Best Boat For Lake W/no Trolling Motors

[BigmouthForever23]

I just bought a house in a neighborhood that has access to a private lake. The only problem is they don't allow motors of any kind, gas or electric. This kinda blows as I really wanted to use a trolling motor on my boat. Any ideas on the type of boat that would suit me best? I'll need rows to get around.

[Scott F]

What suits YOU the best? Only you can answer that. The choices are; kayak, canoe, personal pontoon, float tube, rubber raft, jon boat or V hull row boat. 

[BrianinMD]

My initial thought would be kayak, there are some great models out now since its becoming more popular to fish out of them. But will be more of a personal preference, kayak would be the most mobile of the choices. a small jon would give you the most room but hardest to row.

[A-Jay]

I say go with a Hobie Cat Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 or 14

 

http://www.hobiecat.com/hobie-fishing-team/members/

 

http://www.hobiecat.com/mirage/mirage-pro-angler-14/

 

I'll tell you right up front that I do not own one as I fish from a canoe w/ trolling motor

 

But -

 

Try and Find a Single Mirage Owner who Does Not Absolutely Love theirs . . . . .

 

I don't know any.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

There are a ton of kayaks out there to choose from and they are easy to store, easy to transport and easy to paddle and fish from.  Now picking one out can be more complicated because there are so many options out there.

[BigmouthForever23]

Hmm, what about just a regular boat that you'd normally use just not have any trolling motor with it? I'd still like to be able to stand up to fish and that sort of thing.

[flyfisher]

Many of the kayaks out there you can stand in to fish. The most stable ones are the hybrid style boats like the native ultimate or the wilderness systems commander.  After that there are the traditional sit on tops, many of which are able to be stood up in to fish. 

 

Take a look at Jackson Kayaks, Wilderness Systems ride series and for pedal powered boats there are Native Propel and the hobie mirage drive boats.  Both have versions that are stable enough for standing.

[BigmouthForever23]

^^Awesome thanks very much for that! Googled some images and those might be perfect (the ones you can stand up on). Main reason I want one I can stand is I love to fish topwater, mainly throwing Zara Spooks and it's much easier to work those standing up.

 

All in all, I'll make this work. I'd much rather have access to a private lake w/motor restrictions than have a public lake with ski boats and jet skis.

[Fishes in trees]

Back in the day, (early 80's) I had a professor pal who had a 15' Hayward Row Troller.  It was a fiberglass V hull with 3 bench seats on it and it was the sweetest rowing boat I've even been on.   Fully loaded, with 2 guys and probably 150 lbs of gear (rods & reels, gear, coolers, anchors, whatever) it rowed great.  It tracked great and you could spin it on a dime if you wanted to.  It was stable enough that you could stand up and take a leak when ever you needed to

 

This guy was into drift fishing for whatever was biting more than bass fishing per se, so the boat had 6 rod holders that you could relocate anywhere along the edge of the boat to take advantage of wind, drifting, whatever.  He was also the first guy I met who regularly used a drift sock to reduce speed when drifting with the wind.

 

He acquired the boat when he was a grad student in Wisconsin in the mid 70's, and guys in that area taught him how to fish for whatever was biting.  For the most part we used night crawlers or minnows, but sometimes when drifting for cats we used 4 or 5 inch live blue gills.

 

A good row boat is hard to beat for versatility and carrying a bunch of gear.  Later on, as we got more into bass fishing we acquired a transom mount trolling motor and used the oars from time to time to save the battery.