How big of boat for reelfoot?

I've been going down to reelfoot for the last six or seven years for a fishing trip and have always rented a boat from Bo's landing (I stay at boyette's) which is usually fine. In the last two out of three years there have been too many days we can't get out due to wind/waves.

So I thought I would get a jon boat and bring down with me, so I could get out to different parts of the lake when the wind picks up on the lower basin. And I've been in another guys boat on the finger lake behind boyettes and had really good luck there as well...besides I hear talk from the local guys some of the little lakes around reelfoot are a good place to try as well.

How big of a boat do I need? I found a good deal on a 12', but having been caught out in the main lake when the wind kicks up, it seems a little small...

Obviously, no fiberglass, but is a v-hull better than a jon?

I fish it every weekend with a 19' fiberglass Stratos with a 150 ease around never get stuck on stumps does fine.

i always bring my own boat...bring my 1648 tracker or my 2472 polar kraft...but know guys that fish it out of 12 and 14 footers....but i wouldnt go under 16 if you could...that wind really kicks across that lake....got caught this spring on the lake in 40 mpg + winds and it wasnt fun in my 2472

Not so much in the way of an answer to the original question, but to give you REAL Reelfoot fishermen something to giggle at...

I had not fished Reelfoot since I was a kid (a long, long time ago), and decided to make a 4 day trip there back in September. My brother and I camped out at the State Park campground on the south bank of the lower basin. Fished for 3 days, with nothing biting but the mosquitos (by the tens of thousands). Decided to try our hand at a little night fishing. We were in a 14' v-bottom, with nothing but a 28# thrust trolling motor. We trolled all the way out to the south point of Green Island, anchored out just as it got good and dark, put out our lights, and started fishing. Then the winds came. The water got so rough that we had to quit. I aimed my boat directly at the campground (or so I thought). The wind was blowing so hard out of the West, that by the time we reached the south shore, we were darn near in Samburg!!! :D:D:D That is when the fun really began, as we had to turn directly into the wind to get back to the campground!!! In case any of you have ever wondered, a 28# thrust trolling motor is no match for those Reelfoot gale force winds!!! Granted, we sort of took the L-O-N-G way around, but it took us almost 3 hours to get from Green Island Point to the campground. I am always respectful of the water, but rarely frightened. I have to admit that the pucker factor was WAY up that night. But it wasn't all bad. The mosquitos were too busy hanging on for dear life, to bite!!!

I won't go so far as to say that I would never venture out on the foot again at night, but if I do, I'll have a bigger boat and more thrust, and will likely not venture quite so far from the ramp!!!

Fiberglass is fine. I have fished out of many and prefer the heaviness of them. I would not go with a 12ft John unless your reel sure of where you are and approaching weather. The bigger the better but the size of the rental boats is perfect its just the small engines make you feel unsafe in bigger waves. If you can get a good sized boat rig it out for trolling and jig fishing and one of us here will help you land a few fish.

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Originally Posted by speck-tackler

Not so much in the way of an answer to the original question, but to give you REAL Reelfoot fishermen something to giggle at...

I had not fished Reelfoot since I was a kid (a long, long time ago), and decided to make a 4 day trip there back in September. My brother and I camped out at the State Park campground on the south bank of the lower basin. Fished for 3 days, with nothing biting but the mosquitos (by the tens of thousands). Decided to try our hand at a little night fishing. We were in a 14' v-bottom, with nothing but a 28# thrust trolling motor. We trolled all the way out to the south point of Green Island, anchored out just as it got good and dark, put out our lights, and started fishing. Then the winds came. The water got so rough that we had to quit. I aimed my boat directly at the campground (or so I thought). The wind was blowing so hard out of the West, that by the time we reached the south shore, we were darn near in Samburg!!! :D:D:D That is when the fun really began, as we had to turn directly into the wind to get back to the campground!!! In case any of you have ever wondered, a 28# thrust trolling motor is no match for those Reelfoot gale force winds!!! Granted, we sort of took the L-O-N-G way around, but it took us almost 3 hours to get from Green Island Point to the campground. I am always respectful of the water, but rarely frightened. I have to admit that the pucker factor was WAY up that night. But it wasn't all bad. The mosquitos were too busy hanging on for dear life, to bite!!!

I won't go so far as to say that I would never venture out on the foot again at night, but if I do, I'll have a bigger boat and more thrust, and will likely not venture quite so far from the ramp!!!

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It happens to the best of them. I have been out there in some nasty conditions before in a small boat. I have also been out there at night when the big motor went out more than once and even in calm waters its not fun. And I know exactly where I am at all times and i still get spooked after dark at Reelfoot.

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Originally Posted by OsoFishy

I fish it every weekend with a 19' fiberglass Stratos with a 150 ease around never get stuck on stumps does fine.

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Wow, I've only fished there once. Was with my Dad, in his 16ft. Alumacraft and a 30hp Johnson (i think). Seemed like we were always just a hair from knocking the prop off. I couldn't imagine being there in my 18ft. fiberglass Ranger with a 150!! Do you just idle around or what??

I fish in a 1860 aluminum boat and I have seen it get pretty rough with a boat that big. I would say12 or 14 ft would be fine with deep sides and wide bottom I know of 3 rent boats that got swamped trying to cross the open water.If the winds are high I put in at Kerby pocket and fish the buck basin or JIG in the ditches. The water sheds are able to fish just about any wind. most of the fish you catch are small. but thats better than setting at the motel.

I got caught over at Gr. Isl. Pt. one day with the wind out of a northerly direction. Calm behind the island, but I was watching open water for wave conditions. Looked back up across Moultrie and waves were picking up some. Picked up and started for S. ST. PK. By the time I got about half way across, that wind/waves caught me. I was in a boat I have never operated before, a G3 170 I think or something like that, fishing boat w/decks. I got up on a wave and rode it to keep from swamping. I got over to the gap between the tree and conc. deck, and was coming in...FAST. I split the gap and just put a little scratch on the side of the boat, but I was dang glad to be in there. Waves hitting that conc. break wall was going ten feet in the air. Too woolly for me. Watch yourself out there, Reelfoot can get ugly in a hurry out in the open.

To answer your question, I would first ask the question.

1. How much more would you use it at other times if you bought a boat?

All fishermen want their own boat and if you fish regularly its pretty important. However, if you only fish a couple times a year, it can cost a lot to maintain (taxes, license, repair, gadgets, etc). I always encourage people to bring their own boats to Reelfoot, but If your priniciple use would be an annual trip to Reelfoot, then I would tell you that you will spend less money and catch more fish by contacting one of the reliable guides around the lake, especially if the bite is not strong and the winds are. Boats cost money to own and keep in good working order, and there is something to be said for letting someone else cover that cost, plus u get the benefit of their skill and their network of fishemen.

Second, the question of the 12 foot boat.

I would not buy a 12 foot boat to pull to Reelfoot. If your concern is fishing where the fish are when the wind is blowing and being safe, the 12 boat won't be 5% better than the rental boats. I started fishing Reelfoot on a 16/48 duracraft welded boat. It was a good heavy (i thought) boat. Wind was still killer with it. I would set 16/48 as a bare minimum for fishing in any rough conditions. In my opinion, if you are bringing a 12 footer, you are just as well with the rentals.

Now if you are using rentals there are some easy things to do to improve your fishing, you just have to think ahead:

First buy a 12-14 lb mushroom anchor and some decent anchor rope. Hang it off of the back beside the motor and fish with your back to the wind. Fish, pick up anchor, drift, drop, repeat process.

Second got to your local sptg goods store or call Louie at Grizzly and buy some of the clamp-on pole holders. They usually cost 2/50 - 3.00 apiece. Take off the clap and throw it away. Obtain the bow with measurments and cut a 1 x 4 long enough to go across the bow and clamp on with C-clamps or some other device (wire, etc. be creative) drill 1/4 inch holes in the 1 x 4 at what ever spacing you want and attach the pole holders with 1/4 inch bolts and wingnuts with oversize flat washers on top. Make one for the front persion to fish off of the front and one for the back with pole holders on each side (probably max 3 each side). This may sound complicated but it only takes about an hour to build; takes down to take up very little space in the truck and will greatly improve your fishing. (Even if you don't catch more you will look like you know what you are doing.) I have used this rig with success for people who have come in to Reelfoot unprepared for our spider rig fishing. I assembled a front pole holder to wire to the front of a bass boat in 10 minutes in the parking lot of Waltons and the guys caught fish.

Third, put you casting rods up and leave them at home. There is a reason that all of the locals are spider rigging. Again, call Louie and buy some inexpensive fiberglass telescoping poles with eyes they are not expensive. Get at least 12 footers. Go to wal-mart and buy the cheapest spincasting reels you can get to go on them (durango most likely)

Fourth, buy a bundle of double crappie rigs and fish minnows. If you don't get any good reports from someone at the bait shop, go out where the mass of other boats are fishing and put the bottom hook almost on the bottom then experiment on raising them up.

My thoughts.
Good Luck and be safe.
RCO

another story about reelfoot...
came down this spring on march 27-29...right after the big ice storm...got on the water friday and did pretty good besides cracking my prop...changed my prop out that night at sportsmen north...put back in sat. morning and headed down to buck basin wind started blowing 30-40 mph so we hit the ditch to come back up to camp...got out of the ditch up by grays and looked over to our right by the cut thru and there is a rental boat almost sunk and two guys doing all they can to bail the water...the clutch in the motor was slipping and they didnt have nuff power to power on the camp so we helped the bail the water and pulled them back...it wasnt a fun ride and that was in my 24ft polar kraft running a 90 e-tec...after that and the other storys i hear about sportsmens i wont stay nor tell anyone to stay there due to the crap they send you out in...i wouldnt feel safe in it on that lake...i always say if you dont feel safe then dont do it...so i would make sure you find somwhere that has good stuff before i would go renting a boat

I've always had good luck with the boat's at Bo's landing (we always stay at boyette's).

There is on time I just about got in trouble though, coming back across the lake from Swan Pocket(?) to Bo's and the weather came in faster than I was used too, I was the only one in the boat, the other two guys I was with were in another boat. They got by ok with someone in the bow of the boat, I on the other hand caught a wave wrong it it sure as heck seemed like the bow came up over 45 degrees...poor little 6hp couldn't power out of it. Scared the heck outta me!:eek:

Turned and went south with the wind and then made my way around the bank back to Bo's. Took an extra half hour to get back, at least I had the keys...went back to the cabin and fished out of my cooler...must of caught at least six and every one of the weighed 12 oz...sorry no pics to post.:)

One thing about RF that is different than some other lakes is that if you stay til it's almost bad, you've stayed too long. Too many stumps to outrun it to the ramp, at least for me. I don't know where I can run and where I can't on the south end yet. You don't need to be down in a trough and hang a stump, could be bad.

Rushcreekoutdoor has some of the best advice about fishing reelfoot on this site I have ever read.

I fish the Foot every week year round in a 14ft john with a 1975 Evinrude 9.9.
I have had a few moments that had me a bit nervous but have faith in my boat and enough common sense to stay off the lake when it is bad.
It does help that I have run all kinds of boats from Jons to Off shore boats in Fl and have a lot of repect for mother nature.
It's really a great size boat for a single fisherman. I can get to places none of the big boats can. and run all day on a gallon of fuel.
That said I would really like a larger boat for when I have family and friends that want to wet a line. Say a 16ft with a 40hp.

Thanks Fugsy. I always felt it was important to really try to help people when they ask. I have some friends who gave freely of their time and knowledge to help me get started, and they still do! I have not been able to fish much in the last two years and it was interesting seeing this old thread. Good luck, happy fishing and may God Bless you.

I have hunted ducks and fished the lake for 25 years. I have done both in a 14' jon boat. I think about the best size is a 1756 up to a 2072. I like the small boat for just me and one. But, I really like fishing out of my Phowler 1966. I have a ProDrive mud motor so the stumps are not near as intimedating.