Got My Toon Set Up The Way I Want

[Ghost]

Fishingnetworks pics are down, so I added these links

http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591pontoon1-med.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=562/19591pontoon2-med.jpg

Nothing too fancy, did do up a 3 rod holder w/ PVC. I added a cheap plastic basket in back for gear & to strap on the rod holder. A 5 lb dumbell for an anchor. Also added side outcast blade oar rests, so I don't have to put the oar blades inside the back of the toon, it can rest on the sides so I have more room in back. Also added a padded seat(that was some work trying to drill in screws & all the other parts needed). Also got an Outcast seat bag, where I keep my 70 oz Camelbak bladder filled w/ ice water. I use a Humminbird RF30 wrist mount fish finder. It works good, gives me an idea of the structure on the bottom & how far down the bottom is. Also shows if there are fish in that area. The rear basket is large enough I can keep 4 or 5 large to medium tackle storage boxes.

I kept the Hotspot fins, love those things! And bought a pair of BPS neoprene booties that work great w/ the fins. I've not had the fins slip off using the BPS booties.

I did have a problem last week of the oarlocks squeaking like a stuck pig. I fixed that & used some bicycle chain wax to keep it lubed & quiet.

The 3 rods I have w/ me are:

2007 Shimano Citica 201 baitcast reel & Rogue Rods 7' MH rod

Shimano 1500 Symetre spinning reel & St Croix 7' Premier Med spinning rod

BPS Extreme 2000 wide spool spinning reel & 7' Extreme MH spinning rod

I've added velcro to front inside parts of the Streamer XL frame so I can keep my pliers sheath ready at hand, also BPS "Boga style" fish lipper.

With most of the gear off the pontoon boat, excluding the rear basket, I can manage by myself to load & unload the pontoon boat from the roof of my Jeep Grand Cheorkee. I do recommend that if you do get a pontoon boat & load it on top your Jeep or SUV, load it from the back end of the vehicle. Also lay down a big towel so the toon does not scratch the top of the vehicle. Found out the hard way before figuring out using a towel, I scratched the upper side on the driver side of my Jeep when I first was figuring out how to load my kayak on top. Some nasty scratches & my Jeep scarred...there goes some of the value of my Jeep!

Next year I am looking to getting a trolling motor. Now the Streamer XL has a mesh rear deck, so I'll have to figure out an aluminum platform for the battery. Actually a friend suggested to use one of those white cutting boards, a real long & wide one as a rear deck. It should hold up good w/ a 25 lb battery. I would need to modify the cutting board so I can zip tie it down to the frame.

What I don't like about the pontoon boat, maybe it's because of inexperience or the pontoon tubes are 8' long instead of 9 or 10' long. When I'm rowing, I can't keep a straight line rowing. I always have to adjust my direction, & the pontoon boat very easily turns on a dime. I may try & not put as much air in the tubes, see if I can get more of the bottom part in the water & if that will help any in keeping me straight while rowing.

Now if I get that trolling motor next year, I can cruise longer distances especially on the river.

Next month the salmon & steelhead trout will be migrating back to my area. I want to try & use the toon or my kayak & go for some of those fish. I can imagine the ride I would have if I hook into a 15 lb steelhead....Indiana sleigh ride!!! I already have BPS waders & long waders socks. I may need to throw on thermals & joggin pants.

Well, like I said my set up for the Streamer XL IR is simple. I didn't want to complicate & make the whole thing much heavier than the 55 lbs that it already is.

I've been having a blast bass fishing w/ the toon. Since I am higher up off the water than on a float tube, I can cast w/ more precision. I do recommend using 7' fishing rods. You can clear the front of the pontoon tubes w/ longer rods, you have less chance of hooking the tube. Shorter rods sometimes don't clear the front of the tubes & you can surely hook a tube.

Well, what ya think????

[Z-TUNAKILLER]

NICE


Z

FISH ON !

[matt duarte]

nice setup dude! I have came across some of the same problems with mine... I have the ODC 816 also a 8' toon, I've had problems with rowing but it just takes time... I got rid of the mesh deck and zip tied some plsatic I got from work across the deck it holds I ice chest fine and will hold the trollingmotor and batt. no problem... I put a standing deck on it, it worked fine it tilted forward a little bit but not bad.. although I kinda like being able to use the fins they allow you to move around easy when fighting a fish. but I also like th dry part of using the standing deck soo I'm kinda stuck on what to do....

I stil need a padded seat and some other goodies like you have!! but I dig your toon dude!!! I was going to get that one till I decided on the 816 ill get mine all setup and post a thread like this... in fact RON, Z, TJ, you all should post yours up to so everyone can see mods that you did or the different setups that are available ..... maybe just keep this thread going by adding on????

ps DUDE if that's your back yard you soooooooo lucky!!! where's that at? I think its time to move! lol

[one_leg]

I eagerly await the Salmon/Steelhead photo album post.

Nice job on the t00n.

One_Leg

[Ronira]

Looks good ghost, your ready for the fall bite. I've got an ODC 1018 thats set up with a standing deck and trolling motor. I'll post up some photos on your thread, I have to haul it out of the garage and take some setup shots. Peace Ron

[Nessie Hunter]

A glitch killed my last response, so Ill do it again.... :cry:

Good job buddy. looks great, now go scare the hell out of those bass!!!!! :D

[Ghost]

Already am scaring the hell outta the bass!

At one lake that I've been going to, I've become somewhat of a celebrity w/ the some of the homeowners. They see me on the pontoon boat fishing & catching some big bass/SM bass/walleye. They trip out that a bass could be that big on their lake. So instead of weird looks from them, now they wave & say hey & aske if I've caught anything worth talking about.

Have you guys seen the Dave Scadden pontoon boats? They have a front casting platform that slides back under the seat. Also a balance bar goes up so you can keep your balance. The Scaddens are wide than the Outcast or Creek Co models. But they cost alot more, like starting at $900. Cabelas carries them & you can buy direct.

You want the most stable pontoon boat, this is the one! Talk about one hell of a warranty!!!

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0042938319660a&navCount=1&podId=0042938&parentId=cat360011&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat360011&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat360011&hasJS=true

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0029984318484a&navCount=3&podId=0029984&parentId=cat360011&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat360011&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat360011&hasJS=true

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage38.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage35.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage14.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage15.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage16.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage17.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2007websitecatalogpages/2007catalogpage20.html

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/homepagedirectory.html

[Ronira]

Yeh Ghost, those Scadden boats are sweet. They are not wider though. My ODC 1018 is 8 inches wider than the No Fork boats. If you plan on doing expedition trips on class 4 and 5 whitewater rivers they are the boat to have.

[Socal Bassman]

They are very nice indeed. I've checked them out also while I was doing my toon research. They are pricey, but I think that they are worth the money. The warranty is what's got me hooked so far. I might not be planning on taking class 4 or 5 rivers, but I do tend to be tough on some of my gear :lol:.

Nice toon BTW.