Boat Question

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DubVGotM
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2018/03/19 07:41:00 (permalink)

Boat Question

Looking for a little boat to fish some of the Northwest PA Lakes. Never been in anything outside of a raft or drift boat but neither of those two things is in the budget right now. I'm trying to find a boat where someone can easily stand up and cast a fly rod comfortably without tipping. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 
 
The lake I would be fishing the most is probably Sugar Lake in Crawford County but the ability to fish other things like French Creek would be nice as well. Thanks!
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    psu_fish
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 08:34:45 (permalink)
    Check craigslist, Pennswoods Classifieds and Facebook marketplace....usually lots of boats for sale.
    #2
    DubVGotM
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 08:38:01 (permalink)
    I don't think I was particularly clear in my OP, so my bad for that. I'm not looking to buy on here...just get some recommendations on any sort of craft you guys may use. I've seen the boats on the sites you mentioned but having never used anything outside of a raft or drift boat, I've got no clue how easy they are to fly fish out of. 
    #3
    Panfisher
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 10:02:35 (permalink)
    I have a 14 foot Lowe modified V John boat.  Can stand up and walk around in it with no problems.  

    The only thing better than 1 day of fishing is 2 days of fishing.
    #4
    FishinGuy
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 10:39:23 (permalink)
    For one person on small lakes and small rivers a 14 or 16 ft Jon boat with a 10 to 20 hp motor and electric trolling motor sounds about ideal.
    #5
    psu_fish
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 15:30:08 (permalink)
    Sugar Lake is 10 HP limit. But you if you have only a electric trolling motor, you'll be fine since that lake is like 90 acres.
     
    A 14 semi-V is perfect for Sugar and other lakes like Two Mile, Kahle and Tamarack once it gets refilled. Something like an Alumacraft T14v with 50lb thrust Minn Kota. If you want to fish Conneaut and Pymy, then I'd get a 15HP outboard at a minimum, but go with a 20 if you can afford it.
     
    A Flat bottom john is about the only type of boat I would take down French unless you have a canoe or kayak.
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    D-nymph
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 16:33:51 (permalink)
    flyfishing out of john boats is great.  Deeper Vs tend to rock back & forth more than a john when casting but also work fine, you couldn't take a V down French though.  If you got a john boat & intend to fish rivers, it pays to make sure it's long enough to set up with oar locks, oars & a rowing bench when you have the $ to build it out a bit.  I prefer oars to trolling motors for a few reasons, unless you plan to fish a lot solo, then yes to a trolling motor.
     
    Also with John boats, it's nice to build a flat deck onto the bow, size depends on the length of the boat.
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    DubVGotM
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/20 21:25:33 (permalink)
    Thanks for the replies fellas. Totally new type of game for me, trying to figure out boats like this that is! Been hearing that French Creek gets awful low in summer (only kayaked it once and it seemed low) and deep boats can drag some. Seems like the sweet spot for smaller lakes and also French Creek might be a flat bottom jon boat. 
     
    Def on board with the oar locks. I would feel way more comfortable rowing than using a trolling motor...at least from an experience standpoint. 
    post edited by DubVGotM - 2018/03/21 10:05:25
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    D-nymph
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/21 09:48:46 (permalink)
    Yes, it gets super low, it's not always fishable.  It also stays muddy for long periods.
     
    If you're looking at flat bottoms, I'd go 16 feet if you can afford it.  Smaller than that will make it hard (too tight/not enough room) to build out with an oar lock & bench system.
    Then, of course, you're gonna need a 60/40 jet.  haha
    #9
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/21 12:34:22 (permalink)
    Made many a trip from Franklin to Cochranton and floated back to Franklin in a jet, including a few times in an air boat.  Likewise made many a trip from Shaw's Landing, Wilson Chute or, Utica back to Franklin, using both canoe or 'row boat'. 
     
    Plenty of access to fish French Creek from shore if your willing/able to walk more than a few yards from a parking spot.  As are places to launch yaks, canoes, Jon boats unless of course you require a boat dock and plenty of easy access parking.   Never had a problem finding a place to exit the boat to do a little wading for chucking lures so I don't know why, the same couldn't be said for tossing fly's and such.
     
    Areas of shallow water usually require a short jaunt (short for most) then it's back in your boat but those places will provide, some great pickings for natural baits (depending time of year) like minnows, hellgrammite, crawfish, etc.  
     
    Some food for thought,  as calm and peaceful as her waters may be, French Creek has her share of fatalities.  
     
     
     
    "Beginning in Chautauqua County, New York, and flowing through the heart of northwest Pennsylvania, French Creek is nationally recognized as one of the most ecologically important waterways in the entire country.  Hosting an astonishing 27 species of native freshwater mussels and over 80 species of fish, the Nature Conservancy has called the French Creek Watershed one of America’s “Last Great Places”. ~ https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/
     
     
    Even gooder, the PFBC hasn't polluted the creek with them icky trouts although, trout have been caught in the creek from the confluence with Sugar Creek, as far down stream as Franklin.
     

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #10
    psu_fish
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/21 13:59:00 (permalink)
    pssst....don't tell BTDT
     
     
    But this section of French is not a section you can float fish.
    post edited by psu_fish - 2018/03/21 14:16:10

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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Boat Question 2018/03/21 15:06:06 (permalink)
        There ought to be a law!!!!!   OMG, it happens tomorrow (3/22) 
     
     
    Looks like they may be meeting at Trux at 9:00 AM, think I'll go help....... ha haaa ha, yeah right! 
    post edited by BeenThereDoneThat. - 2018/03/21 16:18:33

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #12
    Kerlly Buttler
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    Re: Boat Question 2020/07/16 04:20:07 (permalink)
    decide of kind of a boat do you need. 
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