Small river boat

[Bill Hutchison]

I'm lookig to sell my 4wheeler and buy a small boat for fishing small rivers Like the Shanandoah by my house my Nitro won't fit. My question is what could I get for 5k or less. I was going to get a 14ft john with a trailer and just build it out with the toys like on Bass Tech. Also I would be willing to do a trade for one.

 

[Mike Zechman]

A buddy of mine got a 16 foot Fisher flatbottom for 2k used........I'd go that route you don't want to bust up something too expensive, he also put a Jet on it

 

[Bill Hutchison]

I have to seel my 4 wheeler first. Thats the key factor on starting this adventure. What kind of shape is it in ?

 

[Mike Zechman]

It was in good shape, he recarpeted it and put new electronics in it,cheap ones, and added rod holders and such, I helped him with the Jet last year, and he put stick steering in, so the cables he got were just long enough, but it works well, we actually put diamond plate for the mounting of the stick steer and the throttle, it came out nice. The boat came with a 40HP Zuki, hand throttle

 

[Jim in VA]

Hutch:



The Shenandoah is shallow shallow shallow in many spots. I've run it from Luray down to past Front Royal in composite canoes. I'd definitely consider something flat bottom with a jet outboard. For the upper Potomac near Brunswick down to Point of Rocks, I use a 12 foot WaterTender (like a BassTender) I picked up used on craigslist.org. I added a Briggs & Stratton 5hp. I don't go very fast, but then again, I have time to tilt up the motor before hitting rocks too! Consider something like that for the Shenandoah or even a flat bottom canoe like a Scanoe. You definitely want something you can also row over those rocky ledges.



Good luck in your search - JC

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

There are some really good deep stretches of the "Doah". Hutch, You have river access or just putting in? I used to know the area around Comptons like the back of my hand and I would put my 2 man pvc boat on it (with 2 guys) and fish a 2 mile section. I also fished the area on the other side of Paris Mountain. I guided a few fly fishing trips up there and we had 30-40 fish days. With spinning rods I could get close to 100 fish a day. The only place that had me so tired from catching fish I had to stop. I understand the South Fork took a major hit? Is it still productive? And when we goin wadin'?!!



TOXIC

 

[Bill Hutchison]

Toxic any time feel free I love to wade I have 2 privet access spots where I live above the 619 bridge Rivermont RD. one is a deep and one is shallow good for wading about a mile apart. I'm always up for wading or a good float and like you said you get tired of catching them I tube up past bentenville down to shenandoah park alot and run out of bate and hooks every time . we can get droped off up river and float to the house it.and this invite goes to all. I fish alot around the double bridge in Front Royal between the dams 3 miles of deep water I can get my 911 in but not out the ramp drops off and can't get it on the trailer well you can if you walking it on in the water last time i hit a rock with my prop and cost me 200 bucks. thats why I'm selling my 4 wheeler (never use it) to get a smaller boat to fish there and lake Fredrick. I will look for you at bassarama Saturday.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

I've been to Frederick some. It is a tough lake but has eyes' and musky and others hard to find in VA!! CIII wants to go wading on the South Fork. We will definately have to hook up this summer. I have waded it in 3mm neopreme waders and had to break through ice to get into the water. Not anymore!!:lol:



TOXIC

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Count me in on the wade fishin'. Have a friend who has land along the river near Bentonville and fished there a bunch. Nothing of any great size but if you want to catch a hundred or more in a day then it's the place to go! Ultra light spinning all the way unless you want to use fly rods.

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Sounds like soem fun to me!! I am HOOKEd on Smallies!!!



Carlos

 

[Bill Hutchison]

Sounds good lets let the water warm up...so we can keep our manhood (sp) and come back to the house and cook out. hope to see some of you at Bassarama.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Man o man! Talk about shrinkage! LOL Tough when you ain't got much to start with!

 

[Bill Hutchison]

You got that right that river stays cool even in summer you can get turtle syndrome.

 

[Bruce Freeman]

A buddy of mine told me this story about one of the bass northern opens 3 years ago? The weather turned to crap and they had a light snow falling. He said the guy on the front of the boat was just danceing all around and could not stand still. He ask what was wrong and the pro said I have to pee so bad, but I have on 3 inches of insulation and only have a 2 inch ****...................LOL I would have fell over right then.

Talk about cold......

BF