Small craft fishing

[jwo1124]

Today I thought up this idea based on prior experiences. I own a small 12' aluminum boat that weights about 100 lbs. I bought this boat to fish small local ponds with using an electric motor. Usually the only time I take out this boat is when I fish with my brother, since its almost impossible to load and unload this thing with one person(not because the weight since I can lift 100 lbs easy, just the size an awkwardness of the boat. Its not on a trailer so I transport it in the bed of my SUV.)

Anyway, most times we are fishing on it, the slightest breeze/current will move the boat out of position, which is a pain when bass fishing, especially with lures. We tried anchoring, but in such a small boat, its clumsy, and the anchors bang around the hull, and I am scared this will spook fish below. Not to mention whenever some gets hng up we have to pull up the anchors(one on each side to stop the boat from spinning in the wind) go get the bait circle back around....

I figured next time we go out, one person will act as the guide, and be in charge of boat control/positioning, and using the rear mounted trolling motor to keep the boat in position and fight the wind. Meanwhile, the other guy will fish for a specific amount of time, or until he catches a fish, then we'll change.  I don;t know if anyone else is in the same position I am in, but I figured I;d share my solution to a problem I had, in case anyone else was facing such a dilemma. I figure fishing out of a canoe, small aluminum boat like mine, or a plastic Crawdad or Basshunter would create the same type of problem.

[Raul]

Wind will always drift almost any boat, it 's just that with a small boat the drift is greater than with a bigger boat or with a V hull boat. Got the same boat you have, 12 ft jonboat and I carry 2 anchors ( one in the front and one in the back ) to maintain a stationary position, anchors will bang if you allow them to bang them on the hull, get rubber coated mushroom anchors, those won 't slide and won 't bang.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

That exact drifting capability is one of the reasons I LOVE my 12 ft jon.  Real simple, drift socks or "wind anchors".  They run about $25 and are priceless.  Once you learn them a bit, you can position your boat to drift in an exact lane, it's awesome.  wanna go slower?  Bigger sock, that easy.  I use the ones for a 16' boat most but also have the one for a 30' for days approaching 20mph but still fishy.

[niteowl]

I carry an old beat up 14ft around in the back of a pick up myself, Most days I'm by myself, run my trolling motor on the front . Just patience with the wind an time those cast where they count.