Boat suggestions for briery creek.

[Todd Hawkins]

Hello to all. Just joined this forum today but have been reading all the info for a while now.  I need help from those experienced fishing briery creek.  I am looking to buy my first boat as soon as I can decide on what to get. I live an hours drive from Lake conner, lake burton, briery creek, kerr lake, Smith mountain lake, etc. I am 37 and now getting into fishing mainly due to a 7 year son that absolutely loves fishing. He is happy sitting on a bank for hours catfishing or catching bluegill. We want to do more bass fishing though and that has been hard without a boat. 

 

I am wanting to get a small boat for fishing all the small lakes close to me.  I have never been to briery creek even though it is so close. I have heard the stories about how navigating it is difficult.  I want your opinions on what kind of boat to get. Should I get a twin troller? Should I get a jon boat? If so, how long should I get 12, 14, 16 and then should I get a small 2 hp motor to keep the weight light or should I get a9.9 hp motor? I guess I would like to know what works best. Money is not really a concern, I just want the best setup possible for briery creek,then I'll be fine on all the other small ponds/lakes. The only other concern I have is that I do have a 9 year old girl who likes to fish when the action is good and might need room for a third...but I think that I'd rather have a great two man boat than an ok 3 man boat. Besides she prefers to hunt so i spend bunting season with her.I want my son to be comfortable when we go fishing. 

 

Thanks for any help you can give. 

 

 

Todd

[bigfruits]

lots of trees in briery creek so a big motor is not needed. Even with a 9.9, youre not going to be running it full throttle for very far. A 9.9 will be more versatile for other lakes/rivers than the 2hp. You will probably not be happy with a 2hp on Smith Mountain Lake, Kerr Reservoir or Lake Anna.  

[Wayne P.]

I started fishing Briery Creek when it was first opened to fishing in Jan 1989. Then I was using a 10' aluminum jon boat with just electric trolling motors. I later got a 2.2 Merc to save on battery power when going long distances.

 

The lake is about 4 miles long and in the beginning there was only the dirt ramp near the dam. There is a mid-lake ramp/parking lot at the end of Rt 701 on the East side of the lake. Also back then the trees were so thick you could not see across the lake-- it looks like a lot of open water now, but most of the trees are broken off just below the surface.

 

I later got a 12' aluminum jon boat with a 9.9 Merc 2-stroke and bow trolling motor. I got so familiar with the lake that I could run the entire length on plane at 20-25 mph.

 

After I retired, I sold my fiberglass bass boat and both jon boats. Never took the fiberglass boat to Briery Creek.

 

I currently have a Tracker PT 170 TX that is setup for that lake and similar ones with a 9.9 Merc 4-stroke and bow trolling motor. Lost a lot of speed due to weight but I still have no problem navigating since I know how/where to avoid the stumps just under the surface. I do get hung up on stumps occasionally when navigating out of the "preferred" travel lanes while fishing.

 

I see all sorts of craft there from large V hulls to paddle boards. The 10 HP restriction is still in effect just like at Sandy River and Lake Nottoway. I see lots of Tracker 175's with 9.9's.

 

 

 

Your concern would be room for more than just you if you want to take someone with you and how much gear you want to have with you. Also your choice of propulsion.

[Wayne P.]

A good period to learn the lake is when the water level is about 2' below full pool so you can see what you can't see at normal water levels-- like this:

 

And this:

 

[bigfruits]

I doubt there are many if any humans that know more about the lake than Wayne P.

Also an electronics and mapping guru. Get the free Navionics Boating app when you get a few minutes and you will see what I mean.

 

Check out this thread if you haven't already:

 

[Todd Hawkins]

Thanks,that helps. I was thinking I was gonna need a mini bass boat, but if can get around in a boat like that then I we'll go that route. Thanks again for the advice. 

[Wayne P.]

This is how my Tracker was setup before I got the hull wet the first time.

 

 

[Todd Hawkins]

Wayne, those pictures of the lake are a little intimidating for a first time boater like i am, haha. Looks like a mine field. Would a 16 ft be much more maneuverable at briery than a 17ft? I'd rather only take one person with me and get around more easy... than to keep getting stuck with all of my family with me. How do you like the bass tracker? I have been looking at them, triton, and the g3 boats aluminum boats. Not sure if there is much of a difference in the boats. 

 

Big fruits, I will get a 9.9 motor then. Don't plan on taking it on any of the big lakes but guess I should have as much power as possible should I need it.  I will take it to other lakes of decent size like Philpott, lake  reidsville, etc.

 

Thanks for your advice, and anyone else who can help. 

 

Todd

 

[Wayne P.]

The Tracker was the hull size I was looking for at the time 16' 2". Plenty wide for more than one angler so it has good stability. Did not need anything longer since I fish alone most of the time.

 

I have seen lots of 20'-21' fiberglass bass boats there using their trolling motors. Occasionally there will be a poacher using the big motor. 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Todd!

 

Briery Creek is on my list of places in VA to fish.

@Wayne P. is your guide for that lake.  

[DaveT63]

Friends and I have fished it one weekend a year for the last 4 years I now.  The first three years, I had a 16' aluminum semi-v hull that worked well.  I only used the trolling motor, and got around find.  Last year I got a 19' bass boat and took that to Briery.  We had only fished the lower end the first three years, and while there are a LOT of stumps, I was still pretty comfortable.  This year, we launched one day from the ramp by the dam.  There a stumps so thick in places up there that I wasn't sure I would be able to get out, and my nerves stayed on edge the whole time.  I think that little 16 footer would have been better up there.  I think this year I will be staying towards the lower end again.

 

I guess after all that, I meant to say that I think you would be fine with a 16 or 17 foot aluminum boat with a 9.9, although I don't know how much I personally would run the outboard since I'm not as familiar with the place as Wayne is.

[Sam]

Todd, get the safest boat you can.

 

You can use your trolling motor on Briery Creek and Sandy River.

 

But you need a safe boat as the places you fish can turn against you in a New York minute and you and your son can be faced with white caps and high winds.

 

Don't forget to get your Safe Boating Certificate that is now needed by everyone operating a motorized watercraft in the Commonwealth. Even your son may enjoy this safety course.

 

Good luck and here is to many hours of fun and success on the waters with your son.

[edfitzvb]

I fished that lake 2 years ago with a 14 foot jon boat powered by a trolling motor. When the water is up it is VERY easy to run up on standing timber and lose time getting off. Be watchful all the time. I enjoyed my time there, although from what I understand, fishing is down from where it once was. Still, it was pretty fair for me.

[Dropinbrix]

Its not required if your boat is powered by a 10hp or lower motor. Still recommended though.

[BobK77]

Would it be ok to use a outboard over 10hp as a last resort to get off a stump if one's boat was hung up? Im asking cause I have a tracker 170 with a 25 hp on it but would be using the 80 lb thrust troller to navigate the lake.