Boats

[Tyler j]

Whats a good small boat to fish lakes and ponds with alot of storage and plenty of space

[Dylcook91]

A jon boat is about all you need, throw on a good trolling motor and you're good to go. You can easily modify them for fishing equipment(storage, seats, live-well) or just check out craigslist. I see some nice ones on there around me, totally rigged up and ready to go for cheap.

Other then that you could get a kayak(which I am doing currently). Although space and storage can be an issue hahaha.

[Fishes in trees]

I used to fish out of a Buster Boats Trophy. This was a top of the line pond boat. It was 10 ' long by 4' wide. It had a built in live well and cooler. I never used the live well except for storage. It had plenty of room to fish out of when you were by yourself, a little crowded when you had a buddy along. The only down side was that it was too heavy to transport via pickup, it came on its own little trailer and launching anywhere there wasn't a ramp was a pain in the butt.

In the boating section there are several extensive threads pertaining to small pond boats.

The real answer to "What is a good small boat to fish lake and ponds/" is: How much money do you got and how much are you willing/wanting to spend.

[Tyler j]

400 dollars

[Traveler2586]

A Jon boat is about all you need, throw on a good trolling motor and you're good to go. You can easily modify them for fishing equipment(storage, seats, live-well) or just check out craigslist. I see some nice ones on there around me, totally rigged up and ready to go for cheap.

Other then that you could get a kayak(which I am doing currently). Although space and storage can be an issue hahaha.

X2

I used a 14' Jon boat for years; I could take that boat on the water where the big bad glass boats couldn't get to; but I couldn't run & gun like them either. I started with just a built-in live well, trolling motor, and battery, but by the time I sold it, it had two depth finders, a 15 hp motor, the trolling motor, decking, two fishing chairs, rod tie-downs, running lights, anchor winch, and I can't remember what else. Add two men and their rods & tackle and the free-board was almost gone, boaters would come to us and ask if we needed any help - they thought we were sinking. That's what you get when you use Harry & Charlie's ( of Bassmaster fame ) boat as a guide on how to build out a Jon Boat.

[Fishing Rhino]

X2

I used a 14' Jon boat for years; I could take that boat on the water where the big bad glass boats couldn't get to; but I couldn't run & gun like them either. I started with just a built-in live well, trolling motor, and battery, but by the time I sold it, it had two depth finders, a 15 hp motor, the trolling motor, decking, two fishing chairs, rod tie-downs, running lights, anchor winch, and I can't remember what else. Add two men and their rods & tackle and the free-board was almost gone, boaters would come to us and ask if we needed any help - they thought we were sinking. That's what you get when you use Harry & Charlie's ( of Bassmaster fame ) boat as a guide on how to build out a Jon Boat.

What, no full galley, or master stateroom?

[Traveler2586]

What, no full galley, or master stateroom?

LOL, no that would have sunk us for sure...

[Dylcook91]

X2

I used a 14' Jon boat for years; I could take that boat on the water where the big bad glass boats couldn't get to; but I couldn't run & gun like them either. I started with just a built-in live well, trolling motor, and battery, but by the time I sold it, it had two depth finders, a 15 hp motor, the trolling motor, decking, two fishing chairs, rod tie-downs, running lights, anchor winch, and I can't remember what else. Add two men and their rods & tackle and the free-board was almost gone, boaters would come to us and ask if we needed any help - they thought we were sinking. That's what you get when you use Harry & Charlie's ( of Bassmaster fame ) boat as a guide on how to build out a Jon Boat.

Reminds me of when I went out on my 10' jon boat earlier this spring in the Manasquan Inlet for stripers. Me and a friend are sitting there, when a 95' fishing party boat came in about 25 ft away from us and had a massive wake. Everyone on the deck of the boat ran to the side we were on and thought for sure we were gonna be fish food. I heard one guy say " Are they crazy, you couldn't pay me to get in that thing". But with some very calculated body weight balancing we stayed dry hahaha.

[Traveler2586]

My Jon Boat was used mainly on electric lakes & ponds at first; then we ventured onto the tidal creeks off of the Potomac River using a gas motor, but we never went out on the river its self as that would have been suicidal. At times we fished in areas that you could only get to using a push-pole. I sometimes miss the quiet and slow pace of my old Jon Boat.

[CPBassFishing]

400 dollars

you can easily obtain a brand new jonboat for $200, and $50 for a set of oars and oarlocks. No need for a motor.

[detroit1]

A new johnboat for $200 I'll take 20.

[Bluebasser86]

A new johnboat for $200 I'll take 20.

Maybe not 20 but I'd take one for $200 for sure! With all the small ponds and pits around here a beat up old jon boat that leaks sells for $200.

I'd go with a jon boat too. I've had a couple of the plastic pondhoppers but they are heavy and they start to fall apart after several years. The aluminum jons will last forever if you take care of them and they're easy to move by yourself. I have an old 12 footer that I can pick up over my head and carry by myself, makes packing in to ponds with difficult access a lot easier.

[SmokeRise1]

I have a WaterQuest Basstender 11.3. It is big enough and stable enough for 2 (standing) and heavy enough so it doesn't get blown all over the lake like a Jon boat. Problems are it costs more than $400 and you need a trailer to launch it. Other than that it is the best fishing boat on my lake.