Question About Fishing The Susquehanna Flats With a Jet Boat

[5-20]

I would like to get into a 16' tin boat. I am near the Rt. 30 Bridge and Columbia area on the Susquehanna. Obviously jet boats are huge around here.

 

But I love fishing for largemouth around grass and would really like to be able to fish the Susquehanna Flats a good bit. Just can't have two boats! 

 

Curious if any of you fish the Susquehanna Flats regularly with a jet boat? How does that work out for you? Do you just stay on the edges of the flats or do you actually go deep into the flats? 

I'm just thinking that it could be a nightmare trying to get out of the flats with the jet motor constantly clogging with all of that loose grass especially if you drift or work your way a mile or two into the flats. Is this generally what would happen? How do you do it? 

 

Appreciate any comments you can share about your experiences. Thanks. 

 

 

[Logan S]

I don't have a jet, but I've spent enough time on the flats to know they are somewhat rare out there ....I have seen them though.  

 

Not sure how much of an issue chopped up or loose grass is for a jet, but it can be an issue all over the Upper Bay, not just on the flats....Especially in the fall.  But outside of that, you should be OK with trips down here.  There are lanes in the grass on the flats that you can run in and at mid to high tides there are lots of areas where the grass isn't actually ON the surface.  

 

I'm sure it'd work out as long as you're smart about it.  I have some buddies with jets that fish the Upper Bay just fine - They don't fish the flats much but that's their preference not because they can't get out there.    

[king fisher]

I have ran jet boats for over 30 years, and highly recommend them in many situations, but weedy flats is not one of them.  Not only will you be constantly stopping and pulling the weeds out of the boot, but you will also have to clean the thermostat on a regular basis or deal with over heating issues.  A mud motor like Go Devi or other similar brand is far superior in shallow weeds.  If there are only occasional weeds where you plan to fish and you don't mind stopping to pull them out, than a jet will work fine.

[5-20]

Thanks, appreciate the comments.

 

Kingfisher, that was what I was afraid of... 

 

Would like to get some more input from others so feel free to comment if you would like to share any other thoughts.