View Full Version : Jon Boats in the NW
JohnnyLaw
04-18-2009, 06:08 PM
Why is it that I don't see a lot of flat bottom jon boats here in the NW? I was thinking of buying one b/c I can duck hunt out of it and I want to fish for bass and crappie as well as salmon and steelhead. I would not dream of taking a jon boat out on the Columbia. What gives, why are they not popular here? Are they not suitable for rivers? My experience with them is in lakes only. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Tinman
04-18-2009, 06:32 PM
Why is it that I don't see a lot of flat bottom jon boats here in the NW? I was thinking of buying one b/c I can duck hunt out of it and I want to fish for bass and crappie as well as salmon and steelhead. I would not dream of taking a jon boat out on the Columbia. What gives, why are they not popular here? Are they not suitable for rivers? My experience with them is in lakes only. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
It's not only wind and chop that can swamp a jonboat, but also wakes from shipping, barges and tugboats. This rules out the Willamette as well as the Columbia as suitable for jonboats. Stillwater ponds are rare here, and that's about the only place suitable for jonboats.
I've spent more day's on the Columbia in a jon boat than I can remember. Pay attention to your surroundings. I had a welded 16x48 with a 40hp jet. I traded up to a larger sled with taller sides when we had our first kid. Nothing wrong with a decent sized jon on the Willamette or Columbia if you're smart about it and know your limitations.
sharpshott
04-18-2009, 08:20 PM
Same here, just went in on buying a 17' jon with the family, fished in em growing up all around, work great for the columbia, willamatte, duck hunting, crabbin, everything, dont know if i would take it to bonnivelle but besides that they work great, no problems...every year i see boats that look like bathtubs and wonder what theyre thinking, but jons are normal to me...
wsuweston
04-18-2009, 10:11 PM
I recently purchased a used 14' Jon after looking for about a year. I think a big part of the lack of jons is that most of the boat builders around here are not building the "cheaper" riveted jons like they do in other parts of the us. About the cheapest is alumacraft and they are not from around here either. I say go for it and good luck.
JohnnyLaw
04-19-2009, 08:49 AM
Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. I'll let you know how things work out.
arkansasbasser
04-19-2009, 09:00 AM
I grew up fishing in the south in jon boats. I love them. They can't be beat for stability, except maybe a Livingston tunnel hull.
loveseafood
04-19-2009, 12:33 PM
check cl boats section i see jon boats quite often all around the oregon sections
Fishalot
04-19-2009, 01:33 PM
I have a 14 foot Jon boat made by Lowe and it has deeper sides then the classic Jon boats. I take it on the Columbia River all the, I would be a little reluctant to take a shorter side Jon boar out there.
Good boat handling and common sense make all the difference and when the weather changes so the water gets rough, for heaven sakes take you time getting back to the dock.
shorthair
04-21-2009, 04:22 PM
Had a 14'er for many years & got a lot of use out of it even caught some gators out of 'er in the big C. Was plenty stable with 2 adults & 3 large dogs for the mountain lakes. :twocents::meme::meme::meme:
adobe wall
04-23-2009, 07:59 PM
The local version of a jon boat is a river sled. Most of them are owned by guys who fish primarily in the tribs and stay out of the open water. I see some flat bottom sleds on the Columbia, but it's a low percentage. Hit some skinny water and that's where they are the best tool for the job.
The standard riveted jon boat just isn't the all purpose boat out here that it is where I grew up (on reservoirs and marshes of the southeast). There's plenty you can do with a jon boat out here, but most of that could be done by other, more versatile boats. The exception would be some specific marsh situations, duck hunting and carp shooting and such.
jmho, aw
veilside180sx
04-23-2009, 08:18 PM
The majority of jons these days are welded .10 aluminum. Thankfully the riveted boats are fewer and farther between now, although they were lighter if it didn't have to take abuse.
I'm a big fan of jon boats.=)
The local version of a jon boat is a river sled. Most of them are owned by guys who fish primarily in the tribs and stay out of the open water. I see some flat bottom sleds on the Columbia, but it's a low percentage. Hit some skinny water and that's where they are the best tool for the job.
The standard riveted jon boat just isn't the all purpose boat out here that it is where I grew up (on reservoirs and marshes of the southeast). There's plenty you can do with a jon boat out here, but most of that could be done by other, more versatile boats. The exception would be some specific marsh situations, duck hunting and carp shooting and such.
jmho, aw
Typical jon boats just don't have enough freeboard. Even in our rivers another jet boat passing in the river could swamp it.