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JB Finally Gets to Go Fishing!

I finally got to go fishing, for the first time this year(!) and also got to finally put the used pontoon (Creek Company XR-8) I bought last year into the water for the first time.

Didn't think to take a picture of the fish, or to weigh them, until after they were cleaned and scaled LOL. The largest is the redear (third from top, on the left) at 8.5 inches. The two largest BG were 8.25 inches. Heaviest fish was a BG, at 6.5 ounces, cleaned and scaled, so I'm guessing it went half a pound intact. Shortest fish was 6.5 inches. Interesting stat: these were all males. Not sure if the BG are in pre-spawn or post-spawn - didn't seen any on beds - but that seems like an unusual distribution.

I must have rowed two miles yesterday; I'm sore! I guess I'll have to pony up and register the 'toon with the DMV so I can put a trolling motor on it. I don't mind the effort (good exercise) so much as the lost fishing time from rowing. Time is fish; I lost count of how many I released (too small to eat), but it was more than what I kept. Both numbers would have been bigger if it didn't take me so long to get around the lake.

Overall assessment of the pontoon: I like it better than the tube I used to have. I sit higher in the water (easier casting and better view), it's warmer (this could be a negative in summer, of course, but it was cold on the lake yesterday), can cover more water, and carries more stuff. The anchor system is great, but I need a lighter anchor (borrowed the 8 pound mushroom anchor from my boat lol).

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Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 26, 2015 at 2:27pm: The Hobie Outback can't maneuver like a tank (360° spin on the dot), but it can turn pretty darn fast in tight quarter with the oversized rudder system. Even tighter using the single canoe paddle or long dual-blade kayak paddles.

Imagine if you will, the length of the kayak is 12.5ft. Single or dual-blades paddle will turn from where you sit at 3 to 5ft moving forward. If I use my peddling engine with the rudder, I can sharply turn at 8ft out moving forward.

My old pontoon, I could literally turn that puppy from where I sit 360° rotation, using the two single-blade paddle. The water battle tank. However, the room it takes to move in between location is way too wide (69"). The amount of room it takes for this kayak is 33". The depth for the dual pontoons was 9" below water. The kayak is 11" (which includes the peddling fins). I can move in and out of the shallow areas where I love to fish at like it's nothing. I can push 1 mile of travel in less than 10 minutes, going at light pace using the large peddling fins I have. Mind you, I'm already at 185lbs. Extra gears don't mean a thing for this kayak. Max depth at 400lbs of dead weight is 12".

As for staying still for the pontoon and kayak, good luck. You can attempt to anchor them both, but you'll drift in light to moderate wind (2mph to 7mph). With pontoon, you can compensate using your swimming fins to correct your positions, but the issue remains with drifting (unless you pushing your pontoon against the wind). I rather use my 42" water sock (water anchor), to slow drift (practically at a standstill) even with wind at 12mph. Metal anchors (mushroom, danforth, stockless, etc.) will drift with the toon/kayak if it's less than 15lbs in 10mph wind condition.

Comment by JBplusThuy on May 26, 2015 at 2:00pm: Wow, the pic came out weird looking from the camera angle, the larger BG were a lot rounder than that LOL.

@Leo yeah, the setup is kind of a hassle, but I like the seating position of a 'toon better than I (think I would) like a kayak. Getting from point A to point is definitely a consideration, though; I saw some recreational kayakers on the lake, and those things are fast! I'll make up the difference by putting an electric motor on my 'toon. Since I already have one, that's the cheapest way forward. For setup time savings, I'm thinking of getting and inexpensive utility trailer from Harbor Freight. Load the 'toon at home, arrive at the lake, put on t
he cooler, etc., and shove it in the water. Heck, I could even use the launch ramp like a real boat :)

How do you find the 'yak for fine maneuvering? Is it as easy to stay on the spot you want as it is with a tube?

Comment by dick tabbert on May 26, 2015 at 12:39pm: Nice one's JB. Haven't seen you on here for awhile.

Comment by Slip Sinker on May 26, 2015 at 12:00pm: Nice haul JB!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on May 26, 2015 at 11:56am: Excellent account JB...good for you!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 26, 2015 at 11:16am: Very nice! Looks like you got yourself a nice day on the water. I shy away from pontoon now. That's why I go for the Kayak instead. Inflatable is a great space and transport saver, but the amount of work to get from point A to point B, I gave up. I'll spend a bit more time investing in a beast (Hobie Outback) and the transport unit, but save me my sanity. I can travel 10 miles without feeling anything, since most of my power derived from my legs, while I preserve my strength for casting.

However, a sore day on the water fishing is much better than a plain old sore day.