Going Fast 2024
Flatrock reply :
I write this purely for discussion sake and not to judge...
I had the privilege of meeting up and fishing with a new friend a few weeks ago, we live a half a state apart. Actually I have to say he has helped rekindle my love for fishing and convinced me that buying a boat is not a bad thing, expensive but well worth the expense when you factor the benefits from a high stress profession. Which leads me to boat speed and the need for it.
Now I purchased my lil ole Bass Tracker PT 175 TXW with a 75 Merc. Top speed 40 mph. Considering 30-40 yrs ago I have always fish off the bank, or fishing in a old v bottom alum boat with a 15 Evinrude with my father. So to me my Tracker is like, "yeehaaaa" look at me go... Which leads me to my friend which owns a Triton with a 200, without a doubt a beautiful boat and no I can't even begin to compare it to my Bass Tracker except the fact it gets you on the water. I'm sure my buddy was doing a little showing off, but here I found myself hanging on for dear life while he opens her up and we're doing 70 mph across the water. I'm finding myself hanging on to what I call the "Jesus Handle" with one hand and the bottom of the seat with they other hand while we're literally just barely skimming the waters surface. In fact I'm not sure we were touching the water as I felt the ass end of the boat going side to side. I'm thinking we're gonna die if this flying machine goes air borne. (I could think of worse ways to go though)
Why does a boat need a "Jesus Handle" ?
30 yrs ago I'd of been on the bow of the boat face in the wind hollering... "can't you get this barge to go any faster" ?
Now in my silver yrs of life, I'm happy with my nice stable sure footed 40 mph water craft...
Now... With the understanding that when in a tournament, it's important to reach your spot across the lake first, I get that... but for the weekend fisherman, why does one find the need to run so fast ? I'm asking this with the mindset that fishing is supposed to be relaxing and fun. Don't we run the rat race enough with our daily grind ?
I suppose it could asked why I bought a BT 175 w/ 75 hp when I could have bought a canoe or a yack. All I can say is one can't stand up and walk around in a canoe or a yack and a Tacker is lighter craft compared to a fiberglass barge... I'd say its a compromise between all the choices from a canoe to a $70,000 top of the line Ranger.
I will admit during a catfishing tourn, I was rather thrilled when my aluminum boat with a 75 was able to keep up with a fiberglass being pushed by a 115 Johnson. I had figured he would have left me in their wake, but he couldn't out run me.
But still why does anyone need a 60,70,80 mph "Bass Boat" when this sport is all about the environment and relaxing ?
dodgeguy reply :
It depends. Some guys like the thrill. Some are weekend tournament fishermen and are in competition. Some like you are happy going 40 and feel safer. Nothing wrong with how you feel. I fish out of a rowboat so I get it.ive been on my friends bassboats and I wish I could afford it. Enjoy what you purchased and smile when you catch fish. That's all that matters .
Mike L reply :
You Haven't lived until you've been in a 21ft Bullett with a warmed over Merc 250 going 88 mph!!
That'll wake you up.!
Aa a tournament co angler for the last 9 yrs I've been in them all.
Anyway, they do it because they can. I don't know anyone with a 175+ motor who doesn't open it up once in while.
Mike
Tennessee Boy reply :
I’m also one who’s happy at 40MPH. I bought a new boat in 2018 with a 90HP motor. I spent $2600 on a trolling motor, over $5000 on electronics. For $1700 more I could have upgraded to 115HP but never really considered it.
Some people like fast boats just like some people like fast cars. I don’t care for either but to each his own.
A-Jay reply :
It's a time & distance deal for me.
Being able to do a little less than a mile a minute adds to my fishing time; especially on some of the larger lakes.
Don't get me wrong, safe speed is cool, but adding 20 minutes of fishing time to every spot I fish adds up over the course of a season.
Which is already short enough in my world.
More casts = more opportunities.
A-Jay
Brew City Bass reply :
For the same reason I've owned fast cars, it's fun.
If you can afford it, there's really no reason not to go as big as you can. Same argument can be made for length of a boat. Is 21ft necessary? Nope, but it sure is nice to have that extra room! Same for the ponies in the back.
Russ E reply :
where you fish has a lot of bearing on what you need.
I no longer tournament fish and most of the places I fish are less than 2 miles from the boat ramp.
my boat has a 115 and will peak right at 50mph.
most of the time I cruise around 40 42 mph. it gets a lot better gas mileage in that range.
if the water is calm I do open it up once in a while.
I'm sure if my boat would go faster, I would probably run faster. Just because I could.
WRB reply :
Nearly every lake in SoCal has 35 mph speed limit and the only time I see bass boats cooking over 70 mph is during the weekends or a tournament. Speed is a competitive factor "my boat is faster" then yours.
Running WOT for a few miles is very common and most tournament anglers bring the speed down around 65 mph for more effiencent gas mileage and safer ride after they clear the starting area.
Any speed over 70 mph requires good driver skills things go very bad fvery quickly. It sounds like the OP's buddy was chine walking indicates low driver skill and showing off.
Tom
BassThumb reply :
30-40mph is the perfect cruising speed.
It's safe, I'm not beating up my gear/electronics, there's little risk of something going flying out of the boat, if there's a steering malfunction I'm less likely to get tossed, and nobody is thinking I'm an a-hole for showing off.
livin2fish reply :
Running 25 mph I glanced to the left toward a cove, and had the thought "haven't fished that one before", looked back and there was a 20 ft log crossways in front of me. Hand was on throttle, reaction was stop, front end of boat went up, middle of boat came down on the log. Busted seam in my 17 ft. aluminum bass boat. I don't want to think of how far I could have flown going 70 mph.
clark9312 reply :
In his defense it usually doesn’t seem as bad when your the one behind the wheel but I know what you mean. I went with a buddy of mine and he was hammering down trimmed all the way up and I came to terms that we were going to crash lol. I don’t think he was showing off I’m pretty sure that’s just how he runs it because he just wants to start fishing. My aluminum boat will do around 50 when I want it too but I usually stay mid 40s maybe just a little slower if the water is rough or a lot of boat traffic.
hawgenvy reply :
I used to think going fast was to reach the fishing spot sooner during tournaments. Now that I've been fishing tournaments with a local club (as a co-angler) I realize it's to get back to the ramp on time!
On the other hand:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eeyG2WUS5Y&t=124s
Flatrock reply :
Don't get me wrong, he knows his boat and I felt safe. But as someone that drives for a living its hard to be second seat and not have control... that includes riding in a 4 wheeler as a passenger.
My post wasn't so much about the experience of going 70 mph for the first time in a boat. I mean it was exciting... I was going on the philosophy that fishing is supposed to be laid back and relaxing. Your not relaxing when your adrenaline is in over drive... LOL
Like I said earlier, I'm not judging just wondering.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
On 5/20/2019 at 10:45 AM, Flatrock said:I was going on the philosophy that fishing is supposed to be laid back and relaxing. Your not relaxing when your adrenaline is in over drive... LOL
Fishing puts my adrenaline in overdrive and I love every second of it. My mind and body are on full alert and focus when I am fishing which is what makes it fun for me.
OCdockskipper reply :
If I fished large lakes like Mead or Havasu, I could understand the interest in getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. I don't, so I am in the same boat (pun intended) as the OP.
The two times I marshaled for BASS events, it was a white knuckle ride in the passenger seat no matter the pro. Ish Monroe had it wide open on Havasu with a 15 mph wind blowing, I kept hoping the next point we saw was the one he wanted to fish. Dennis Tietje and Alton Jones both actually told me "hang on" when they made their runs, they did have a concern for their passenger. On Lake Travis, Gerald Swindle actually drove faster than David Fritts did, however Swindle was able to make the ride seem more in control (I found out later GMan enjoys fast cars as well, so he may understand speed even better than they typical pro).
Bluebasser86 reply :
My boat will run 55, but I usually cruise around 40 and it does that with ease. I don't usually make long runs, and big waves usually keep me from putting the pedal down, but when I get the chance I will because the sooner I get there, the sooner I fish, which is what I'm out there to do.
Catt reply :
I aint as good once was,
But I'm as good once, as I ever was.
Is 70+ necessary for bass fishing...nah!
At 68 I'll still love putting the pedal to the metal ????
WRB reply :
There is a lot of different fishing experiences from back packing into remote lake, flying into remote wilderness lakes and portaging into a chain of wilderness lakes where quite serine astmophere watching nature at it's best is part of the experience.
Launching a fast bass boat at dawn in a major tournement waiting for the starting gun and racing off to a preconceived pre fish destination is a very different experience but full filling in a different way.
I have been fortunate to experience all types of fishing experiences from the wilderness to multi million dallor off shore yatchs racing each other to the hot Marlin spots and fast bass boats on the pad running to the first stop tournament fishing.
Fast is always on the edge and racing drag boats and fuel dragsters in my youth speed was part of my life. A few of my bass boats were very fast. Speed kills and I know that well.
I know serveral bass boat owners who shouldn't be driving their boats over 70 mph and refuse to fish wirth them unless I drive. Be safe and enjoy the roses above the grass.
Tom
Harold Scoggins reply :
Three years after I started kayak fishing, I sold my glitter boat. I get it, they are fast and they are nice, but after living many years in the fast lane, I was ready to slow down and take in everything that had been passing me by. "Mushin" brothers.
j bab reply :
On 5/19/2019 at 11:07 PM, Flatrock said:$70,000 top of the line Ranger
If only they were that cheap 
Way2slow reply :
It's like buying a car that runs over 100 mph. Not many places have speed limits over 70mph. Doesn't mean you have to drive it as fast as it will run, but it's nice to have the power to pass when you want to.
Normally boats that run 70+ mph is just fact they are larger boats, it's takes a lot of horse power to get them up on plane with much of a load in them. Then like most cars, these boats are built for low drag and fuel efficiency so you afford to feed them. Speed is the result of this, but doesn't mean you have run as fast as it will go.
With the modern day hull designs and the new fuel efficient motors, that boat that runs 70+ mph can cruise at 45-50 miles per hour and burn less fuel than a 18ft aluminum boat with a 90 running full throttle at those speeds.
Plus, when you fish a 77,000 acre lake like I do, and my want to go 25 or 30 miles, it's nice to be able to go ahead and there if you want to.
The true scary part about these 70+ mph boats is the operators. A whole lot of people that have never even owned a boat, get one. You are in a whole different realm of skill level to drive a boat at those speeds versus one at 50mph. A boat that is fully up on the pad with only a couple square feet of hull in the water, is nothing like a boat where 2/3rds the hull is running in the water, but you see these idiots jump in take off. These are the ones you see on U-tube being fished out of the water or reading about in the paper.
Catt reply :
On 5/20/2019 at 10:20 PM, Way2slow said:The true scary part about these 70+ mph boats is the operators. A whole lot of people that have never even owned a boat, get one. You are in a whole different realm of skill level to drive a boat at those speeds versus one at 50mph. A boat that is fully up on the pad with only a couple square feet of hull in the water, is nothing like a boat where 2/3rds the hull is running in the water, but you see these idiots jump in take off. These are the ones you see on U-tube being fished out of the water or reading about in the paper.
Everytime someone asks me to show them how to run a boat I always reply wait until the next front hits.
J Francho reply :
On 5/20/2019 at 10:45 AM, Flatrock said:But as someone that drives for a living its hard to be second seat and not have control... that includes riding in a 4 wheeler as a passenger.
This, to me sounds like the real problem, and not simply going fast. You're not comfortable with what goes along with going fast, and the resulting effects. That's okay. If you told me (I had an 85 mph Bullet) you didn't want to go too fast, I would respect that and not run fast, and keep it around 40. Most of the places I fish, that will be fine. I want a happy partner. That said, If I go screaming by you and the other boats in the tournament to get to a spot, I think you know why: because I can.
Flatrock reply :
On 5/21/2019 at 3:21 AM, J Francho said:This, to me sounds like the real problem, and not simply going fast. You're not comfortable with what goes along with going fast, and the resulting effects. That's okay. If you told me (I had an 85 mph Bullet) you didn't want to go too fast, I would respect that and not run fast, and keep it around 40. Most of the places I fish, that will be fine. I want a happy partner. That said, If I go screaming by you and the other boats in the tournament to get to a spot, I think you know why: because I can.
Maybe you're right, but to be honest it was more of the instability of the boat. My boat remains in the water and his ..? I think only the prop was touching.. LOL
TnRiver46 reply :
I don’t much care for going fast, it’s kind of the reason I’ve only ever fished one bass tournament. I used to like going fast on backroads but apparently pickup trucks aren’t too nimble and a few trees and guardrails later I don’t do that anymore. I’ve also never been on a roller coaster and don’t care for airplanes, I’m a big wimp. Plus I’ve hit plenty of floating and submerged stuff at 25 mph and went through some lower units and props. I’m following Jacob wheelers YouTube channel for the BPT this year and he has been through at least 3 lowers
Flatrock reply :
On 5/22/2019 at 8:02 PM, TnRiver46 said:I don’t much care for going fast, it’s kind of the reason I’ve only ever fished one bass tournament. I used to like going fast on backroads but apparently pickup trucks aren’t too nimble and a few trees and guardrails later I don’t do that anymore. I’ve also never been on a roller coaster and don’t care for airplanes, I’m a big wimp. Plus I’ve hit plenty of floating and submerged stuff at 25 mph and went through some lower units and props. I’m following Jacob wheelers YouTube channel for the BPT this year and he has been through at least 3 lowers
I get you... In my teen to mid twenties, if I wasn't peeling out or sliding to a stop, I wasn't moving in a built 302 in a F100 SWB.. Loved drifting on dirt roads and back trails... So I'm no stranger go going fast... I"m not sure which finally broke me of driving like an idiot, but now I just sit back and relax, but at the rate I'm going, I figure I'm going to be that old man in the left lane going 10 under the speed limit in about another 10 yrs.. LOL
MickD reply :
Things, mostly bad, happen way too fast at 70 mph. Very easy to miss something in the water at that speed. Not being a tournament fisherman, I'm cool with my 32 mph max of my 60 Merc on a 16.5 foot boat. I often throttle back to an easy-plane speed of about 25, no stress, reasonable safety, better fuel economy.
I'll bet many 70mph drivers are basically unqualified for doing that. If I see a very fast boat approaching, I move well out of the way, too.
J Francho reply :
On 5/22/2019 at 12:11 PM, Flatrock said:Maybe you're right, but to be honest it was more of the instability of the boat. My boat remains in the water and his ..? I think only the prop was touching.. LOL
If YOU felt unstable, then your friend wasn't a good host or driver.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 5/22/2019 at 8:57 PM, Flatrock said:I get you... In my teen to mid twenties, if I wasn't peeling out or sliding to a stop, I wasn't moving in a built 302 in a F100 SWB.. Loved drifting on dirt roads and back trails... So I'm no stranger go going fast... I"m not sure which finally broke me of driving like an idiot, but now I just sit back and relax, but at the rate I'm going, I figure I'm going to be that old man in the left lane going 10 under the speed limit in about another 10 yrs.. LOL
No problem, except for get in the right lane !!!
Goldstar225 reply :
I'm with you on the no need for speed. My boat will top out at 50 but you'll usually find me at 30-40 MPH. I've no problem with the go fast guys as long as they're safe. I actually enjoy watching a tournament blast off and remember the days of the shotgun starts.
jbmaine reply :
On 5/22/2019 at 9:00 PM, MickD said:I'm cool with my 32 mph max of my 60 Merc on a 16.5 foot boat. I often throttle back to an easy-plane speed of about 25, no stress, reasonable safety, better fuel economy.
Feel the same way. Got a 50 on our 16ft. Lund. Maxes out at 30 mph, plenty fast for us.
jaimeastin reply :
My boat only goes 33mph, lol. I am sure if I had a faster boat, I would driver faster, but I usually go about 25...
I love fact cars always had at least one sports car and still do. I drive over 100 just about daily.
Water and roads are two different beasts. Some boats and cars are capable of handling the conditions better than others... driving, my biggest factor is other drivers and the fact that they are unpredictable.
On a boat, the issue is the water. You do not not know what is below the surface. Water and wind is also an issue together.
I try to respect others and make sure that they're not grabbing that oh'**** or Jesus bar. it's always easier for the driver because Darren control and holding on to something where is a passenger doesn't have that luxury. Secondly is just dangerous. so no matter how many times you get away, Ariel's at one time which is all it takes.
I finished the tournament and blast off is important get to your spot... But there's always other spots. Milo 35 miles an hour boat got me to a spot that I won't it where is everyone else they're bigger boat tours and even farther away. I did have to plan to get back to the dock, but we got back. What's important things always be safe
I fish and drive my boat at night a lot. Electronics really help with that because I will follow my saying Pat back just to make sure. Fishing places in like a river or the California delta can be tricky... Stuff comes with a tie and it's how he lowers and rises. I seen some people hauling ass, which I think was extremely foolish. The stuff I've seen and avoid it just do it to the conditions changing are crazy. The water is just too unpredictable.
r83srock reply :
It’s different strokes for different folks. I live in walleye and musky country, bass fishing just isn’t that excepted here. The folks who “bass fish” primarily tournament fish here, and there are a few who make it hard for the rest of the general fishing community to accept “us”. My boat can hit mid 60s, and a few years ago I ran it like I stole it. Glad I never owned a crotch rocket, I had already had tons of trouble with fast cars. Fast forward to now, and I still enjoy opening it up. However, I’m way more conscious of my audience, surroundings and passengers. If someone is with me whose never been in a high performance boat before, 35-40 is it. If it’s rough, same. If there’s people around, same. Speed is fun, for me, but there’s a time and a place, and it isn’t all the time. Btw, Tritons are known for chine walking, but it’s possible your buddy was allowing the boat to do that to give more speed effect, it’s a dangerous condition if you don’t control it before it begins.
TOXIC reply :
Personally, from my perspective there's a few reasons I have a 70mph boat (that's really working to get my 21 foot Ranger to that speed but I can). First and foremost, safety. If I need to outrun a storm or need the power of a 250hp motor in bad water (wind and waves), I know I have it. Second, to get the maximum MPG and control, bass boats are designed to run "on the pad" and while that may make you feel you are close to "out of control" you are not. With a properly set up boat/motor, it's running at its optimum when it is on pad. BTW in the "go fast" glass bass boat world, 70-75mph is very slow. Your skill as a driver and water conditions should dictate how fast you pilot your boat. I'm not a speed demon and with clients in the boat, I rarely exceeded 40mph unless they were boat owners and were accustomed to higher speeds. And as has been said, things happen very fast on the water at high speeds. BUT>>>>There's something to be said about getting out on the lake at sunrise with the water like glass and being able to "let her eat" running down the lake. Working the trim and jackplate and feeling that last little bit of hull lift out of the water knowing your boat is operating in its maximum capacity and your motor is singing at the top of its RPM range. I may be old but I'm young at heart.
Todd2 reply :
On 6/3/2019 at 12:01 AM, jaimeastin said:My boat only goes 33mph, lol. I am sure if I had a faster boat, I would driver faster, but I usually go about 25...
Bout the same here...40HP Tin boat. Does fine by me.
The problem at most of the lakes that I fish is that HP and common sense are inversely proportional.
Hi-Powered Red Neck reply :
Personally I grew up in fast Bass boats tournament fishing with my Dad. The Club he was in had some FAST boats I've been 108 mph in a 21' Bullet. As Toxic said 70 isn't fast. 70 is a nice safe cruise speed on a fast boat. Theres a time and a place for everything. I slowed down and now I wish I hadn't. I'm selling my 2 boats and looking for a Gambler or a Bullet. If you're ever in a boat going faster than you a comfortable say something. The Bass boat I have now is a 18' Skeeter it's a 65 mph boat. To me thats slow, to my wife it's terrifying. She's been behind the wheel of her car at 160 with me in it, so its not the speed that frightens her. I rarely run over 40 with her in the boat. Same with friends, I can tell at a glance if you diggin' the speed or white knuckled. If you like I'll let'er eat. If your white knuckled I'll back it down. Most guy's are the same way. I go fast cause I like it. If my fishin' partner doesn't then we won't. 40 works. I grew up with the "If your boat doesn't scare you a little it's not fast enough" crowd.
bunz559 reply :
Tournaments and fun. I own a Ranger RT188 with a 115 and top out at 46mph. While it gets me on the water, moves me plenty fast to get around the lakes in my area, it's still SLOW. LOL! I've fished a few tournaments and it would be super nice to keep up with some of the more powerful boats. But I only run a few tournaments a year for fun.
What I'd really like is to be able to boat around faster for the fun when I want to. Something that'll go 70mph, but can cruise at 50-60 with ease. Currently 45mph is at WOT. No matter if I want to go any faster, I can't. At least with a more powerful boat, I can boat around slow and have the option of going faster. My next boat will be at least a 19ft with a 200 or 225. That should give me a little larger deck room, that will still fit in my garage, and get me into the speeds that I desire.
Shimano_1 reply :
I think speed is always relative. Personally anything over 70 is too fast in a bass boat. Too many variables. Of course guys with bullets would disagree. I've had one rig that would run 75. I hit that once and scared myself. Cruised at 65 comfortably in it. Also believe there should be some form of training before a guy can buy a 90 mph rig and take it to the lake. If not for his safety for everyone else's. Guys get crazy launching for a tournament. I've seen several close calls simply from people with too much testosterone and no common sense. If the driver is experienced and courteous then the speed isnt such a big deal.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/24/2019 at 10:25 PM, Shimano_1 said:I think speed is always relative. Personally anything over 70 is too fast in a bass boat. Too many variables. Of course guys with bullets would disagree. I've had one rig that would run 75. I hit that once and scared myself. Cruised at 65 comfortably in it. Also believe there should be some form of training before a guy can buy a 90 mph rig and take it to the lake. If not for his safety for everyone else's. Guys get crazy launching for a tournament. I've seen several close calls simply from people with too much testosterone and no common sense. If the driver is experienced and courteous then the speed isnt such a big deal.
I rarely run my boat wide open and wide open is usually 27 mph going upstream........ haha! I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you can bust open a gear case just floating through shoals and forgetting to trim up.......
18RangerZ520L reply :
I rarely run WOT, except to let her breathe hard every once in a blue moon.
Pushing a bass boat to its max out limits on speed just to make it to a spot 7 seconds before another competitor is dumb imo. Do we drive our cars with the pedal to the floor until the needle is maxed out on the speedometer?!?!?
I think it's funny to see guys constantly swapping out props, etc just to gain 1-3 mph top end speed. If you are worried about going 70+ mph vs just 65mph it's time you leave the rods at home and pick up boat racing........ I drive my boat a majority of the time at the blistering speed of 33-35 mph and make it to my spots in plenty of time without putting myself, my passenger or my boat/motor at risk.
Sam reply :
A few times I would actually forget how fast I was going as I looked at the birds, the shoreline, other boats, for things floating in the water, etc., and then looked at my GPS speed which was clocking in the 60's.
This can happen when you have calm water and a hot foot and are enjoying a beautiful day.
Otherwise, I keep the boat at a peak 50 MPH when needed, like in a tournament or as stated above, I just want to go fast for the heck of it.
I have gone over 70 in my friend's Ranger on a calm day on the Chickahominy River and never knew how fast we were going until he told me to look at his GPS for our MPH.
Major problem is that things happen very fast on the water and going fast for no apparent reason puts you and others in peril.
GreenPig reply :
I'm a speed freak and proud. I run all 3 of my boats WOT every trip. From slowest to fastest. 2.9 mph, 15.1 mph, 27.4 mph and those are GPS speed with just me and tackle.???? My boats are simple fishing platforms and most lakes have ramps in the general area I'm going to fish. I fished tournaments for years zipping around and understand the need for speed. I catch bigger fish nowadays going slower.
Ratherbfishing reply :
I have only a 25 horse motor on my 17.5 foot aluminum so obviously I can't go very fast BUT the only time I've really desired to go faster is when a storm is rolling in. To have a bigger motor would mean I can't take it on my (now) favorite lake.
Way2slow reply :
A smaller, slow boat will make you a better fisherman. The lake I mostly fish is about 77,000 acres and over a mile wide down in the main body. I can go almost 60 miles in one direction so, if the area I'm fishing is not working for me, it doesn't take long to go to another area 15 or more miles away at 70+ MPH. Unless you want to spend your whole day riding, that's not so easy to do in a 25 - 30 MPH boat (or even slower).
That makes you have to hang around in a somewhat limited area and figure it out. Figure out where the fish are at and what bait and how to present it to them to entice a bite.
I started almost 60 years ago fishing the backwaters of this lake using nothing but a 17ft canoe with a little 1.5hp outboard hanging off the side, so my fishing was confined to no more than a mile or so in any one direction. I learned to make it work, and know that area like the back of my hand. When other people say they can't buy a bite, I can always fall back to this area can catch fish. It may not be the large numbers other places, if you could get to them, would produce, but I can always depend of getting a few fish out of it.
It's like learning a small lake inside a huge lake. The things this teaches you, you find if you pay attention, you can use the same techniques in other, similar areas you come into that work in your are. Also, when gas gets back to $3.00 a gallon again, you don't really care about the whole, huge lake if you are generally fishing on a budget like I am and don't want to spend $100 a trip feeding some big a** motor running all over the lake at 70mph.
Bird reply :
I recently spent the day with a friend on his Triton at lake Anna " 13000 acre " and can say with confidence......I wasn't to fond of running 70mph.
It felt way to fast for my comfort zone.
He had a 200 hp Yamaha pegged moving from spot to spot.
Give me my boat with 40lb thrust. Lol
Swamp Yankee reply :
I’m more than satisfied with my 14’ tin boat with its 15hp tiller control Mercury.
Where I do most of my fishing, anything more than 12-15 mph is overkill, in my opinion. Fluctuating water levels because of a hydroelectric dam, lots of New England glacial boulders, plenty of storms and beavers dropping trees upstream, stump fields and logs floating under the surface...even that 15 mph is too fast in some of my favorite stretches.
The river gets lots of bass tournaments with guys flying up and down the rivers at full speed. But the “ regulars” are pretty much all running 25hp or less.
Even so, there are plenty of times when I just grab the oars and roll my rowing skiff down to the launch on its dolly. After all, the biggest bass I catch mostly come from a shallow stump field about 1/4 mile upstream from the launch.
related Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic
previous topic
most viewed Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.