiff wind blowing upstream can all turn the river into rough water.

For any boat that you are going to have a outboard on, the key is to keep the boat as light as possible. Wider boats dont draft as much water(sink down), and it takes less motor to get them on plane. I have a very simple 16' deep and wide Alumacraft V hull that I ran a 20 hp motor on last year, 25 this year which weighs the same. I had no problem getting it on plane with a few people and gear, but not going to win races. I have no problem motoring in 2'(from the surface) of water loaded which is a good trade off for speed which I really dont need running the river at night anyhow.

The boat I have has an open floor with minimal radious for the majority of the boat which is very nice for moving around.. its an old boat.. but its perfect for catfishing and deep enough not to have to worry about rough water.

[DTro]

Dennis, you brought up the prop guard. I've seen a couple of different versions. The "hoop" style and the river runner style. To me the river runner looks much more streamlined and a better design for my needs. I can only wonder if something like this would've saved me a bent prop shaft last year.

If you or anyone else has used one of these, how much does it affect performance?

[river rat316]

Dtro instead of repairing (its inevitable) get a pump kit from out board jets for $1300 (the cost of 2-3 repairs ona lower unit) you will never have to worry again (except for maybe a cracked intake in extreme situations) I would say the same for Jon, theres lots of real good smaller outboard jets on the market, yamaha and Merc make em and there not to expensive, otherwise get a older 30-45 horse outboard and order a pump from Outboard Jets. From my experience on the river with a prop its never fun and your always white knuckled waiting for that next WHACK..... just my 2 cents

[Dennis Steele]

A group of guys went up to a fly-in lake that had some boats with the prop gaurds and some without. All the boats were the same model 14 foot Mirro Craft with 9.9's on them.

We would have races to the good spot on the other end of the lake. It was maybee 2 miles.

I had one that had a the hoop style gaurd with a foil at the base of the skeg.

There wasn't that much diffrence in speed but the ones that didn't have the gaurd would have their lines in the water first.

I was immpressed with how well the gaurds worked. I can tell you I was not gentle on those boats, as if I am with any of my own boats!

[Random guy]

To me river fishing seems to be all about going slow and kickin back. Catfisherman seem to have some crazy zen like peace to them. I can tear around 60+mph and get concerned about running and gunning musky fishing. I want to get into the grove that seems to be catfishing so fast is not a big concern, I just want to get home after fishing. I figure I grew up tearing up and down the Tamarac river chasing any thing that moved and even ventured out on Red with a 10' flat bottom Jon so I can chance a big wake...so you get a little wet. It will be an adventure. I have looked at different motors and prop gaurds already and figured that was a must if I didn't go to a small jet.

Sounds like I need to find a little Jon boat or maybe even a little mod v Jon. Nice thing about those guys is I can store and haul them pretty easy.Of course I will have to paint it like a war plane or some fool thing just because I can.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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Of course I will have to paint it like a war plane or some fool thing just because I can.

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Sweet!

[hanson]

Jon- I'm most definitely in the market for a boat as well. I'm thinking a little bigger than what you might be as I hope to use it on some lakes as well.

What I'm on the lookout for is a 16' fully welded mod-v jon. There are some nice ones out there but finding one used is tricky. G3 makes a couple nice center console jons. Sea Ark makes some very nice jons as well and they would be my first choice if I could ever find a used one.

I recently found a sweet boat on HSOList. It was a Monark jon (Sea Ark), 16' flat bottom with a 30hp Johnson tiller and trailer for $1,300 or so. Problem was it was in Texas. Boat was real nice with a full live/bait well in the center seat section. Believe me, I almost thought of a whirlwind trip to Texas.

Tiller or console steer doesn't matter to me. I would prefer console. Something in the 40-60 hp range would be sweet since you could then put an outboard jet on one and still have plenty of go juice.

There I go dreaming again.

Would you paint the shark teeth on the bow or a pin-up girl?

[Random guy]

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Would you paint the shark teeth on the bow or a pin-up girl?

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Shark teeth, big ol eye staring ahead! Pin up girl would get me in all sorts of trouble.

[barnyard]

I've been looking for a river beater too. I was hoping to find a used Alumacraft tunnel hull, but they were never real popular around here.

I'll probably settle for a 14ish foot jon boat with a 9.9 or 15.

Tom B

[Random guy]

With all of us looking for 10'-14' Jon Boats and 10-20hp motors we may just drive the market up.

[Random guy]

Ok you river rats: I came onto a deal on a 10' flat bottom Jon boat and a nice litle 7 1/2 hp motor. This is what I'm thinking; I am familar with the Jon boats from growing up, we used to use them for trapping and checking the rice fields when they where flooded. So I can remember how they feel for stability and handling. I also remember that a 6" wake was like hitting a speed bump with a compact car. It won't be very roomy and I'm pretty sure buy time two guys , gear and a ticked off cat get in this rig it could be a little interesting if not wet.

So those are the cons of this deal, for the pros I think I could not only haul this boat in the back of my truck fairly easy but also launch it just about anywhere I wanted. A big plus to this little boat in the truck is I can stuff it in the truck in the AM, park any place I want then after work very easily disapear via some river until the wee hours of the night. Plus I can store it in my garage on end or on it's side leaving room for the big girl to get in and out. I figure I can also load this boat all by myself when needed. As for rough or bigger river water I can always take the big one out as long as I promise not to fire up the big motor, something about 200hp and a stainless prop just does not seem to fit the river trick. Just use the 20hp kicker, the small rivers are what fascinate me so that is more than likely where I will spend my time.

The big plus to this deal is the price or deal I can work out.

What do you River Gurus think?

[Dennis Steele]

Brody from the movie Jaws said it best.

"Were going to need a bigger boat"

[Guest]

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Brody from the movie Jaws said it best.

"Were going to need a bigger boat"

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Dennis nailed it!

Your still welcome to fish with me at any time JP.. but we are taking MY boat!

Better put some good lights on that thing and wear a pfd.. some of them foam rubber stabilizer floats for canoes might not be a bad idea either. (link is too big) look in Cabelas canoe accesories.

So, when tight-lining for cats, is the boat leaning at a 45 degree angle a good indication you have a bite?

[Random guy]

It's A fine line to find something small enough to store etc. and yet stable enough to fish from. Darn good price on it to, fifty bucks after my horse trade. So look more towards the 14' more for the stability than anything, trouble is over twelve foot I can't haul it and if I bring home something with a trailer I have to leave it outside, and in this area it's as good as gone the first night, no matter how you chain it up or lock it down.

Time to move so I can store more gear!

[Guest]

thats a problem! I know they make wheel locks for trailers.

$50 its hard to go wrong.. sell it to a duck hunter and let it pay for a cheap 14' V.

[Random guy]

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thats a problem! I know they make wheel locks for trailers.

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The guy next to me had the trailer chained/ locked to a tree, cable lock through the rim and the little S O talk still got it. If those guys worked at a job as hard as they do stealing stuff they would be rich beyond belief.

After talking to you guys the little boat is out, thought it would work out until I did the math: 230lb guy lifting a 20lb fish + the other 200lb guy looks over the side= wet.

[Guest]

I'm not even sure a 10' jon will float with a 230# guy, 200# guy, 65# outboard, 20# gas tank, 30# minnow bucket(cooler size)... I think the 30# weight box will make it sink at the access!

[Dennis Steele]

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After talking to you guys the little boat is out, thought it would work out until I did the math: 230lb guy lifting a 20lb fish + the other 200lb guy looks over the side= wet.

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20lb cat?

Boy, aren't you optimistic!

I think you can do better than that.

[Random guy]

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20lb cat?

Boy, aren't you optimistic!

I think you can do better than that.

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You broke guide rule #17 Dennis. Always check your clients pockets for a GPS! I have some good spots in your neck of the woods.

[Dennis Steele]

If you need a GPS to find the spots I took you to, you were obvioulsy drinking entirely too much!

[Random guy]

I figured you wouldn't let that one go untouched.

I remember thinking; this guy is holding back, I bet he goes way up and down this river...wonder how many super spots he just drove me over...hmmmm.

[Ralph Wiggum]

He blindfolded me when he took me out Of course, we didn't catch any fish, too.

[Dennis Steele]

I saw you peeking!