IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Meeting Minutes, Club Chit-Chat, and Fishing Reports will be listed if you are a member of Chapter 50. If you are a member, and you cannot see the reports after logging in, please use the contact form by selecting the floating envelope icon located in the bottom-right corner. Include your name and your Chapter 50 membership number. We will verify, and grant you special rights to view all. Alternatively, you may email us at muskiesincpennjersey @ gmail .
Log In
Register
4:50 am
May 19, 2014
Offline
I know this is the never ending battle when it comes to fishing. I got into muskie fishing over the winter and have jumped into it pretty hard so far...just no luck yet. 🙁 I have a 12 foot semi v that i have a small trolling motor on it. It does alright by myself, but put another person on it and i dont like to stand up. I am looking to do alot of river fishing and lake fishing in south eastern pa...would a 16 foot flatbottom be the best way to go...and would it would well enough to keep me safe up on the st. lawrence when i go with the guys i work with. Any thoughts and comments are welcome.
Thanks
2:51 pm
May 23, 2014
Offline
we have use a 12 ft semi v we put a floor in it we fish usually with 2 poeple some times three throwing 8ft musky rods lol a 16ft is def a bigger boat but not always as stable aas the semi v's especially in rougher water
~Figure 8 Em'~ >{{{{{{{{{}'>
3:53 pm
April 26, 2011
Offline
12 footers can get crowded with musky gear. The net seems to always be (a) in the way or (b) stuck under stuff where it's useless. [ and that is in a 17 footer].
The thought of being on the St Lawrence in a jon boat hull is going to give me nightmares. :'(
Fished there in 18 foot deep vees and a 20 footer. Never once had a thought they were too big --though wasn't sure they were big enough when the "rogue" freighter waves came by.
10:26 pm
June 9, 2014
Offline
i have a 16' flat bottom and absolutely love it. I built large casting platforms on the bow and stern that double as storage. Its great, but bigger is always better
2:53 am
May 19, 2014
Offline
boot,
What size flatbottom is it...is it a 48 inch bottom and is yours welded or riveted, and do you have pictures of it.
thanks,
derek
2:40 am
March 26, 2004
Offline
The "best" boat for PA rivers is very different than the "best" boat for the St Larry.
For PA rivers, you want a flatbottom with a jet to cover the most water. This will work OK on most PA lakes, which are relatively small and calm.
For the Larry, a 16' deep-V is about the minimum to get out on most days, and often you will wish you had something bigger. There is a reason the guides fish out of 20-something footers. Also, in some cases it is a few miles to get to where you want to go, so a 10HP motor won't cut it. Same goes for most other places to which you would travel like Chatauqua, St Clair, Pigeon, the Niagara, the Ottawa, etc. I have been on big waters like that in underpowered rental 14-16 footers, and when the wind kicks up your options can be limited.
If you can only have one boat (like most of us), I would go with a 16' to 18' deep-V with the best motor you can get. While it is more than you will need for PA, you can cover some river spots, most lakes, and use it when you go on vacation to somewhere nice. This is what I have for out here in NM, and it really comes in handy when the 40MPH winds kick up and create 3 footers on a 400 acres lake.
When I lived in PA, I did most of my fishing out of a 12 footer like yours. It met almost all of my needs, but you need to be smart about space and it was two guys max. If went somewhere else, I rented or went with a friend with a bigger boat.
Chris
10:00 pm
June 9, 2014
Offline
i have a 16' with a 72" beam. Its a lowe roughneck, welded body with rivited seats. I love it, but have never taken it on big water
4:53 pm
September 14, 2012
Offline
I have a 16' Sylvan V-hull with a 40HP Honda that I use here in SE PA all the time. Its great for three guys to fish out of.
I've also used it on the St. Lawrence and some big lakes in Canada. Zero issues!
It works great everywhere I take it. The 40HP gives plenty of speed, but doesn't drink too much gas. I have a 65 lb 24v trolling motor that is awesome for places like Marsh Creek. I can literally troll all night long without worrying about my batteries.
I would never want anything smaller! The only place I wouldn't take this boat is on shallow rocky rivers like the Susky, or in huge bodies of water like the great lakes.
18
1 Guest(s)
