Two Man Boats - Aluminum Jon Boats or Fiberglass 2 Man
Boats Called Crawdads, Pond Jumpers, Stump Jumpers, Pond Prowlers
All of my readers hear me talk about fishing the lakes that
are close to my house and they are not big enough for my big
bass boat.
You can bank fish and see the big ones breaking the top
of the water out in the middle of the lake and not be able
to cast to them, and say to yourself I sure wish I could get
to those big ones.
This is where the two man boats come in handy and are easy
to get into the small lakes and ponds.
The small boats can be fiberglass or you
may choose the Aluminum Jon boats.
The small fiberglass pond jumpers like Uncle Buck's
Pond Prowler Boat - 9' are used in calm and small
lakes and should not to be taken to large lakes. Most of the
time the power comes from a trolling motor or paddles and usually
carry one to two persons.
The small boats, either fiberglass or the smaller Aluminum Jon boat, can be loaded in the back of a
truck and pulled right up to the lake.
The fiberglass two man boats are also known as Crawdads, Pond
Jumpers, and Stump Jumpers.
Which Aluminum Jon Boat Should You
Select?
The Aluminum Jon Boats come in lengths from 10' to 18'
and I suggest if you are going to have it in the back of
the truck, go with the 10 footer.
If you are going to use it in larger lakes that you will be running
a gas motor on the back, go with a 16 or 18 footer.
The boat is rated for what is the MAX Horse power
can be mounted on the Jon Boat. The rating information is usually
displayed on a metal I.D. tag on one of the seats.
DO NOT... repeat...Do NOT think that you can run a
larger horse power motor on it.
The rating tag will also give you the amount of people
and weight that is recommended.
What Equipment Should I Load On The Two Man
Boat?
You have to stop and really plan the loading of the two man boat
because it is not like your big boat that you can put everything
in.
First, you need life
jackets:
this is a must seeing the boat will not be as stable as the big one and chances of getting wet are greater.
I recommend no standing up in the small two man boats,
and make sure both of you do not lean over the same way. If you do, make
sure that you both have a spare change of clothes and more fishing
equipment.
Second is the power
source:
Either paddle or trolling motor, and I would suggest a small paddle anyway in case your battery wears out and you find yourself at the other end of the lake.
Limit Your Tackle and
Ice Chest Size:
You only have 1/10 the amount of space and no sense in taking every rod and reel you own. Do that and you will deposit one or two in the lake; been there and done that.
Where in my big boat, I carry a large ice chest; in the
small boat, I carry a small six pack ice chest.
Do Not Overload or Imbalance The Small Two Man
Boat Plus Think Safety at
All Times
Most of all, do not overload to boat with either tackle or go
over the boat's recommended rated weight for safe operation.
You will want to distribute the weight
and balance the boat out or just one person leaning too far one way may get both of you wet.
The one biggest thing is you really have to practice being
safe in the small boats. It can be the best day on the lake or a
great big nightmare because you did not follow the rules.
What About Kayaks?
They have come out in the past years with Kayaks like the Bass Pro Shops
Excursion II Tandem Kayak that are used for fishing also, but I have not
tried one.
This boat will really try you as far as
what to take.
The storage is very limited and will
restrict you on what you can take and can not take.
They also make a cool looking one man Kayak, like the Ascend FS12T Sit
On Top Angler Kayak - Sand designed for the kayaker who loves to
fish...Sweet
Do I Have To Register And Put The Decal Numbers On
The Two Man Boats?
In my part of the country which is Tennessee and Mississippi, it depends on where
you are fishing. If you are fishing area ponds, you do not have to register either boat.
If you go to a large lake, it must be registered with the state wildlife office
and the decals (registration numbers) secured to the side of the two man boat.
If you do not have number decals on the side of the boat, you better have the
registration slip in your pocket showing you have applied and have not got the letter back yet. The wildlife
resource officers around here love to write tickets.
Check and verify the regulations for your state
yourself concerning the registration requirements for the two man boats and kayaks because the fines can be
high.
Pick The Right Day For
The Two Man Boats
I have attached a picture that was taken this past Feb 09 of
my little two man boat along with my two nephews.
We were about to tackle a lake close to
the house.
The only problem with this day we went
is we should have taken an ice pick instead of a rod and reel.
It was still great to be out and enjoy nature even though we did not get to catch any fish that day.
Notice the registration numbers
on the boat?
Last But Not
Least:
You will notice that you can get in some spots that the fish have never seen what you are throwing and your
chances will increase on getting that Bass Hog.
Do not be surprised when you do hook a
hog that he or she drags you around a little.
Keep The Hooks Wet!
Steve McGoldrick
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