Ghost
09-04-2007, 08:53 PM
About friggin' time this board is up & running! I've been wanting to show off a couple new toys to you guys.
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.
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591streamer_xl-med.jpg
The pic upload is not working, so I had to resort to other means for my pic. I'll post pics again when the system is working.
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!
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591sm_bass_simonton-med.jpg
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, Dick'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. 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. Dims are 11' long & 28" wide. Man, I can cover lots of water w/ this kayak!
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591islander_kayak-med.jpg
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":
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591walleye_simonton-med.jpg
Now I have the right water crafts for fishing around here in Indiana
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.
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591streamer_xl-med.jpg
The pic upload is not working, so I had to resort to other means for my pic. I'll post pics again when the system is working.
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!
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591sm_bass_simonton-med.jpg
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, Dick'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. 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. Dims are 11' long & 28" wide. Man, I can cover lots of water w/ this kayak!
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591islander_kayak-med.jpg
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":
http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591walleye_simonton-med.jpg
Now I have the right water crafts for fishing around here in Indiana