Pontoons?

[wazz]

Is there any pontoon guys out there that fish the bigger lakes, for the eyes and pike? If so how does the pontoon handle inhigh wide or a big chop, what are some of the advantages and challeanges of this boat for sport fishing?

Thanks

Wazz

[bassNspear]

what lakes are you talking about, and how big of pontoon?

[analyzer]

I go to Upper Red Lake every year in late May/early June, to take advantage of the crappie/walleye/pike/sheephead bite (LOL)...

Lately our group has been growing, so we've resorted to renting a pontoon the last few years. I enjoy fishing as a group out of the pontoon.

Plusses:

1. You can fish 6 or 7 comfortably out of the same boat

2. There's room for multiple coolers, and even a small bbq if you want

3. It's far more comfortable... and everyone can stand and fish if they like.

4. IT actually handles the big waves well, if you're stationary. Bring 2 anchors though, or one good wedge type.

5. Impossible to sink

NEGATIVES:

1. Tough to maneuver in a crowd, when it doesn't have an electric motor.

2. We headed in mid day once, with a good chop, and we got soaked. But again, there was no threat of sinking, which is comforting.

3. IF you put 6 or 7 on the boat, and wind comes up pretty good, you're all fishing out one side, and it can get crowded.

I tell ya what, a couple years ago we were on red in 3 or 4 foot rollers. We were anchored and the waves were breaking over the front of the pontoon, and rolling down the deck and off the back. We caught 240 walleyes, and never felt unsafe. I would not have been out there in a 16' boat. NO way. It's flat out impossible to sink her.

Trolling was fine for 6 of us too. We just put out 2 lines off the back, and 2 planer boards, and took turns. IT was fine.

Overall we enjoy it.

[wazz]

That is nice to hear, I was given a pontoon and hyave kids, but still like the Mille Lacs Lake and Wnnine.

[BXC747]

Pretty much everything that analyzer said was true. Though they dont SEEM like fishing boats, they work fairly well. and with kids? All the better because if they get restless and start wanting to move around, a pontoon is about as sturdy as they come, especially compared to the classic row boat (What I use =)

The only thing I DON'T like about a pontoon is how much of a pain it is to get out of the water at the end of the season, but thats a whole other issue haha!

[Queenswake]

Expect to see an increasing number of pontoons out on the water as the baby boomers age. Much easier to get in and out of and more comfortable overall. Plus, you can't beat the price for the size of boat you get.

I kind of see pontoons today like minivans. People have always made fun of both, but people are starting to see the utility and value of them!

[NCLaker]

Pontoons are awesome ... The wife who hates to fish, can lay out and tan while I manuver around the lake fishing. For cruising with friends/family it is great because those that don't fish can sit in roomy comfort and socialize/party, while the fisherman can put out the trolling rigs and still be a part of the party.

Since getting a pontoon I have not had to do as much comprimising of family/wife time when going fishing - I can do both simultaneously using a pontoon.

As mentioned earlier, manuverabily is not as good, and it is brutal trying to use a 50lb trust trolling motor on it when it is windy (probably better if I had a 24v troller). If you are trailering, it works, but not as easily or economically as a fishing boat.

[hanso612]

I think they could do much to improve the fishability of pontoons. I think most of them are set up backwards. Most of the seating faces forward and the canopy is usually in the way. I would love to have a pontoon with back deck open and the canopy in the front. That way I could troll out of the elements but not have to fight fish around the canopy. A tee top would be great as well. Set it up like a walk around.

I would love a backward facing pontoon for catfish and river fishing in general as well.

I would also like to see a ladder that mounted on a rail under the boat that slid out to make a gang plank for beaching and also had a hinge to fold 90 degress to become a swim ladder for diving.

I like dual electric trolling motors mounted on trim tabs off the back with a joystick at the helm. Put them in reverse to troll ultra slow with your main engine or for sneeking into shallow hazzard filled water or mostly to fight the wind when the canopy is up.

I dream of setting up a Premier ptx planning tri hull to fish, now if I can only win the lottery. Hans

One last very important upgrade. Get rid of the rattling kiddy fence. Mold deck funiture out of plastic instead of vinal stuffed chairs and let the back of the funiture be the outside fence wall.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

I had a Bennington 25 foot tri-toon which had a third pontoon in the middle of the boat which made it steer more like a regular boat. I had a 90 2 stroke on it but would opt for a 4 stroke and go as big as allowed for the boat. I used to pull both of my sons on water skis and tubers were no problem. I am a baby boomer (48 yrs old) and I used to take that boat up to Cass Lake (20,000 acres) and took it out on Lake Michigan (very close to river, not too far out) and it did fine. I loved them for all the reasons mentioned and hated it for the other reasons. It trailered like a sheet of plywood, pulled the guts out of my tranny, tough to load and unload and could not stay on a drop off for fishing. The best fishing you could do was drop shotting, slip bobber or drift fishing with Lindy Rigs. It was an OK solution for about 4 years until I traded it in for my 18 foot Lund, a walleye machine! I like my fishing boat for fishing but the pontoon is the right call for many people depending on your needs. Great compromise boat, it can do just about everything OK but none perfectly.

Windy

[Wayne Ek]

I posted earlier and in a differant forum on this. We use a pontoon in our guide service. First, if your serious about fishing from a pontoon you need the following to make it easy and hassle free. (1) A good bed tailer, not a scissor style. The bed trailer we use loads the pontoon just as easy as the ranger loads on it's bed trailer. (2) A 36-volt long shaft trolling motor. (3) Two good anchors. (4) Two good drift-socks.

And you should be set to go. Our pontoon gets just about as many trips each season as the ranger.

[wishing for walleyes]

I have a 28 foot grummen pontoon and really like it.I changed the big seats up front so that they butt up in the center facing out.I also put rod holders along the rails for trolling.Here`s a picture of the modification.

[Schloogs]

Dan, that sure looks like comfortable fishing

[bassNspear]

ya it does, there are new pontoons out there that have monster captian chairs in the front, that are so comfortable that you never want to get out of them.

Looks like alot of fun

[Neighbor_guy]

I would love to find a 14 - 16 foot pontoon for river fishing / bowfishing. Very shallow draft, very stable, and nearly unsinkable.

[bassNspear]

there out there, just have to look hard for them