Small jon or Bass Hunter/Pelican style boat

Hello, I am in need of advice. I have a big boat but have thought about getting either a small jon or the bass hunter style boat to fish the small strip pits in Peabody. Something that I can fit in the back of a full size pickup, throw in a battery and trolling motor. I get tired of trailering and launcing my big boat. Can someone who has experience in both comment on the pros and cons of each. They both weigh about 100-120 pounds so launching by myself should not be a problem. What would be more stable, fishable, etc. I have fished out of a small jon boat before but it has been many years ago. I also weighed a lot less back then. The seat height on a jon is very low and would need some height adjustment to be comfortable.

I like jonboats better because they are not as hard to load/unload, will "hold up" better if you have to drag them across gravel etc and more room to move around. I would like to have a 12ft with wide bottom for Peabody Pits, small lakes, and ponds.

I have one call a sportman's from Rural King in waterloo if you want to buy it call me.. (9 foot x4foot. nice to fish out of and I have fished peabody $175. 314 892 1017

Thanks Fellas. Anybody else have comments. As far as a jon boat, the widest I have found is 36". Not sure how stable that would be. There are some custom builers that would make any width within reason but this would be a welded jon. Not a bad idea to have a welded one vs. rivits but it would end up weighing 250-300 pounds. More than double the weight of a riveted version.

Check this thread out
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...boat-like.html

We have a 12 foot/ 36 jonboat for oxbows that was my grandfathers. My uncle has one of those 2 man plastic bass chasers. Hands down to the plastic. It is much more stable and comfortable. I even saw a 3 man last spring at wal-mart in destin florida and almost bought it and brought it home.
rco

My buddy has a 10-ft Bass Buddy. It makes a great one-man fishing machine if you're going to flat water for a short time. I think I'd vote for that over a 10-ft jon boat just because you sit up a little higher and I think it's a little more stable. The plastic seems pretty rugged and durable, but I guess time will tell on that. He's got it on a little utility trailer that makes launching and loading pretty convenient, but there's still quite a bit of heave-ho-ing to do if you're by yourself--don't underestimate how awkward that shape can be even if it's just 100 pounds or so. You can probably get either one fro Craig's list pretty cheap. I see them on the Lexington Craig's list fairly frequently.

I had a 2 man bass hunter for years and I loved it. It was stable and great for fishing small waters. It fit great in the back of my truck. If I were going to fish alone most of the time, then I would consider getting a small utility trailer because they can be a handful when trying to load by yourself. I have thought of getting another one and would choose a bass hunter over a jon boat in a minute. Buster Boats sells some nice models, but it all depends in how much that you want to spend or can afford to spend. With the economy going south, there are a ton of used boats going very cheap. If I were in the market for an aluminum boat, I would check out the used boats. Some of these boats are only 2 or 3 years old and are gently used, and yet they are lots of time less than half price of a comparable new model. Just have to be sure and check for a clear and clean title.

We have had both jons and 2 man boats and fish hundreds of strip pits in missouri and kansas mined lands. the jons can not compare to the 2 mans at all. The 2 mans are foam filled and they wont sink, they are more stable, the seats are more comfortable. they are not that heavy, ours have wheels in back that makes rolling them easy,we rolled them over 100 yards. our fishing freind has a jon and its noisy, unstable,not as comfortable and he cusses it every time he takes it. Take it from folks who hace had 6 of them over the years. they are the best

Call me old fashioned but I'd take the small john boat. I've fished out of both, but to be stealthy I'd take the john with a sculling paddle & trolling motor.

I have a 12 foot jon with 2 bass style swivel seats that clamp on and a trolling motor. I does not leak a drop. I'd sell it all for $350. I used it for strip pit fishing but just do not have the time with kids anymore.

That's a good deal. If we were closer I'd buy it.