01-20-2015, 02:37 PM
I’ve driven past CJ dozens, if not hundreds of times. I’ve fished it 2 or maybe 3 times from the shore. But I’ve never been on the water in any kind of vessel.
I’m likely going to pull the trigger on an inflatable raft this year. Something small enough to take camping, but big enough (and sturdy enough) to accommodate my family. Based on my research, balanced against my needs, the Intex Mariner 4 has risen to the top of the short list. Very good reviews, and there are lots of ideas out there to mod it and make is more of a fishing vessel, if I so desire.
Longer-term, I would like to pick up a Minn Kota 40lb-thrust electric motor for the raft, to allow me to get offshore with a bit more ease vs. the oars. The vast majority of the time, I’ll be on smaller bodies of water. Think Sage Hen, Bull Trout, Horse Thief, the lakes Bruneau Dunes, perhaps Warm Lake. But I have my eye on larger bodies, too – such as CJ, Cascade, Deadwood. Of course, I have no intention of cruising around the entire lake on the larger bodies of water using an electric motor attached to an inflatable. Just something to get me out a bit from shore, and maybe go up and/or down the shore a mile or so.
I’m familiar enough with CJ to know that the wind can flat out howl down there. Certainly, I’d never take an inflatable raft with an electric motor out on CJ on a day when the wind was definitely going to blow. But on those days when the wind was calm, or at least more on the breezy side (since I don’t think the wind is EVER calm at CJ...), I’m curious to know if I’m others here believe I'm certifiably insane even considering the above. Very specifically, I’m thinking about trying to get into the “narrows” from the Cottonwood area.
Input is welcome.
[signature]
I’m likely going to pull the trigger on an inflatable raft this year. Something small enough to take camping, but big enough (and sturdy enough) to accommodate my family. Based on my research, balanced against my needs, the Intex Mariner 4 has risen to the top of the short list. Very good reviews, and there are lots of ideas out there to mod it and make is more of a fishing vessel, if I so desire.
Longer-term, I would like to pick up a Minn Kota 40lb-thrust electric motor for the raft, to allow me to get offshore with a bit more ease vs. the oars. The vast majority of the time, I’ll be on smaller bodies of water. Think Sage Hen, Bull Trout, Horse Thief, the lakes Bruneau Dunes, perhaps Warm Lake. But I have my eye on larger bodies, too – such as CJ, Cascade, Deadwood. Of course, I have no intention of cruising around the entire lake on the larger bodies of water using an electric motor attached to an inflatable. Just something to get me out a bit from shore, and maybe go up and/or down the shore a mile or so.
I’m familiar enough with CJ to know that the wind can flat out howl down there. Certainly, I’d never take an inflatable raft with an electric motor out on CJ on a day when the wind was definitely going to blow. But on those days when the wind was calm, or at least more on the breezy side (since I don’t think the wind is EVER calm at CJ...), I’m curious to know if I’m others here believe I'm certifiably insane even considering the above. Very specifically, I’m thinking about trying to get into the “narrows” from the Cottonwood area.
Input is welcome.
[signature]