09-05-2007, 04:27 AM
Firstly, this past weekend I gave in to the dark side & bought a pontoon boat, one that I've been eyeing for a few weeks. A local fishing store had it on sale. I got the Outcast Fish Cat Streamer XL IR. This is an 8' length & 4' wide pontoon. It has 6' oars & a mesh rear deck. It weighs inflated at 56 lbs, this is much lighter than any other toon. I think it's due to the slightly smaller size & the mesh decking.
I sold the Outcast Fat Cat float tube last week. I really liked the Fat Cat, but REALLY hated getting leg cramps & being low in the water. So the Streamer XL IR put me higher off the water & I can see things under the water much better. Also instead of kicking w/ my fins (I kept my Hotspot Fins) all day, I can row w/ the oars to a "fishy" looking spot & hold my position w/ the fins. But I gotta tell you guys that it's awkward to row w/ oars on a pontoon boat, either frontwards or backwards. Then again this was my first time using oars. It's not like using a kayak paddle, I may have to try that....
I've had an old milk crate that I had LP records stored in the basement. It became the crate that sits on the mesh deck. I added a 3 rod holder from Berkley, but I don't like how the rods sit in the rod holders. I'm going to try & make my own rod holders w/ PVC tubing. The Streamer XL IR has a trolling motor mount that I'm looking into adding next year. It also has a built in anchor mount under the trolling motor mount. I am using a 5 lb rubber coated dumbell for an anchor. This anchor system seems to work good.
I gotta tell you it's a b*tch trying to load the Streamer XL on top of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I can do it by myself, but it takes some brute strength to pull it off....also need a foot stool. What I like about the Streamer XL, since it's a tad lighter & shorter than other pontoon boats, I can almost easily load it by myself. I would think a 9' & 70 lb pontoon would be a no go trying to load on the roof of a SUV by oneself.
Well, I used it yesterday for a trial run & fishing. I caught 5 bass total including a 2 lb, 15" small mouth bass. That really made my day!
Something I need to get used to fishing on the pontoon boat. The front end of the pontoon sticks out quite a bit, compared to a float tube. I have to be real careful when I bring my lure back to me, not to accidentally get close to the tube(s)...that can really ruin my day then! Something for you guys wanting a pontoon boat to be aware of.
Last month was my 42nd birthday. I told the wife I wanted a kayak. I got my wish & I got a fishing kayak. Here in the Midwest, D*ck's Sporting Goods are all over the place, they are similar to Sport's Chalet. They had an exclusive fishing kayak, from Islander, the American Angler Kayak. 11' long & 28" wide. It has huge cockpit, so it's easy to get to your stuff. It's a sit inside kayak. It has 2 rod holders in back & a rear hatch to keep things in. Man, I can cover lots of water w/ this kayak!
I convinced the wife that kayaking is fun that we went ahead & bought a tandem (2 man) kayak also. We both went out kayaking the river over the weekend while her brother used my kayak. Both of them really enjoyed kayaking. Now me & the wife have something to do together, like the St Joe River is right down the street from us. I don't have to travel far to use my pontoon boat or kayak; I have water access in my back yard!
I've fished w/ the kayak quite a few times & it's a blast. Only thing I don't like is I have to keep adjusting my positon while fishing.
I did land my first lake walleye though, 14.5".
Now I have the right water crafts for fishing around here in Indiana!
--------------------
"I have the body of a god"!
(Unfortunately, it's Buddah)
"Romantic Love Was Invented To Manipulate Women"
</
[signature]
I sold the Outcast Fat Cat float tube last week. I really liked the Fat Cat, but REALLY hated getting leg cramps & being low in the water. So the Streamer XL IR put me higher off the water & I can see things under the water much better. Also instead of kicking w/ my fins (I kept my Hotspot Fins) all day, I can row w/ the oars to a "fishy" looking spot & hold my position w/ the fins. But I gotta tell you guys that it's awkward to row w/ oars on a pontoon boat, either frontwards or backwards. Then again this was my first time using oars. It's not like using a kayak paddle, I may have to try that....
I've had an old milk crate that I had LP records stored in the basement. It became the crate that sits on the mesh deck. I added a 3 rod holder from Berkley, but I don't like how the rods sit in the rod holders. I'm going to try & make my own rod holders w/ PVC tubing. The Streamer XL IR has a trolling motor mount that I'm looking into adding next year. It also has a built in anchor mount under the trolling motor mount. I am using a 5 lb rubber coated dumbell for an anchor. This anchor system seems to work good.
I gotta tell you it's a b*tch trying to load the Streamer XL on top of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I can do it by myself, but it takes some brute strength to pull it off....also need a foot stool. What I like about the Streamer XL, since it's a tad lighter & shorter than other pontoon boats, I can almost easily load it by myself. I would think a 9' & 70 lb pontoon would be a no go trying to load on the roof of a SUV by oneself.
Well, I used it yesterday for a trial run & fishing. I caught 5 bass total including a 2 lb, 15" small mouth bass. That really made my day!
Something I need to get used to fishing on the pontoon boat. The front end of the pontoon sticks out quite a bit, compared to a float tube. I have to be real careful when I bring my lure back to me, not to accidentally get close to the tube(s)...that can really ruin my day then! Something for you guys wanting a pontoon boat to be aware of.
Last month was my 42nd birthday. I told the wife I wanted a kayak. I got my wish & I got a fishing kayak. Here in the Midwest, D*ck's Sporting Goods are all over the place, they are similar to Sport's Chalet. They had an exclusive fishing kayak, from Islander, the American Angler Kayak. 11' long & 28" wide. It has huge cockpit, so it's easy to get to your stuff. It's a sit inside kayak. It has 2 rod holders in back & a rear hatch to keep things in. Man, I can cover lots of water w/ this kayak!
I convinced the wife that kayaking is fun that we went ahead & bought a tandem (2 man) kayak also. We both went out kayaking the river over the weekend while her brother used my kayak. Both of them really enjoyed kayaking. Now me & the wife have something to do together, like the St Joe River is right down the street from us. I don't have to travel far to use my pontoon boat or kayak; I have water access in my back yard!
I've fished w/ the kayak quite a few times & it's a blast. Only thing I don't like is I have to keep adjusting my positon while fishing.
I did land my first lake walleye though, 14.5".
Now I have the right water crafts for fishing around here in Indiana!
--------------------
"I have the body of a god"!
(Unfortunately, it's Buddah)
"Romantic Love Was Invented To Manipulate Women"
</
[signature]