How Well Would You Do? In A Jon Boat

[J Francho]

That would all depend on the lake, not the boat. The biggest advantage in a tournament is time in that lake and being dialed into the fish. The next biggest is knowing how to adjust. None of this involved the craft your fishing from or the gear you use.

An old tournament fishing proverb: beware the man that shows up to open tourney with beat up old tiller.

[S. Sass]

Well unless we are hand selecting what lake the weather and any other part of the tourney settings I disagree. As a general tournament question I don't think this was a one lake question. That being said a faster boat gets you fishing quicker all other variables equal. The same can be said about the weather. I own and fish from a Jon boat but if the winds are up a larger more stable boat would be if nothing else safer. Sure you can adjust but while your adjusting the other guy is fishing. I'm not saying you cant fish and do good from a Jon boat like you said the boat isn't the brains behind the operation. However as a over all question, "How well would you do in a Jon boat?" Over numerous lakes and conditions I say look around. I don't see anglers selling their bigger boats to get a Jon boat actually the opposite seems to be the trend. I love my Jon boat I can get in pools and smaller bodies of water that a bigger boat isn't really suited for. And I am all for the small guy kicking big and rich guys tail in the tournaments I am just being realistic. Ask the Pros how many would go against a the field in a Jon boat.

[J Francho]

Pros travel great distances, most weekend guys travel less than 5 miles. Don't get me wrong, I value speed - that is a Bullet with Merc racing motor in my avatar - but that isn't the great advantage you make it out to be. To be sure, I did much better in my Xpress than the Bullet. skill trumps speed almost every day of the week.

[ww2farmer]

I'll leave these here.....my $$ results the last 5 years fishing out of a glorified "jon boat" (bass tracker) w/ a 25 HP motor, against guys with faster glass rigs, often festooned with the "latest and greatest" electronics, power poles etc...

 

Wins: 6

 

2nds: 15

 

3rds: 9

 

4ths: 5

 

Other money spots when there have been enough boats to pay more than four places: 5

 

Lunker: 3

 

Those are just open results out of my boat, add a couple more in each place for other assorted tournaments out of my boat, and a bunch more out of various buddies older glass boats, none of whom have the "latest and greatest"...........

 

Moral of the story, learn the water your fishing, learn to fish, and you'd do fine in a row boat. Would I like to have a bigger, faster boat..........sure, I'd be lying if I said no. But I make the best out of what I got, and know my limitations, I DO NOT go out on Erie, or Oneida and try to compete, I stay to the local smaller lakes. I  actually take a little pride in doing well out of what some people feel as an inferior boat.

[J Francho]

^ding ding ding!!!!!

[senko_77]

You'll do fine, man. In Georgia, they have tournament series on electric motor only lakes and I had great success. I'd also take my boat out to the big impoundments and just put in at a ramp and fish the area like it was a small lake.

If you approach it right, fishing with limited mobility on where you can go is a big deal and you can do some serious damage. On most lakes, each creek usually has enough fish with to win a tournament. People get so hung up on running and gunning that they usually move to fast. Having to slow down and really work and area thoroughly can have great results.

The boat doesn't make the angler, brotha. It's all about the angler.

[S. Sass]

most weekend guys travel less than 5 miles

 

 

know my limitations, I DO NOT go out on Erie, or Oneida and try to compete, I stay to the local smaller lakes

 

 

My point exactly. ^^^

 

I am looking at a general question not limited to a hand selected personal lakes you know like the back of your hand.

Also I never said speed was a replacement of skill by any means just a advantage. Its clearly not a disadvantage to be faster (unless you crash ), so it is an advantage be it a small one or not.

 

 

[J Francho]

I took my Xpress out on Erie and Oneida…

And won. More than once, lol.

What do you run, and what's your record?

[S. Sass]

I took my Xpress out on Erie and Oneida…

And won. More than once, lol.

What do you run, and what's your record?

This started as a question about a Jon boat in a tournament situation vs what I took was against a typical bassboat.

 

 

I said right off the bat

 

I would say I'm not gonna be a favorite. This would be me before during and after the tournament. -->>

And that is awesome you can win. All I said was the Jon boat was at a disadvantage to a bassboat. Just because you can win doesn't make it the advantageous boat.

 

The fact I don't see professionals dragging Jon boats to a tournament is enough for me that it has little or no advantage as far as a tournament fishing is concerned. Considering the $ they spend for an advantage that supports my theory. I was comparing boat to boat not the angler.

 

I already said I fish from a Jon boat. I don't have a win / loss record because I fish for relaxation and fun. Its not a competition for me, I get nothing out of showing I caught more fish than someone else.

[J Francho]

I don't think the comparison to pros compares. The club guy and the weekend angler are a different animal. It's tempting to go there, and I do it too. But it's not the same.

[Catt]

so how well do you think you could do in a Jon boat, let's say 12ft with a 10hp, 40lb minn Kota and Lowrance elite-3x and whatever else you would bring, obviously would have to fit in the boat

Don't see any mention of professional level tournaments so ya can throw that arguement out.

The tournament wins & top 10s I have on Toledo Bend were against professional level anglers, 4-5 are Pros.

Speed does not in any way, shape, or form mean you can out fish me.

As for weather every tournament I've fished anglers were allowed to trailer to different launch sites.

[SwampStudBassin]

I fish from a 14ft Jon boat, 15hp motor, n bow mount trolling motor. Just started tourney fishing. 1st tournament I took 4th out of 17 boats, this last one I took 3rd with 12.56#. There was 16 big ol bass boats. I'll admit I was a bit imtimidated, but at the end of the day only 2 of them beat me. Oh I fish by myself, no partner. The boat has very little to do with it.

[WIGuide]

The tourney I fished this last weekend you would have been put at a major disadvantage. It was on a chain of 8 lakes, which weren't enormous, but decent sized. Unfortunately the wind blew like crazy on Saturday with a good 20 mph sustained blow with gusts in the 30-40 range. Even the smaller, more protected lakes were pretty choppy, but to get to them you would have had to cross almost 2 miles of open water in the wide open bowl. Good luck crossing that in a little jon. Be sure you're strapped up with a life vest or two!