First and foremost I'd like t
Steve826 09/24/2008 - 09:00
First and foremost I'd like to thank everyone for their input. Y'all have given me some very good suggestions.
After taking everyone's post into consideration, I am leaning towards getting a canoe instead of a jonboat. Ben, thanks for the heads up about Pelican products. From the canoes I looked at on dicks' website, you can get a nice sized canoe for the same price or even a little less than a jonboat and it weights less so it will be easier to carry (my dad's 50 and doesnt have a great back) Also it seems that a canoe can be fished at most all of the local waters I am interested in fishing.
This weekend me and dad are going to Black Hills to rent a canoe for a couple hours. We'll probably do that a couple of times before I buy one. I'll post a report then and let everyone know how I do.
Jeff, thanks for the offer. I'll ask my dad if he wants to do that and if he does, I'll send you a PM in the coming weeks. I know we would want to get out before it gets too cold so I'll tell you soon.
Thanks again everyone, I am glad that I have people to go to when I need fishing help :)
Steve
There ya go!
Captwalleye 09/24/2008 - 09:35
Try out all your options and really think about what you want
to do.Remember YOU are the one who will be fishin from your decision,and you'll be the one who makes it work.The fish aren't going anywhere so....take your time.
choices
ogbudha 09/24/2008 - 07:07
I havent read all the other advice yet..but..there no perfect rig for all of the different bodies of water you want to fish. A canoe is a great blend that will allow you to cover the bigger lakes as well as rivers. Id look at the lightest..yet widest canoe you an find. Keep it simple and lightweight. For the river Im still a fan of the alumium because they can be tougher ( bashing rocks) however the noise factor involved w/ aluminum can be a pain. Kayaks are great but involved some input at all times. Jon Boats are nice but for your car topping requirements Id stick with a nice wide canoe or scanoe ( square back for trolling motor addition) you can mount a trolling motor on a regulat canoe as well...just requires a mounting bracket. My 2cents. Also...IMHO..Pelican is trash....avoid it. I havent seen a decent pelican product survive steady use yet.
Reread these comments
Captwalleye 09/24/2008 - 05:35
Hey Steve,
I strongly suggest you reread these comments again and give each some serious consideration.A canoe or kayak will give you more versatility in the kind of water you can fish.You just have to learn how they handle,and adjust accordingly.
I'd take Smalljaw up on his offer,and try the yaks out.Do it soon too,before the water gets any cooler.Hit the Monocacy,and get some paddle/handling time in.Bring a fishing rod too,but try it after getting yourself comfortable in the yak.I wish I had gotten one a lot sooner than I did.
Canoes are cool too you just have to get used to the way they handle and fish from.Anyway you go it's "YOU" that will make it work.
Pelican
smalljaw 09/23/2008 - 20:49
Steve,
Look around. You'll see that the pelican has a pretty good demand. When you are ready to trade up you will have no problem turning that boat into cash. I started way back in the day with a 12' jon boat and an electric motor I bought from Sears. Strapped that on top of a 1968 Belair station wagon and I was the poop. Catching pickerel on the eastern shore and fishing rock quarries in Laurel, MD.
PS: I really don't use my kayaks anymore. If you and your Dad want to borrow them for a weekend I will be happy to help make that happen.
--Smalljaw
Another thing to think about...
Reel Lunker 09/23/2008 - 12:38
Mike has given you some good advice in his response.
Another thing I wanted to recommend is a canoe. You really need to think what type of fishing you will be doing the most, and buy something that fits that style. With relation to all of the questions you have asked above, this sounds like it would be a good fit.
Canoes are great for the flat lakes in the surrounding areas. They can even can be used in smaller ponds if allowed or with permission.
I fish out of a canoe or my kayak during the late spring and summer months on the monocacy and upper potomac. Like Mike said, issues you will have with a Jon Boat on moving water is hitting the bottom and ensuring you have enough battery power to make it where you need to go. You will find once the water levels get low enough on the Monocacy and UP, paddling upstream in most areas is not that big of a deal (with exception to shallow riffle areas, you may have to walk those). Even float trips downstream are great, you just need to coordinate getting in and out and transportation at the different access points.
There should be know problem strapping the canoe to the top of the minivan. These will weigh less than the jon boats.
Accessories required: PFDs and paddles.
This could be a cheaper option and a chance for you to save some of that hard earned money. My brother and I split a nice 12 ft. Pelican canoe from dicks a few years ago for like $350 and it gets used multiple times each year. To be honest, I also have one of those pontoon jon-boats that you are looking at, and I will say my kayak and canoe see way more water time than that jon boat.
Another option is look for a used canoe or jon boat on craigslist.org (Sorry ben, I am not trying to steal business away from Dicks), especially now that the the fishing season is wrapping up for most people. Throughout winter you will see people will be starting to get rid of boats/canoes because they didnt use them enough, storage issues, or they want new next year. Just some thoughts.
My Thoughts....
muskalungee 09/23/2008 - 11:49
Hey Steve, here are my thoughts:
"After countless trips of getting skunked, and never catching more than a few fish each trip, I am seriously considering buying a small boat for me and my dad to use." Steve, I think we've all been there and I certainly understand you concerns. Just remember, a boat won't necessarily make it easier to catch fish. I've been skunked in a boat almost as many times as I have been skunked in from shore. While a boat will open you up to water that was previously unfishable, it will also introduce a new issue...finding the fish.
"...Choice 1
Choice 2 ..."
I like Choice #1, while it's 30lbs heavier it seems to have a little bit more room. But I've never seen either of these boats in person so that would have to be the determining factor. The other option is to get yourself two kayaks, that'll definitely get the job done. I would consider this option if I were you, it is definitely more flexible and optimal for the type of water you are interested in fishing and MUCH easier to transport.
"1. Is a 12 ft jonboat safe to take out on lakes under about 800 acres in size? " Yes, before I bought my jet I fished only from a 12 foot V-hull row boat and my kayak, both were fished on clopper & black hills and carried to the launch in the back of my truck.
"2. Is a 12 ft jonboat safe to take out on the Upper Potomac or Monocacy? I would assume you could only take it on the UP when the water is low, and the Monocacy when it is higher?" I've fished the above mentioned boats on both rivers, at a variety of different flows. You're going to do a lot of dragging your boat on the monoc either way. The toughest part of fishing from a trolling motor only boat on the big river is that you have to conserve your battery so you can get to the takeout. :)
"3. Could we cartop a 12 ft jonboat? We have a Ford Freestar minivan." I would call your local dicks (or ask ben) to see if they have one in stock. Then you and your dad should go there to see if you can lift it together, do it a couple of times b/c the first time will seem easy.....
"4. What basic acessories would we need for the boat? My friend has a 16 ft jon and he says we would need an electric trolling motor (obviously), a bilge pump, oars, and PFD's. I might be missing something but I'm not sure." Oars, trolling motor, deep cycle battery, charger, PFD & a cheap sonar unit ( I have one that is still in the box that I would be willing to sell cheap). You don't need a bilge pump.
Muskalungeeeeee!
