Gonna stick my neck out here...yes, the boat you use matters

[Timbaux65]

I know i might get slammed for this but gonna post it anyway.

Many of you are kayakers and I have already commented on that, and to each his own, if you like kayaks, use them. They aint for me, but whatever works for you WORKS. Keep on.

That said, I have to admit that being in a 12 foot flat with a 1.75 gamefisher (EXCELLENT motor), I find myself quite limited.

The first time I saw that pro bass dude with the LOWE bass boat, big boat, fancy, etc. big motor, fancy trolling motor. He was a pro, and he handled the boat like a pro, moving in and out of coves, had his depth finder working for him... he caught 10 bass on a day most people didnt catch one.

I was in the 12 footer, I caught one bass.

Other guy in a pirogue (pee-row) went up and down and came back and caught nothing at all. Another guy in a small flat caught notbhing. Some dude came out there in this plastic row-boat looking thing..not much bigger than a bath tubb None of them caught anything.

We all gathered at the boat launch, mad that the pro guy was flying up and down the bayou without regard for us. Actually one of the guys was going to pound him if he came back.

We were talking and the guy with the flat said, "They got an advantage because they can move in and out, they can go miles and miles away and come back. we cant do that."

The trolling motor he had was really an expensive looking unit. The cop said the guy was sponsored and owned none of what we saw.

Maybe so.

Yesterday after work, I was able to go out for a short time in Manchac. Some Creole guy was out there with a nice bass boat. I seen him before and he is always really good about respecting other boats. He is a good guy and friendly, too.

He was standing up on the front of his boat, had a purple worm, weighted, and he was catching fish. Most others that we saw didnt do too well.

I personally caught a striped bass, and thought, WHAT's THIS???? I never catch them over there.

anyway, I was watching him and I think, i really THINK that the fact that he is working that worm, some 6 feet higher off the water than I am is having an effect on his ability to catch fish The worm rises up higher in the water, while mine, even with a 6'6" rod, barely comes off the bottom when I lift

Any yall ever think about this? Standing up, having more actual bait travel than sitting down in a flatboat.

Make sense?

[dick tabbert]

And used boat you can fix them up the way you want you wouldn't want to do that to a new boat.

[JBplusThuy]

Well, an ideal new boat for me is something like a Pelican Predator (I really like that one for fishing with kids), which I've seen as low as $800 new at several places, or the Sun Dolphin Pro 120, which is $2700 w/trailer at Cabela's. All I'd really need to add to either or those is a good battery or two and a high-thrust electric motor. They've got live wells, tons of storage, ready to go. Decent used boats with trailers run anywhere from $800 - $2000 on Craigslist, mostly 12 or 14 foot aluminum boats.

WRT the Odyssey, I would have the Honda ATF cooler installed basically as insurance. If you tow something and the transmission fails and you don't have the Honda cooler, you just kissed your warranty goodbye on its way out the door. I'd get the hitch elsewhere; the Honda tow package (just priced it) is almost $1200 for wiring harness, cooler, and hitch; over $700 of that is the hitch. They've got to be kidding, but they're not :p

[Leo Nguyen]

I'm surprised they don't they designed a tow-able vehicle without the cooling system designed into the vehicle. Just plain idiotic. The VW got it fully integrated, but within specs limit of 2500lbs, or warranty out he door.

[JBplusThuy]

It's probably a matter of economics. Most people never tow with an Odyssey, so they can sell it cheaper without the added cooler, and let the dealer network pick up some extra income for the dealer-installed option for anyone who really wants it. Plus, it probably gets them out of warranty claims for expensive transmissions once in a while, although I would say the "never-buy-a-Honda-again" flavor of customer ill will that would generate could not possibly be worth the cost savings.

[JBplusThuy]

It is, indeed, idiotic.  I'm tempted to just throw on a hitch, but with two years left on my power train warranty, that could be an expensive gamble. Will probably just bite the bullet and install the Honda tow package.

[dick tabbert]

JB Check wood where outboard is installed should be sound but not a hard job to replace if need be. Make sure boats not wavy on the bottom. Check supports which include the seats that run across the boat. Most important check keel make sure its together the whole length of the boat. If the boat is welded if its old it probably all ribbits but if welded check the welds for cracks. If you buy the boat and you see a leak at the ribbit put hammer on one side of the ribbit and on the other side hit it with another hammer this will tighten up the ribbit. Hope this will help you if you have any question and want to talk in person feel free to call. I'll answers any questions that I can. 419-826-8011