Just purchased a pontoon boat in the 9ft range.Was wondering about rivers that I would be able to give it a safe try in. Any advice on methods of fising with a pontoon boat?Are they stable in the faster riffles?
All of you pontooners what have you got to say?

I used to have a 9' and it depends on your experience. DO NOT risk it unless you know your boat and your water. Up to class III and some class IV water if you are VERY experienced. I stay away from level V or any water with lots of class IV with that size boat. Mine was getting very old and I wanted to get a new longer one to track better. What kind did you buy. I am still looking.

well as I am on a fairly tight budget, I only purchased a Bargin fish cat lite. A Buddy has one and has had some good expierences on his.Like some of the skookum products but they are a little above my limit $$$. Nice looking boats though,look well made. Check them out on the on the web. what type of fishing did you use? Plugs,fly fishing,side drifting???

Do a little surfing on this computer thing and have a look see on the type of boat that you want. Most if not all the manufactures of pontoon boats have web sites and a little work with the brain and the fingers will give you what you are looking for. Here's just a little help. Creek co.,Buck's Bags, Cabala's Has all kinds of pontoon boats.

Steelyman,

I use it to get to my spots and bank fish. I only fly fish in the summer time or when the water is really low. I have seen guys pull plug with a one-man pontoon but but I am not that hard core. I can't handle too many things at any given time. I float the yak in summer. Lots of fun if it is not WINDY

I have been doing some search on the site and found lots of info about pontoon boats.

I have an 8ft fishcat that I use in low water in summer or for difficult access sites. It'll handle most popular steelhead rivers with no problem but it completely depends on your rowing skill and experience. I also have a 79 Alumaweld driftboat which I prefer for big rivers and cold weather. Pontoon is more forgiving to bounce off of rocks or in really low water. I only use the pontoon for transportation and fish from the bank. Hope this helps.

I have a 9ft and a 12.5 ft. They sell the 12.5 1or2 man in Cabela's for $999.99.
I like them both. Not to many fishing drifts I won't do in either one. I mainly use it to get from hole to hole and to chase that big one.
Don't need a trailer or a boat ramp. I love em.
I'm heading for some fast water on the Queets soon. Anyone ever get over to the west end rivrs in their pontoon boats let me know I'll join ya. I even have a extra boat for a friend.

I have a 9ft water skeeter. They are good on warrenty issues from what ive heard. They are mainly for gettting to spots that cant be easily accessed. with a little bid of practice a guy could side drift out of one but it is difficult. just get a 10lb anchor and anchor up and fish in the drift right out of the boat

I have a 14ft with 25in tubes and take mine just about anywhere... Its all in what you are comfortable with... TM

I just used my new 11ft Bucks Bag Bronco Extreme pontoon yesterday for the first time. It worked great. I fished from the shore, side drifting where I could before I had to grab the oars again, anchored but most of the time just stepped out front (anchor was too light to hold me in fast water, I think I was using about 5 lbs and will get a 15lb anchor next). No fish but I had an awesome day learning the boat. Even better yet, my wife shuttled cars around so when I was done it took me less than 5 minutes to get the truck, load and hit the road. My buddy and I got these for Alaska floats but it will sure be nice to go along with my drift boat, his sled and raft. We got a great deal on these by mail ordering 2002 models, anyone interested email me and I'll send you the contact info.

Anyone for a pontoon get together on a river?
Could be fun.

I am heading to the coast for a couple of days. I can bank fish for a day if you are interested. I am still working on my pontoon. Hopefully I'll make up my mind soon

I would strongly recommend an Outcast or a Bucks Bags. I would get a 10' er more stable and all around gives your more possibilities when fishing different types of rivers.
GOOD LUCK!

Tooner, a get together sounds like a good idea.

I will be fishing the west end rivers hard Wed, Thu, and Fri. From Aberdeen to Forks.
I agree that Outcast and others make better boats. I just think you get more boat per buck with the Creek Company boats. The 1220 I have will do more than I will ever ask of it and i do some crazy things. I hope to hit the queets in the next 3 days just because I hear it's a awesome float. I'll be trying to rip some lips to though.
I won't know until tonight which river I'm hitting first. Let me know where some of you will be and we can hook up and share some good fishing stories eye to eye. I have a spare pontoon boat, but won't know until tonight if a friend of mine is joining me yet or not.
I would love to get together just for the hell of it. Maybe we could all get together on the Hoh? I haven't floated it but it's a big river that a group of folks could all fish for a day together.
I wouldn't mind a camp out at a State park on any of the west end rivers.
I'll be hitting it hard for the next 3 days and I should have the word soon.

Hey Tooner,
I have a 10" cataraft, and just am having a ball with it. My partner and I just got back from the Hoh, and had a great time. I am interested in how you are able to chase a fish downriver in your raft. I haven't been able to do that successfully, as I can’t row with one oar, while controlling the fish with the other. I have had to make sure I anchor in shallow enough water, so I can jump off when I have to go after the fish. Heh, one time the water looked shallower than it was, and I had to climb back aboard.

There is a fella in Seattle that also sells custom rafts, and very well made. He owns XStream fly fishing. His name is Sos Ouch, for anyone interested in checking out his products. He can also make any kind of dry bag you might need.
Catarafter