jon boat fishing

[rocknfish9001]

Just wondering, how many people here fish from jon boats or small aluminum v-hulls? Do you do it by choice or for fun? I am currently stuck in one and was curious how all you other guys cover water and find the fish with a boat like mine. No electronics, and a 10 horse motor.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I've fished from a 12 ft jon for over 20 yrs.  We fish a 292 acre lake with it primarily.  No better way to do it, no gas allowed.  If there is no need for considerable travel, I highly recommend them, besides, it's not the car, it's the driver  

[Raul]

Well I don 't need a bigger boat, most lakes I fish are small ( up to a couple thousand acres the largest one ), most don 't have paved road, nor ramp to launch the boat, access is by a dirt road and it 's gonna be somewhat difficult to lift a 1 ton boat between 2 and cartop it. But no electronics ? no sir, I do carry dephtfinder and trolling motor, plus my monster 6.5 HP and a 3 gal gas tank, plus cooler plus seats, plus my and my partner 's tackle, plus my partner.

Gee, no wonder why it never goes on full plane with all that weight.

[bassindude]

I have a 16' jon that my grandfather gave me a week before he died.  He bought it in 1965 and we fished out of it in the summers when I was out of school.  Wouldn't sell it for all the money in the world. It has a 10 hp electric start  Rude, nice motor that was on it when I got it.  However I have made many changes.  I put a deck in the front complete with rod storage.  Seats, foot controlled trolling motor w/ front and rear transducers.  Electric anchormates controllable from the front, fore and aft lighting to be legal. And Im thinking about putting in stick steering so I can drive it from the front.  I have a cooler w/pump in case I need a live well.  I dont tournament fish from it so I dont use it for that.  If I can find an all jon boat club I'll probably build a nice live well w/insulation and locking lid.  I can shoot you some pic's if you want, just let me know.  The great thing about a jon is that they are a blank slate.  You can make them what you want, as money permits.  I've never had a problem with weather related waves however I have almost been capsized by 30-40 ft cruizers.  Gotta be careful.  When you see them coming take cover.  When fishing big water use your map and your vehicle to get where your going.  Put in at different ramps until you find the kind of water your looking for.  Hope this helps.  Jim

[Hillbilly_Hooker]

I fish a number of smaller lakes that are electric motor only.  I have a 14' jon for those.  I also have a 16' bass boat for larger lakes, but the majority of my time is spent in the jon.

[flechero]

You should really look into a fish/depth finder... I fished out of a jon boat for the first 15 years... at age 12 did extra chores to earn the cash to buy one.  You can get a decent unit for as little as $59 at bass pro.  (I just looked)  It won't be a big screen with color or high res. but it will show depth, fish and have all the basic features.  I used an Eagle Ultra back then and even that had way more features than I needed.  (I think it was $99 back then)

For less than the cost of a reel, you can have electronics!!  You didn't mention a trolling motor, if you don't have one, they can also be had for pretty cheap... you don't need a big one since you already have a gas motor.

[Rattlinrogue]

I fish out uf a glass boat now,but I used to have a 14 ft. jon "bass" boat.I had carpeted floors and deck,20 HP outboard,Hummingbird depthfinder,foot controlled TM,Nice elevated seats,two cranking anchors.You can do whatever your mind can imagine with a jon boat.

[Yankee_Bassman]

Up until this year, I fished in New Hampshire out of a 12' Gamefisher aluminum V-hull, with a 9.9 'rude. I had a trolling motor beside it on the stern for many years, but it gave up the ghost. I had running lights and a bilge pump, but no electronics. I had a ton of fun, and caught plenty of bass out of that boat.

This year, I bought a used Nitro Fish n Ski. I fished a lot more, a LOT more, and caught more fish this summer than in the last 5 years combined. No question I wish I had done it sooner, but I'll never regret the hours I spent on the water in that V-hull, just like I'll never regret the hours I spent bank and dock fishing before I got my first boat.

Bottom line, I guess, is if you like to fish, you'll find a way to do it and enjoy it, dreaming of the day you can move up a bit in equipment. Once you move up, you soon get "foot-itis", a disease which compels you to immediately begin thinking about the next bigger boat you want, and what it will have different from what you currently own. I understand from friends that death is the only known cure for "foot-itis".

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Bassindude, please post pic  

[Swampfishing]

I was just giving a little john boat, for the swamp I go too it is pretty much the only thing I can fish with. and they last forever, this one has a county sticker on it from 1964, lord knows how old it is. I am hoping when I register it next week they can tell me from the S/N someone scratched in the hull.

[gramcracker]

I fish from a 14 foot jon boat.  I would have to say that I have a bunch of fun fishing from it.  For me it is the places I can fish with it that makes it so much fun.  I only have a front and back trolling motors and for lakes that allow gas I have a 9hp.  The electric motor only lakes have great fishing on them you just have to have enough batteries  .  I did make the investment for a cheap fishfinder.  It does not do very much for me in the summer, but it is great in the winter when the fish stack up in the channels. Hope you have a lot of fun.

[Bob_Gordon]

I have a 14' Lowe Jon, great little boat for the type fishing I like to do. Had a 19' with a 115 Merc and it just was to big for my needs. Most of the lakes I fish range from 60 acres to 3,000 acres with only a river access and small outlet channel (shallow) to get into them, rules out most larger boats. Jon's are great little boats as long as you watch the weather and don't  do anything stupid as they are pretty small . I like to fish swamps at the ends of these lakes and use a push pole to get way back in where nobody else cares to go. Some real nice bass back in those places and you are always alone except for a feeding moose or bear chaseing frogs. I have a rear electric and a 9.9 4 stroke, great small boat combination for small remote lakes...not everybody's cup of tea but for Idaho bass it works very well...

[gatrboy53]

i have and fish reg. out of a 14' bass tracker w/ 15 h.p. 25# t.m. and eagle d.f. ,this past spring i bought a 19' gambler that will do 70 m.p.h. i fish out of my tracker about as much as my big boat. the one thing the tracker taught me to do was fish a area instead of zippin all over the place. i can also get to a lot more fishy areas than the big boat. i dont get as wet in big boat cause if a storm comes up and they do every evening in fl.i can out run them .w/ the cost of fuel i may be fishin tracker a bunch more.

[rocknfish9001]

everyones boat is better than mine! It is a 12' jon and has a trolling motor and 7 horse gas motor. Thats it. I would really like to get a depthfinder, but most of my fishing is done in tiny (50-100) acre "lakes" the fish are easy to find in spring and early summer but impossible after mid july.

[bassindude]

LBH, how do i do that exactly, and where? not done that before. you can e-mail me so we dont bore the folks on the site.  Jim