how small is too small

[fishmooch]

So I've been wanting to try fishing in the columbia. No experience what so ever in driving a boat so....I will have an experienced person with me doing most of it. Anyway, I've been told different opinions about how small is too small for a boat to be when on the columbia in Astoria.

I have a 16 foot proalaskan smoker. Some say too small, some say just fine and others say stay away from the main stream and you should be fine.

Im thinking that Im gonna stay near the tongue point area for most of my fishing. However, I may wanna go a little deeper when I loose my swimming floaties.

Whats your opinions on boat size for the comlumbia.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I've fished the Columbia in a 15' Smokercraft Alaskan,and a 14' Northwood. We fished the Wind River area and both times had some pretty nasty weather. I wouldn't have tried to run any real distance but both boats handled it fine.

Use some common sense and you'll be ok.

[24 on/ 48 off]

:yeahthat:

I cut my teeth in a 14' Seaswirl P-14 on the Big C. Be smart, don't try to do <u>all</u> the things the big boys are doing and you will be fine.

--spud--:)

[sakana49]

It all depends on the current and wind. I have fished bouy 10 in a 14' Lund w/ a 25hp outboard. That was just on an incoming tide. Around Tongue Pt you should be ok as long as the wind doesn't kick up too bad.

[1pump]

I've been downriver past buoy 20 in my 15' Klamath, and with 4 people and a full load of crab pots. Just depends on the weather and tides. I don't dink around out there when the tide turns out or when the wind kicks up really bad, and especially both. :help:
I had a 14' Gregor that was narrower and not as deep, but it could've handled it OK. I would've gotten a lot wetter in a crosswind, though.

[timinthegorge]

To my mind, a 16' is marginal, except on a flat day. I'm sure you can load a boat with 4 people and crabpots and make it back safe, a few times. I used to run a 12' sears gamefisher with a 4hp Merc all over Puget Sound when I was too young to realize the danger.

But what if the wind comes up? And on the Columbia, no matter whether we're talking the mouth of the Klickitat, or Buoy 10, it can change for the worse before you know it.

My 19' is just barely enough some days.... My :twocents:

[Chesapeake]

In my mind a 16' Alaskan is a capable craft. Set up with the right reliable motor I would consider it good to Buoy 10 in the right weather.

The question is more, What are you comfortable with?

My suggestion would be to take an experienced skipper and take the boat out a few times doing what you want to do. Then you will know if it is enough boat for you.

[sng]

Take an experienced boater with you, pay him if you need to, it will end up the cheapest and safest education for you.

[wwjetboater]

With that boat just pick you days to go out I do it with my 21ft jetboat.

[FishinTechnician]

I would consider a 15-16 footer w/deck and windshield to be the minimum and at least 35-40 horses to be able to control the boat in bad water. There are conditions when a boat w/o deck and windshield is pure suicide. If you go with a boat w/o deck you are going to have to pick your days.