Versatile Idaho Boat?

[bkondeff]

Deer and elk hunting are my main passions, but I am trying to get more into fishing each year. I like to fish for Kokanee and when they are hot my wife and kids love to pound crappie. The last two years I have grown an interest in learning more about Steelhead and I would like to fish more for Salmon also, primarily from Riggins area.

I got rid of a boat last year that I had for trolling and crappie, but I am getting the bug to get something more than my little 10' aluminum. I saw a nice all aluminum drift boat, 16' wide bottom, with a 6 horse gas motor for a good deal. It has the higher sides. Is this a reasonable flexible set up for a guy who might fish for Koke's and crappie 2-4x a year each, then hit the river another 5-8x? It's not th low sided boat I guess is more popular for fishing trout in smaller water like the S Fork and E Idaho, but I think it can work there also in higher water.

I'm not a rower either, so I would have to learn slowly.

So much to want to learn to do here, I just wish I had moved here 20 years earlier....

Your input would be appreciated, unfortunately there isn't ever ONE perfect solution.

PS Did I mention it comes with a duck blind conversion for the snake river...
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[fishin4days]

not sure what your budget is but a drift boat is a good option for rivers for sure. Might look at a g3 tunnel with an outboard jet or a phantom sport jon or something similar for a good all around boat. would have the space for reeling in kokanee and crappie but handle the shallow water on the snake for duck hunting and also do well with bigger water on the salmon during steelhead and salmon season. that type of boat would also have room for your fam to move around a bit and be comfortable if you're out trolling all day. if i was in the market for a boat right now, that's what i'd look at for a "do everything in idaho" boat.
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[Duck-Slayer]

I believe this is the type of boat he is taking about http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/3078217832.html
I personally would not get this boat, very narrow, you want this type of boat but wider which means longer also, I suggest 1872 of any brand with at least a 140 jet, and a tunnel hull is definitely a plus if you plan on running the snake and salmon rivers, I have went through 3 boats in idaho, bass, crestliner just like the G3 above, and now I own a 1872 sea ark this one: http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/3017856971.html and this one is by far the best, it comes down too the specifics you are going too use it for and how many and where you are going too use it the most, now if you just plan on staying on res./lakes than you don't need the jet, if you would like help in brands/models and questions feel free too PM me, I have some pretty good knowledge of running boats in Idaho,
Matt
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[flygoddess]

If you are fishing rivers, I agree on a Drift Boat all the way. With that in mind, I never gave much thought to using a MOTOR on the river, more a drift. But the Jet would be my choice in that case.

We have a 14' deep haul aluminum boat that was purchase originally because of the Snake River. We also had a Nissan 5 hp on it plus Minn Kota 40. The Minn pushed the boat as well as the Nissan. We recently traded that Nissan for a 9.9 Honda. I do feel a bigger motor is needed specially on a river.
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[bkondeff]

I did look into the sled type jet's. Seemed like they were ok for Snake, but not so much up by Riggins. Budget north of $10k would be ok if it really worked for both. Definetely can't affort $30k for a good big water boat, though my next best friend will have one[]

With the motor on the 16' aluminum drift, would simply allow me primarily to do a little trolling on Horsethief and Lucky Peak. I would look at upgrading from a 6hp it comes with to a 10hp, for short trips on the snake here in the SW primarily for duck hunting on some islands. Comes with a sweet fold down blind...total bonus.

Has anyone ever tried to troll or even ride in a drift with a motor like this. With the the high sides, I wonder if it is just annoying.

Again, just trying to figure if, for $4000, this would be a good versatile boat for floating for salmon/steelies in Riggins, trolling a little for trout/koke's, and maybe even a few floats down the S Fork for those sweet trout. Not much maint with this set-up...

The biggest caveat is that I am not a river pro in any way, I don't kayak, raft, etc. now, so I would plan to spend a lot of time on flat and then calm water first and even likely hire a guide once or twice in Riggins to help me learn.

I have to make a decisionon the boat pretty quick though..

[inline "16 ft drift.jpg"]
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[Fishit]

bkondeff, I grew up fishing out of a drift boat, that's all we ever had. That being said we fished a lot of rivers (Snake, South Fork, Henry's Fork etc...) as well as using it for trolling on flat water. I would hesitate to upgrade to a 9hp before you get comfortable with the power. A drift boat does not need much hp due to the fact they they don't draw much water. We had a 55# thrust Minn Kota transom mount on ours. We never got anywhere in a big hurry but it worked just fine for what we needed it to. We never had a problem trolling out of it except when the wind would kick up. It is a high side as well like the boat you are looking at. The biggest problem we had was keeping a very straight course trolling in the wind just because of high sides and no keel to speak of.

If you are going to put that boat in by Riggins or most any where up North for Steelies/Salmon you will want to be very comfortable with reading water and how to row that boat. Like you said, lots of time on flat water and if you can hire a guide for one or two trips to teach you some basics it is a blast! Some of my most favorite days fishing are a 10-15 mile float with my Dad, can't be beat.

For $4,000 for that set up I don't think you can go wrong. I would be amazed if you couldn't get that back out of that rig if it doesn't work out. Lots of drift boats that are ready to fish up in my neck of the woods sell for that without the out board that you would be getting.

The other bonus to me is that is looks to be aluminum. Aluminum is tough! I personally have hit rocks in sketchy patches of water *hard* and have never put a hole in the boat.

I'd say go for it! -J
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[flygoddess]

WOW! I say go for it too! Motor, trailer all nice but way expensive separate. This looks like a killer deal!
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[Maxcat]

The big question is, are you trying to go upstream? If so you are going to have problems pushing over shallow areas in the snake or any shallow river.

I have ran a clackacraft for many years with a 80lb trolling motor for years, works great for going down river or short distances in slower moving water.

I just picked up a 16 ft. sled with an outboard jet because I didn't want to run shuttles on the snake.
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[bkondeff]

Since I am so new to all of this, I guess I am not sure what I am trying to do. The only benefit I thought I might have in a RIVER with a motor, is possibly the ability to motor back up to the head of some holes, for example like the long stretch by the ramp in downtown riggins.

I have done a little internet research and see a lot of people like using 70-100lb thrust electrics for controlling the boats, making it so they can fish easier.

I am talking with the seller, there is another possible buyer in line ahead of me, so we will see how it goes.
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