Flat bottom

Any you guys know where a guy could find a inexpensive flat combo with a 15-25 hp? Looking for a rig for eye’ fishin?

As a matter of fact, I do. I’m selling mine as we speak. If you want details, sent me a private message (pm)and i’ll give you the details and price.

Jimmy,

I didn’t fall off the last load of pumpkins! You mean those mudfish wouldnt see that rig, maybe prefishing?

good one, hall! thought I could sneek it by everyone with that eye’ comment!

I thought you were just trying to keep people from EYE’ing your spots. As long as harbo doesn’t find out you should be good to go. I have decided to just spray paint my triton Cammo and call it good.
jc

Jim,

Got to learn how to sit down and fish, a guy standing on the front deck is a dead give away. Also, through a yellow flowtroll minnow bucket over the side. I learned that from Jhall.

Good one, Riverfan!

I’ve had a sneak boat for years but even that’s no guarantee you won’t be watched. I had to change to color of my motor because it was so obvious.
What I find interesting is how differently to locals react when I’m in my in a bass boat verses my aluminum flat bottom. I generally get a friendly response and much more information when I’m in my flat. Even when fishing peoples docks, most people say hello and you can carry on a conversation. I had a guy point out a dock that I wouldn’t have fished except for him. I was loaded with bass. It helped me win a club tournament. If I pull up in the bass boat you seldom get a reaction other than something negative. Sad but true.

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I’ve had a sneak boat for years but even that’s no guarantee you won’t be watched. I had to change to color of my motor because it was so obvious.
What I find interesting is how differently to locals react when I’m in my in a bass boat verses my aluminum flat bottom. I generally get a friendly response and much more information when I’m in my flat. Even when fishing peoples docks, most people say hello and you can carry on a conversation. I had a guy point out a dock that I wouldn’t have fished except for him. I was loaded with bass. It helped me win a club tournament. If I pull up in the bass boat you seldom get a reaction other than something negative. Sad but true.

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Must be something to do with appearing like the “average joe”. Big, fancy boats can intimidate some folks and prejudgment is almost a given in both cases……….sad but true.

Like the rest of life, what you look like has a lot to do with how people perceive you. Doesn’t make much difference weather its what you wear, where you are from or what kind of boat you fish out of. The good news is most people can get past their prejudice.

All,

I keep my 16′ Camo Lund Pike(Big Water Duck Boat), out of
storage, and at the ready, all summer for pre-fishing
tournaments. I even put trolling motor mounts on it,
with the same power plugs, as the big boat, so I can
move the bow mount trolling motor to the duck rig. There
is also a GPS mounting bracket(grin). It serves
several purposes. The club boys drive right by me,
with nary a glance. The locals will open up a bit
more. And the big boat can stay dry, and clean, in
the garage, for tournament days. The only kick against
the “Duck boat” is pitching is a bit more of a challenge.
But I have kind of a mean side arm technique worked out,
so even high sides can be worked around. I think
Jeremy might be on to something though. I wonder when
Ranger will have a camo option for their VX Series(grin).

Big Bass Bane

Jeeze riverfan, That one stings, I dont even have a comeback! Your so right though about how people judge you in a bassboat. I used a friends flat a couple days this summer when my bassboat was being repaired, it was like I enterd a different world. Everyone waived and said hi, I was thinking that this was awful wierd but they dont see a flat as a threat I guess. By the way, anyone have a 20-30 hp motor for sale?

JHall

Okay, you guys have peaked my interest and I have to ask…

Do you guys ACTUALLY pre-fish via a different rig? If so, is it for the reasons discussed? I have an “in between” boat, a nice aluminum bass boat with a 90… Bass boaters think I am an amateur (I am, but cannot quite afford my dream rig… yet!) and the flatbottoms think I am a “jerky” bass boater that goes to fast too close to everyone (which I don’t… unless I know them… )

So, just curious…

Reel guy, I know lot’s of tournament anglers who fish out of flats for the reasons specified. Another advantage is that they can get where the big ones can’t. Some times by finding those hard to get to spots it gives you a little more desire to run the big one back in it. Myself personally, I would love to have a flat, but money and space are a issue. I’ve learned that having a dark colored boat with a dark motor helps alot from getting seen as much and I’ve mentally try hard not to let it bother me when someone does see me. As for the weekend warriors who are out to steal those spots, I normally switch to a different pole or throw the bait into another area or side of the boat when they start getting close. Sorry to say I do this, but through experience and live baiters, a caught and released fish does much better at getting bigger than one the fryer.
If you think the flat is trickery, it is to a degree, but I think most experienced anglers know most of the guys and their “sneak boats”, or they know that a bow mounted trolling motor is kind of a dead give away. (The but seat sticking up in front isn’t very sneaky either!) Mentally is probably the biggest challenge for me when I’m prefishing,stay focused on what you can do and not worry about what others are doing! It’s amazing how much more you learn when your completly focused on what your doing. Happy New Year! Fishnut

ReelGuy,

It’s partially true. The reason I have the flat is I enjoy the winter walleye fishing. I’ve been known to drop my flat on the ice and shove it to open water when the launches are frozen over. Plus, I do the early and late bass fishing. I’m often on the water before all the ice is gone in the spring, and bust skim ice in the fall. Ice and gellcoat don’t mix.
I have to admit I get paranoid when people tell me where they’ve seen me fishing. My bassboat is red so I’m easy to spot. There are other advantages such as exploring new water. The prop for a 20 hp is a lot cheaper than one for my 150 (yes, I know it’s out dated). Six gallons of gas will take you a lot of place in a 20 hp. If it’s a big area I’ll trailer to another ramp. I can run a lot of places on plane with the flat that I wouldn’t initially with my big boat. When I’m done looking I know where it’s safe to run during the tournament.
The unfortunate truth is a few guys pre-fish with binocular, range finders and GPS’s. I’m not good enough to a major target but being less conspicuous is some relief. I know a few guys who make sure that their bassboat colors are as generic as possible.

Holy Molely OLE. Us wannabees just can’t afford that bait and switch move . I’m memorizing all your faces in my PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY,(still developing ) so I will be sure to beat you to all your spots in the tourneys.

It must be nice to have such fame and fortune that everybody wants to fish where you fish. Heck when a boat comes by me I just hold up the one I just caught and say there’s a bunchuvemhere . Ofcource with my rig and motor they are usually to busy feeling sorry for me to pay much attention to what I say. I surely can’t wait till tourney season comes this year so I can get some more sympathy. See ya’all there.