Large boats and "Skinny Water"

[FD.]

I have read quite a few posts lately that have indicated that having a "large" bass boats mean that you can't get shallow.  For those of you that have that opinion, let's set the record straight, you are wrong. Or at least mostly wrong.

I have owned boats for over 30 years. From a 10' monarch, to a 17' aluminum Triton to a 21' Stratos that I own now.  Yesterday I put the Stratos in my favorite lake that happens to be down 6 feet, a lot for Fl, and with my brother in law and nephew we were able to fish in less that 16" of water.  I measured it because it was crystal clear and looked like it was less than that.

My last john boat drew about 10" and the Triton drew about 14".  

So for giving up 2" of draft I can have plenty of storage, cooler, 2 live wells, comfortable seats, a stable fishing platform and added safety in rough water.  That is a trade off I am willing to make.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I use to have a Stratos, man i miss it! I would put mine in a foot of water with two people no problems!

[senile1]

I have read quite a few posts lately that have indicated that having a "large" bass boats mean that you can't get shallow. For those of you that have that opinion, let's set the record straight, you are wrong. Or at least mostly wrong.

I have owned boats for over 30 years. From a 10' monarch, to a 17' aluminum Triton to a 21' Stratos that I own now. Yesterday I put the Stratos in my favorite lake that happens to be down 6 feet, a lot for Fl, and with my brother in law and nephew we were able to fish in less that 16" of water. I measured it because it was crystal clear and looked like it was less than that.

My last john boat drew about 10" and the Triton drew about 14".

So for giving up 2" of draft I can have plenty of storage, cooler, 2 live wells, comfortable seats, a stable fishing platform and added safety in rough water. That is a trade off I am willing to make.

Nice post, FishinDaddy! I agree. My last boat was a 15 and a half foot bassboat. My current boat is a 19 and a half foot Stratos 295 Pro Elite with 200 horses on the back. Shallow water is really not a significant limitation. I have ran into a couple of spots where the space between trees was a limitation due to the length and width of my boat but this has been rare.

[TommyBass]

True... I had my 18 ft Triton fiberglass in about 14 inches of water once but it wanted to rub the belly. And when fiberglass, rubbing the belly means easier scratches and knicks. However, with the tradeoff on size also comes width. All be it more width is better stability and somewhat shallower draft, but you lose the ability to wind in and out of say standing timber for example. Some of those boys using 12 ft jons with a 48 inch beam can fit in a whole 40 inch (3.3ft) or more smaller area than the average fiberglass boat. Whether that is limiting or not is debatable, but it has to be much easier and faster.

Just curious, what depth can you guys with the 19 and 20 ft fiberglass boats run in on plane and take out of hole shot?? Im sure those smaller boats would probably excel at that as well.

Good topic, I noticed some of those posts as well.

[fisher of bass]

great topic, i asked about this earlier but am more confident now, do you guys and girls tilt the motor? also, how shallow can you get on plane, thanks

[South FLA]

Getting a barge bass boat to float in skinny water is "easy" if loaded correctly, but the REAL skinny water factor is not if it will float it, its if you can take-off.  That's why I won't even think of taking my Ranger Intracoastal with a jackplate up to Titusville, unless I want to dredge the bottom with my outboard's skeg. That's why there are flats boats!

[tand]

Fishing the flats in the mosquito lagoon can be tricky...that's why you see the serious flats fishermen with a 14-16 foot skiff/flats boat with a 30-50 horse and jackplate (sometimes with flotation boxes in the back also). That being said I have been able to get on plane with my 14 foot alum with a 15 hp in about 12 to 18 inches depending on who's in the boat. To get up in that little water I have to find a sandy spot that is about 25-50 feet long then i'm free, the weeds will really hang me up and I dont like tearing up the bottom there (it is frowned upon)!

Sorry this is a little off topic because its not a big boat but the guys who are serious about fishing shallow water run smaller boats! Thats just my opinion of course but you can always look at Mark Menendez with the small alum.