And what are your experiences using a pontoon boat compared to a regular boat?
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And what are your experiences using a pontoon boat compared to a regular boat?
I sometimes go with one of my fishing partners that has a 24' tracker pontoon boat. It has the fishing deck on the front. Sometimes there will be 6 people on the boatl,sometimes we all are fishing. Our wifes sometimes cooks hamburgers or steaks while we fish, which makes it great no matter how hard the wind blows the pontoon boat does good. We tie the fishing deck up to brush and fish around with jigs. once we chased hybirds that where hitting the top had a blast.
This will be my first year. i always had bass boats but had a wild hair this year and well lol now i have a 20'er sittin in the backyard. we went out on it last week and thats when we caught 23 crappie. had a blast and the wind was no factor. i am going toput a better locater on it but other than that its great!
Anyone want to go fishin i got plenty of room just let me know..
Might just take you up on your offer someday if I don't get a pontoon of my own this summer. I've got to get something different. My old V-bottom just wears me out when I use it all day.
Its so unstable that with each movement you feel on guard to keep from falling out. Even when you're not rocking around, your muscle system is tense due to your autonomic system keeping you balanced.
I get in and I'm pooped, don't enjoy it, even with a nice catch. Too old to be fighting with rocking boats, lol.
My wife and I use one. Due to the size it's not quite as maneuverable but the comfort more than makes up for it. Since buying the pontoon about six years ago our other boat (a 20' ProCraft) gets used only about twice a year.
I bought one of these last fall but have not had a chance to try it out. I bought it to take in the RV or to use on small lakes or in coves. Can't wait till the weather gets nice enough to try it out.
Inflatable Boats for Less
I have a old one 16 foot that's really nice for the grandkids to fish no problem with them moving around , don't catch as many as with my Jon boat but it's safer.
We fish off a 24' most of the time, in spring it just gets us around to new bank spots, then after Memorial day we start fishing bridges. It's also great for driftfishing for blues.
Very stable even in big waves, and can hold alot of gear.
I had one a few years ago when I had a cabin at Cookson. Also had a 16' Crestliner V-hull then. The pontoon was extremely comfortable and fun with a group of people. The grandkids were small then and it was a safe ride. However, when I got serious about catching fish I was always in the Crestliner. Now, the grandkids are all teenagers and they love to fish. I prefer the 17' Lund I now have to any boat that I've had or fished in over the years (and that includes Rangers, Champions, etc.) The family really likes fishing out of the Lund also, but I rarely have more than a couple along with me at a time. More than that and I would chose a pontoon always. Actually, the grandkids probably prefer fishing out of my kayak, which is also lots of fun on streams, ponds or small lakes. They call it my CrappieYak.
Floyd
Thanks everyone for sharing their stories and information. Anyone else have anything, please add.
I fished from a pontoon around 20 years ago with 4 other people and we were not crowded and could relax and enjoy the fishing without having that feeling the boat would tip over at any moment. I hate that feeling.
In case anyone wonders about my fear of tipping over, it's because it has happened and I sure don't like it. Pretty sad sight when you see all your fishing gear floating around, most of it has sank to the bottom and you struggle to keep the boat afloat while not going under yourself.
Now at my age, my main concern would be me not surviving, especially if the water temp is hovering around in the 40's or even 50's. I always wear my life jacket, but the danger we sometimes forget is the exposure we have in cold water.
You won't drown, but you'll die of hypothermia if you're unable to get out of the cold water. You just lay over and go to sleep, unconscious.
So yea, I want a dang pontoon boat......... hahahaha.
Even feeling safe in a pontoon can be misleading, case in point the 4 women here on Eufaula tried to outrun a storm, got caught out in the open. The wind flipped it completly over, they all survived [dont know how their boat fared] This was the same storm that wreaked havoc on Jasons Marina. Bottom line you see a storm coming head for the nearest bank off the main lake you can find, gun the engine shove it up on the bank, tie it off to whatever's there and ride it out....better than out in the open!!
Well, I bought me one. Little 14' Eagle jr pontoon with Mercury 15HP. Used, but in excellent shape. Can't wait to get her in the water.:)
I like pontoon fishing. I know several that fish from a pontoon and really like it. Mine is 24 ft long, 8 1/2 ft wide, Honda 225hp motor, and i had a Minn Kota powerdrive 80lb thrust, 60" shaft, with autopilot co/pilot. I use tite-lok rod holders and mainly longline or troll. I am trying to remember but i have 10 or 12 tite-loks in the back and side and all in the back of the pontoon. I have maybe 4 more tite-loks up front but most of the time we fish from the back.
My powerdrive needed some work after about 4 years and i have liked it alot and now waiting for a Minn Kota Terrova with about the same specs listed above that was on my powerdrive. The pontoon is a tritoon. I had it fixed for three bass seats in the back but normally keep it open or one bass seat in one of the three places in the back. A big captain's chair and up front it is a four differ places for the big captain chairs up there also, in which i have two. I normally keep one on the boat or none to keep it open as much as i can. Fishfinder up front on the Minn Kota and one at the drivers seat. I need to have it ready or the option to mount it in the very back with the rods. I have a friend that has his in the back where you see my rods and he also longlines. He also uses a mirror because he is looking back most of the time.
I think you will enjoy your pontoon as i have really enjoyed mine and go in some shallow places and tight spots and it seems to go about anywhere i want. Here are some pics of mine. I mainly crappie fish.
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/Bobby.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/ConnieCrappie.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/Ready.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/Rodholders.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/fish1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/rodholders11.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/Limit2.jpg
Beautiful boat and an excellent array of rods on the rear. I counted 10 set-ups spread around, not much can slip through them, lol.
Your last picture show something about Buchanan Resort, is that Lake Buchanan down in Texas? If so, that's a lake my father and I fished frequently when I was growing up.
Sure was a nice catch of crappie and according to the title of your pic, you "limited" out that day....
Thanks for sharing your pics, they are all excellent!!:)
Have you fished off that pontoon yet? I hope you put some rod holders on it too! I love crappie fishing from my toon and will never go back to my other boat.
Buchanan Resort on Ky lake in north west TN. Buchanan Resort
I think i added another place for a holder or two in the back and sides but normally we fish 8 to 12 with road runner type jigs or if pulling crank baits, 6 to 8.
The Tite-Lok 5760 deck mounts hold 4 tite-lok rod holders and in the pics i think they show 3 each. I did add another to each deck mount but normally only fish 3 from each of those deck mounts. That limit was last year in April 20's. They were comming out from the spawn and got in them and it did not take to long to limit that day. We can catch 30 per person and atleast 10" long. We are having a lil cold snap today and looks cooler, windy and rainy next week and might make our spawn in about the middle of April. Maybe that wll be good and give me another week to get this trolling motor in and on.
Get out and going on yours post some pics and enjoy it. I know you will.
Been trying to fish from it everyday:) No rod holders yet, haven't came across the ones I want yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by asklouis
Its not very fast, I guess around 7-8mph at best. But that's ok, I'm in no hurry and feel safer putt-putting along. I guess when you get my age you finally understand that hurrying to the next minute is a waste of time. I'm trying to enjoy the minute (the moment) I have now. I wish I could have figured this out 30 years ago. If I had, I'd only be around 35 years old now.......... hahahaha.:D
I tried lots of rod holders. I finally settled on the Bee Ready. They worked the best for me and my toon boat. I ended up with 31 of them. They are easy to use and trouble free. I will try to get on there one weekend soon and let you try them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinkfinger
I remember your boat louis, very nice, but not quite enough rod holders to suit me......hahahaha. I'll give you a call pretty soon and invite you down so I can go out in a fancy pontoon rig.