Crappie Boat "must have"...

Looking forward to April, when I allow myself some time to fish with my kiddos. However, until then, I like to just tinker with my boat a little. Got to thinking....WHAT ARE YOUR MUST HAVES (bought or created) FOR YOUR BOAT? For example, I have a pull-out tray under my seat that keeps things I need the most close to where I don't always have to bend over for it on the front deck. Another example....our "fish funnel" that we created for $1.99, to allow us to just throw our fish into our closed cooler without having to raise the lid each time, or get out of our seat to walk them to drop them in. PICTURES GET EXTRA POINTS!

I know you all have unique things! The sky is the limit when it comes to the creativity of a crappie fisher-person!

Just interested....necessity is the mother of all invention!

Neat thread.
I've been thinking about putting heat on my boat.
I-pilot is the must have for me. I suck at trying to drive and fish at the same time.

Another great mod was the power port. Now when I drive away still plugged in the only thing that happens is my cord is strung out when I get home.Attachment 393403

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Toilet paper!

So you mention a fish funnel and don't post a pic?! Hmmmm...

For me it is my new boat buckles that tie the trailer to the transom. I'll never go back to the old ones! Less than $60 on sale.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KORVJY..._F5neGbWD4031D

Need to see a pic of the fish funnel


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a drain plug inserted into the proper orifice ,with a spare in hand for just in case .
seen some boys having boat issues last week , finally pulled the boat back out still on the trailer
ran water out of it for what seemed like an eternity ....then just left and went home
a for sure must have ....is a SPARE drain plug :highfive

REMINDER LIST

Unfortunately I have to remove all valuables from boat before storage. Therefore at my age, I have a list of about 20 needed items to be in the boat before launch. Yep, you guessed it, # 1 put drain plug in !!


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small net to remove your limit from the livewell!

Money stashed to pay the tow boat after motor problems

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Bait net- I hate trying to catch minnows by hand, and scissors, scissors, and more scissors. I never seem to have a pair when I need them for trimming line. And last but not least, a spare bottle of water hidden somewhere on the boat.

Instead of toilet paper, I keep baby wipes. They are good for the same uses as TP, but are also great if you catch a bass and need to remove the stench of those bucketfaced carp from your hands (lol).

A dry towel that you can clip onto a belt loop is great too.

But number 1 on my list is a tool kit. Adjustable wrench AND a pair of channel locks, one of those cheap 4-in-1 screwdrivers, and electrical tape. Electrical tape is awesome.... Get a cut on your hand, wrap it up. Sore fingers from lipping so many fish, wrap it up. Trolling motor wiring starts smoking due to a bad splice job, wrap it up. And yes, the trolling motor thing happened to me (I didn't do the splice job). Keep all of that and some real first aid stuff, as well as a copy of your registration and fishing licenses in a cheap plastic 30 cal ammo can and it's weatherproof. Slap in a silica gel pack to keep everything from rusting. Oh yeah, a flashlight too :)

So if I'm following this right so far, a true "Crappie boat" doesn't need anything crappie related :)

"FISH FUNNEL" explanation. I would get you a picture, but it is in my river boat that I keep at my dad's house 2 hours from here, allowing him to have a boat to fish with. What we did is found a cooler on the side of the interstate (as you always can find a bucket, cooler, and even an occasional boat seat which we have cabbaged hinges from), and we cut a rectangle in the lid of....approx 12" by 4". Then, we bought a $1.99 trashcan from Dollar General, cut the bottom out of it, and cut up about 5 inches from the bottom of it on the four corners. We then stuck the trash can into the hole of the top, folded those edge pieces (able to do this from the relief cuts made), and screwed them to the bottom side of the lid. SERIOUSLY....you can toss a fish from 5 feet away, and it will funnel it's way through the lid and into the cooler of ice! CRAZY WHAT LAZINESS AND INGENUITY CAN END UP CREATING! We've been using this idea for about 15 years! Can't tell you how many 1000's of fish we have thrown into that cooler through our fish funnel! And, you don't have to fish them out of a livewell, then drain, then clean after you are done. You can just carry your cooler to the cleaning station, clean your fish from it, then hose it out for next time.

You know you just smiled and said "why didn't I think of that?"! I'll see if I can't get dad to go out and shoot me a picture of it! You need to make you one....you will never have to get off your seat to put another fish in the livewell. lol

Forgot to mention, too. We've also created a "system" for our seats that attaches to our slide out drawer that allows us to fish under an umbrella. Now, I know you are saying to yourself, "yes, they make those", but ours is for an 8-9' deck umbrella, and you are not limited with how much you move and swivel. You put one on the seat on the front, and one on the seat in the back....the whole boat is just about covered from the rain (and sun, as we both have had skin cancer issues).

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Originally Posted by thaDudeAbides

So you mention a fish funnel and don't post a pic?! Hmmmm...

For me it is my new boat buckles that tie the trailer to the transom. I'll never go back to the old ones! Less than $60 on sale.

Amazon.com

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I AGREE WITH THIS WHOLE-HEARTEDLY! Matter of fact, I mounted a set of these on the front of my utility trailer. I now drive my four-wheeler or mower up onto the trailer, and can have them strapped down tight in about 20 seconds, with no straps to find or have to wrap back up and store somewhere!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

a drain plug inserted into the proper orifice ,with a spare in hand for just in case .
seen some boys having boat issues last week , finally pulled the boat back out still on the trailer
ran water out of it for what seemed like an eternity ....then just left and went home
a for sure must have ....is a SPARE drain plug :highfive

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I also ALWAYS carry an extra fuel primer bulb, and a fuel line fitting for the connection to the motor. This has saved me a couple times on the water.

trolling motor and rod holders are must haves

Jumper cables & spare fuses are two things I'll add to the list.

Well, after looking at another post, apparently those with aluminum boats need a boat bra.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by slowhand

Well, after looking at another post, apparently those with aluminum boats need a boat bra.

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Haha. I was watching that. did you see the video?, wow what a noisy boat. My alum boat is not that way, nor JigfisherX's Express.

A shear pin for TM
Extra remote batteries
Extra snacks
Extra water
Charged cell phone


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Apparently I am missing some must-haves. lol

My list is short; rod/reel, bait, license.

Oh, and a lifejacket. Forgot those one year and drove 3 hours round trip to get them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

A shear pin for TM
Extra remote batteries
Extra snacks
Extra water
Charged cell phone


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I saw where some guy said carrying an extra trolling motor rope has saved the day a time or two. I put one in my boat.
But the must have's are fairly short, a trolling motor and, for me, decent fish finder along with some good tackle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Toilet paper!

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New regime says if ya gots to go, ya gots to go green...so they suggest corn cobs.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baitwaster

So if I'm following this right so far, a true "Crappie boat" doesn't need anything crappie related :)

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Except toilet paper.

Good pair sun glasses needs to be on the list.


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PikStik for marker buoy/trash
Google Image Result

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pocket knife

My TP has flowers on it, not crappie. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Except toilet paper.

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Crappie boat must haves...Trooling motor with i-pilot link....because mine came with the boat...so i learned how to use it.
not a big net, but not a little one either.
a fish finder with side scan to find brush that everyone else has put out. mine is a Helix 9 G3N SI+
a fish finder with sonar to get the troller on top of said brush...mine is a helix 7 G3N SI+...this also came with the boat
a box of plastic jigs
a box of plastic jig heads
a box of tied jigs
a couple crappie rods
NO MINNOWS
a radio for some tunes. doesnt have to be extravagant. Pandora from your phone will work just fine.
some white bass lures
some white bass fishing poles
because sometimes they do the same thing
And also because in the early summer I like to do that untill the sun comes up...then go find brush piles.
Generic boat stuff

Hand towel

If you're going to use long rods, get a net with a long handle. Trying to bring in a fish on a 16' rod with a 3' net is good for a bloopers video, but not much else.

Slab Sauce,
pair of forceps,
a section of foam pool noodle around my net handle,

Jim

Creative things I have done on my boat trailer.
Boat trailer storage box.
It holds 2 stroke oil, roll of shop towels, funnel, spare prop, bearing grease, cutting board, fillet knives, gloves, spare winch strap, garbage bag, zip lock bags, Vaseline, and tools to change a trailer tire. Plus it serves as a step from the tongue into the boat.
Attachment 393634

Slab sauce baby!


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