Uses for a pontoon boat ?

[Day Late Fishen]

I recieved a pontton boat 4 christmas and I'm wondering what types of fishing pontoon owners use the for . I'm fairly athletic but I don't want to be risking my life. My boat is a " Outfitters Expedition Outback". graemlins/dork.gif

[Bankbound]

What Lenght, wieght capacity, one man? Two man, etc...? There are many possibilities, it all depends on what type of fishing you do.

[Day Late Fishen]

It's one man .The package does not say the legnth of the pontoons . I would keep it if I can drift some of the easy drifts with it . If not I'll return it for something else . I think its the model Garts marked from 399 to 199 a couple of weeks ago .

[Boedy]

Been thinking real hard about picking up a pontoon Boat. Anybody have one of them? Do you like it what can you tell me about the pros and cons of them. Saw one at Sportsmen’s with anchor and everything pretty big set up for $5-600 as I remember. Thinking mostly summer running on N Santiam no real big water for sure. :dance:

[5-Cents]

Pontoon boats are a great way to float down a river. I use mine mostly in the summer as it is a kick boat (legs in the water). I have floated the Descutes many a time from Warm Springs to Trout Creek.

They are especially great for smaller waters where larger boats have access problems. Keep it and use it!

:cheers:

[Mojo]

I have a Buck's Bags Bronco. It is awesome to fish from on rivers that have rapids that are less than a class 3. I've done some rapids in mine, and it was fun, but I'd rather fish flat water. The nice thing about kick-boats is that you won't get your legs caught up in underwater obstructions like you can in a float tube (still water only for tubes).

I fish the South Fork of the Boise regularly from my kick-boat. I also use it for fly-fishing the lakes around here. You stay much warmer than if you were in a tube. Kick-boats are a really affordable alternative to a drift boat, but you can't carry as much stuff.

[Born to Fish]

I've got a Buck's Bags "South Fork" pontoon kick boat. Have had it for several years and logged many memorable hours using it.

While it's rated for some rapids, I have fished only on flat water to date. On occasion have mounted an electric trolling motor to help get around on bigger waters (Willard Bay, near Ogden) and to motor troll.

Mojo pointed out one of the positive aspects I like - getting you up out of the water. Nice to be able to skim over the top of weeds instead of trying to kick your way through as would be the case in a belly-boat.

I set up a system on the back platform where I have a plastic milk-crate like box with rod racks that could store up to 6 if I were that gungho, plus carry additional supplies, etc.

I used the belly-boat for years and had a lot of enjoyable moments with it, but I'd never go back to that now that I've got the pontoon kick boat.

[Tanner]

I have an 8' Outcast pontoon boat and a 16' Sotar cataraft The pontoon boat is pretty good for fishing rivers that have class II or smaller rapids. I have tried pulling plugs with it but the thing does not track good at all. So I leave all my plug pulling to the drift boat.
When river fishing I use it mainly to go from point to point and do most of that days fishing from the bank or wading.

Where it really shines though is lake fishing. It is so much nicer to spend a day casting flys out of than a float tube however, If the wind kicks up, I'll take the float tube. The pontoons sit a lot higher out of the water and you can really get blown around as compare to a belly boat.

Most boats will tell you in the owners manual what the recommended uses are.
Just remember, when in doubt stay on the side of safety.

Now if ya wanna talk Catarafts, that is a whole different story. :grin:

[Montana]

I have an 7ft 6 in pontoon boat with an anchor pully and motor mount, I have been going down the East Fork of Lewis without any problems, bottom out now and then but a little push and on you go. I am a little heavy for mine so I am looking at an 8 or 9 footer, there is an outfit in Steamboat Springs Colorado who makes a pontoon boat that is 8 foot long that can handle 375 lbs. creekcompany.com :grin: