Is A Dinghy A Good Way To Go

[nickniescior]

Using a dinghy on a big lake, is that a good idea?

[Master Bait'r]

It's a better idea than fishing from the shore IMO.  

[nickniescior]

It's a better idea than fishing from the shore IMO.  

I figured it would be, Im think at round valley lake resevouir in NJ it would be a good idea

[B@ssCrzy]

Better than being on shore, but not sure I would call it a "good idea."  I am sure it would work, but there are much better alternatives that you could use.  Kayak for one....a lot of guys fish the oceans in their kayaks. 

[B-Dozer]

Using a Dinghy, on a big lake is that a good idea?

 

If she makes sandwiches and brings beer, fine :-)

[Master Bait'r]

Better than being on shore, but not sure I would call it a "good idea." I am sure it would work, but there are much better alternatives that you could use. Kayak for one....a lot of guys fish the oceans in their kayaks.

I would have to agree that a kayak would probably be the best option outside of a full sized boat. Love mine and it's absolutely my go-to. However I also do enjoy taking out my little 8' rowboat when I'm bringing someone and a cooler.

Beats treading water If he's got the boat or has access to it and that's why he's asking, I'd give 'er a go for sure. If it's money about to be spent I'd go kayak without hesitation.

[indianabasshunter]

Bad weather can hit fast. If you decide to take a small boat out on big water stay close to the ramp. Nothing worse than water coming over the sides of the boat and trying to make it to the ramp before everybody else on the lake with a 250 horsepower outboard. Keep something in the boat to bail water and of course life jackets.

[Fishing Rhino]

The dinghy was designed for transporting passengers from the shore or dock, or wharf to your larger vessel on a  mooring in what is usually sheltered waters. 

 

While it's better than nothing, the wind will blow it around as badly or maybe even worse than a canoe.  While it may seem they are easy to row, they are not.  A canoe, or a kayak will glide between strokes.  A dinghy, not so much.

 

Having said all that, if it was all that I had, I would use it.  Just be aware of its limitations.

[nickniescior]

The dinghy was designed for transporting passengers from the shore or dock, or wharf to your larger vessel on a  mooring in what is usually sheltered waters. 

 

While it's better than nothing, the wind will blow it around as badly or maybe even worse than a canoe.  While it may seem they are easy to row, they are not.  A canoe, or a kayak will glide between strokes.  A dinghy, not so much.

 

Having said all that, if it was all that I had, I would use it.  Just be aware of its limitations.

What if this dinghy had an engine on it?

[Fishing Rhino]

What if this dinghy had an engine on it?

 

Some dinghies do have outboards.  That would surely beat rowing one.

 

All I'm saying is that dinghies are designed as short distance shuttles.  That does not mean they cannot be used for other things. 

 

They are frequently towed behind the "mother ship" which enables the mother ship to be anchored or moored in a harbor while enabling the occupants to be shuttled to shore. 

 

They are also called prams (not to be confused with baby carriages), or tenders.

[Loop_Dad]

I have an inflatable raft and I can share some of my thoughts.

 

Pros:

 

You can deflate and put it in a car. No trailer needed.

You can sit on a chair. I use cooler box.

You can stand on it and do jumping jacks. I put a hardwood floor made out of plywood.

You are not forced to sit L-shaped like with Kayak. I have bad back

Pretty stable with wide width. This was one of my concern with tiny aluminum boat or anything narrow, due to wakeboarders in the water I fish.

 

Cons:

 

Too much work setting up every time. I knew when I bought this, but after a year and a half, I am really getting tired of this. If you are planning on using trailer, this is not an issue.

Gets blown by wind easily. With hand controlled trolling motor, it is not easy to concentrate on fishing when wind blows. I had to use my anchor often so that I can fish.

 

And as others said, you need to know the limit of your boat and carry all the safety equipments. I watch weather and pick the day and place based on the forecast.

 

Was it a good idea for me to buy this? Totally yes! This allowed me to be off from the shore and fish wherever I want (well almost). Do I want to keep doing this forever? No. This was (and still is) meant to be temporary gap measure until I can have a boat that requires a trailer.

 

Hope this helps.

[Bluebasser86]

I used to fish out of a 8' 2 man boat everywhere. Whenever I went to a bigger lake I picked a ramp off the main lake a long ways to decrease the chance of getting caught in bad weather or getting swamped by bigger boats. I think it taught me a lot because I had to find fish in the limited area I had to work with instead of being able to run around and find actively feeding fish. 

[tomustang]

Oh great, round valley, the bermuda triangle of jersey

[Fishing Rhino]

I used to fish out of a 8' 2 man boat everywhere. Whenever I went to a bigger lake I picked a ramp off the main lake a long ways to decrease the chance of getting caught in bad weather or getting swamped by bigger boats. I think it taught me a lot because I had to find fish in the limited area I had to work with instead of being able to run around and find actively feeding fish. 

 

An excellent observation.  Before I got a bass boat, I used my canoe with a trolling motor.  It "forced" me to work areas more thoroughly.  I found small patches of bottom, clearly visible on the sounder, that I would have never noticed in a bass boat, because I'd be past them in a blink.  Now, when I fish those ponds/lakes in my bass boat, I catch many more fish than I could possibly catch from my canoe, simply because I can move from spot to spot much quicker in the bass boat.  I can take advantage of what I learned about the pond because I used a canoe for a few years.

[Wintersun]

It depends on the dingy as some are very seaworthy and others are designed only to ferry people and gear to and from the dock to the big boat. Great deal of variation on how much effort it takes to move them along as well with some that are very efficient, i.e. a wherry. There are ways to attach trolling motors and extend the range and utility of a rowing boat.