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?

[JBplusThuy]

One man's negative is another man's realism :-) I've never launched a boat, so I'm sure it would be an adventure the first few times I tried it :)

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

one thing is sure... it's always an adventure. I wouldn't have a fishing boat which I could not manage single handed. This includes everything from launching to anchoring and recovery, This comes from my time sailing; lessons learned you could say.
Fortunately, there are things any one can do to a boat to facilitate this requirement. Most class "A" boats, fiberglass or aluminum, can be readily adapted.
Don't let single handed operation hold you back. Think safe and sane, and you'll be amazed at what is out there.

[Israel Dunn]

I fish from a canoe.  I tried a kayak but wasn't able to take both my kids out with me.  And like others have said I cannot store a large trailer and boat.  Luckily my friends with larger boats are usually willing to take me out fishing with them, so I can fish bigger waters.  I never thought about using a tube when I go out solo.  I must admit I am intrigued by the idea.  As far as the standing vs. sitting option, I can cover more water standing since I have a bad back.  I personally am alot more comfortable casting all day standing than sitting down, but I have caught more than my fair share of fish sitting in my canoe, I guess it just comes down to how good I fish that day, than what kind of craft I am fishing on.

[JBplusThuy]

What kind of canoe do you have? I'm thinking of picking up a used canoe and putting a trolling motor on it. Any thoughts/advice to pass along to a canoe noob?

Do you have a motor in your canoe? If so, do you put the battery amidships, or in the back?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

@ Alan - your Grumman reminds me of a Gheenoe.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I used to fish out of a Gheenoee years ago, in Fl.
I liked it plenty, as such. boats go. It is small, and perfect for back water fishing. A 5 hp motor will push it along well enough. I'm sure your Grumman is much the same

[Leo Nguyen]

Don't laugh, but..my poor man's Gheenoee/Grumman version

[dick tabbert]

Desperate people do desperate things. Love it

[Bill Rensi]

only thing missing is a LIFE VEST!!!!

[Johnny wilkins]

Boat control is much more important than the boat - when the boat gets in the way of your presentation, then it is a minus. Many times, the presentation of the bait will make or break your day and the captain next to you with greater control might dominate you based on his movement of that boat or many times (lack of movement).

[Leo Nguyen]

EXACTLY! This is why guys like us living in the cities (City Slickers) often purchase something small enough for us to control while fishing, which brings back the float tubes and pontoons. Quick adjustments as we can move around on a dime, and turn to the spot we want at will (going backward that is). This is why I want the inflatable pontoon, although larger in size, it can move backward, forward, and even side way when I wanted to. It's not as fast as a canoe, kayak, or a boat, but it has the hybridized versatility of everything.

[dick tabbert]

A disadvantage to the small aluminum boat is the wind and it gets hard to control your boat at times the more wind the harder it gets so if possible to maintain any kind of boat control you have to head your boat into the wind.