best for fishing

[rancherlee]

Mine! I started with an Open deck model and rebuilt it with 4 corner fishing, 2.5' of OPEN deck in front of the rails for casting, 8' couch opposite the helm to keep the wife happy, and a small 3' bench in front of the helm for hiding the TM batteries. Also have a Kicker mount with a 9.9, BIG live well, and a BIG "engine cover" in the back that hides the 26 gallon tank, starting battery, and provides mounting spots for rod holders/down-riggers.

[ROLAND]

the floor plan in the pic in the post above looks almost exactly like my set up on my benny... great little fishing toon.

[Gonefishing]

Check out the excursion x23 rfc by Forest River. I have one and love it. It has lounging seat up front for relaxing. In the rear has a rear. Fishing center with live bait tank, rod holders, tackle center, and two fishing seats. Plenty of room for your extra rods and gear. Best of both worlds for a family.

[Adams7955]

This is what I have and it's perfect for fishing and cruising

[NonHyphenAmerican]

Nice setup Adam.

[Rudebob]

Just my opinion but unless you have an unlimited budget I would consider used. Fishing (and fishermen) are hard on pontoon boats. Hung casts result in dinged up playpen skirting, sharp and heavy objects are hard on everything-especially upholstery. We fish for stripers a lot at night using anchovies. The next morning, in the light of day, my boat looks terrible-dried bait guts and fish scales every where, hooks stuck in carpet, rust stains from anchors, etc. Our kind of fishing maybe messier than most but it is as that moment I am always glad I did not buy a new boat.

Also, what bamaman said - pontoon boats are terrible to fish with in the wind. After a trip or two of spending more time fighting control in relatively small breeze than fishing I removed all trolling equipment and now only fish with anchors or trolling under power. If you are finesse fisherman, get a bassboat. However, if you like to fish with 3 or 4+ others, have room to move around and maybe even take a nap, a pontoon is sure hard to beat.

'bob

[NonHyphenAmerican]

Just my opinion but unless you have an unlimited budget I would consider used. Fishing (and fishermen) are hard on pontoon boats. Hung casts result in dinged up playpen skirting, sharp and heavy objects are hard on everything-especially upholstery. We fish for stripers a lot at night using anchovies. The next morning, in the light of day, my boat looks terrible-dried bait guts and fish scales every where, hooks stuck in carpet, rust stains from anchors, etc. Our kind of fishing maybe messier than most but it is as that moment I am always glad I did not buy a new boat.

Also, what bamaman said - pontoon boats are terrible to fish with in the wind. After a trip or two of spending more time fighting control in relatively small breeze than fishing I removed all trolling equipment and now only fish with anchors or trolling under power. If you are finesse fisherman, get a bassboat. However, if you like to fish with 3 or 4+ others, have room to move around and maybe even take a nap, a pontoon is sure hard to beat.

'bob

Just some comments on your comments.

Vinyl flooring helps with clean up from fishing. Stink Bait cleans off with water and "Simple Green" and hooks don't stick in it like carpet.

For "Rust Stains" from anchors? I use a 5 gallon bucket. Holds the anchor and 100 feet of anchor line. I use a bungee cord to keep the lid on the bucket when the anchor & line are stored. Have one front and back. The back one is two buckets, the 2nd is for the "Latrine". On my boat, there being no "Privacy" enclosure, I use a 'popup' "Outhouse" and one of the 5 gallon buckets for the ladies to have some privacy when 'going'.
There's no room for that on a bass boat.

You're right about wind being more of a problem. I don't go out if the winds are predicted to be above 15 mph. I've never owned a bass boat, but I've never thought that being out on the lake in 30-40 mph gusts is a good idea.

And yes, the toon makes it easier, especially for older folks, to move around or even take a nap while having a day at the lake.

[Bugsbunnyboater]

Trolling motor battery is under the console.

Everything else is run off the batter located just under the stern fishing station.

If I were changing it, the Trolling motor battery would be on the other side under the stern fishing station. There's room.

And I'd add a switch to be able to run 1, 2, or both batteries.

The gas filler is also there. The tank is in the pod. Easy to fill as you can reach it from either side at the marina.

Three years so far and no problems. (KNOCK ON WOOD!)

What's you top speed. That's a nice looking setup.

[Gonefishing]

I use mine for fishing all the time. I am out at least three days a week. Unless it is pouring rain. Have no problem love it works great for fish and family rides. But I clean mine after every time I use it. It is an investment and you have to take care of things.

[ron nh]

3 of my fishing cronies have bass boats, Any time we all go together they want to take the pontoon, they had no interest in one before I got it. When we go in there's it's just to cramped with 4. We all hate the bimini equally though. They do miss driving like assholes at about 65 as well.

[NonHyphenAmerican]

What's your top speed. That's a nice looking setup.

Highest speed I've seen is 25 mph per the GPS. That was with the bimini in the "Radar" position and clean toons, two of us on board.

Typically it'll do 20-22 depending on number of people on board.

Drag the pull toy and have the bimini up on a typical Kansas windy day and you can drop that another 2-3 mph.

Fueled it today for the first time this season. I've had it out fishing 4 times and halfway through the day today, the Admiral and a "Velcroed" Niece decided they needed a "head" break and some lunch from the Marina. It took 8.3 gallons.

So while it's not the fastest boat on the lake, it also doesn't drink the most motion lotion.


The lake: El Dorado, El Dorado Kansas

El Dorado Lake, an 8,000-acre lake impounding the Walnut River, is located just north and east of the city of El Dorado at the edge of the scenic Flint Hills. The reservoir was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a multi-purpose flood control, water supply, and recreational project, and was completed in 1981. There are approximately 98 miles of shoreline. It is under the supervision of El Dorado State Park.

There's a lot of submerged tree rows that they left for habitat when they flooded the lake.

Makes for some good fishing but it doesn't pay to ignore the timber areas.

[NonHyphenAmerican]

By the way, saw something yesterday at the Marina that cements my idea that a pontoon is a better option as we get older.


A guy with a really nice bass boat was tied up to the marina for fuel and whatever.

His elderly (70's or possibly 80's) Dad went to step down into the boat, lost his balance and fell in the lake.

The ladder on my toon was handy so I dropped it down on the hinges and it provided him with an easier way up than trying to climb back in the bass boat.

As he stepped easily onto the marina dock from my toon, he commented it was a lot easier than climbing in and out of the bass boat.

Fortunately, he was not hurt, only wet.

[joe20toon]

Sylvan 8520 4pt. RPT

Here are a few pics I recently uploaded: