I have been bank angling for salmon and steelhead for six years now, and I have made the decision to buy a drift boat. News of teen fish days seem in the realm for anglers in boats, something hard to fathom if fishing from the bank. I am not intune with drift boats much, what advice or preferences do you have? I will probably be looking for a used boat, nothing over the top with lots of add-ons.

If you want to continue to fish,then don't buy a drifter.You'll end up rowing and not fishing as much.Having a drift boat does not mean your gonna have teen fish day's it's just a tool to get you down the river and to hit more spots then from the bank.If you have not rowed a drifter there is a learning curve to go through first before the multi fish day's appear.Your buddies will love you for stepping up and buying a drift boat.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

What areas do you plan on fishing?

The best thing you can do is become friends with someone that has a drift boat. See my posts on the "another giude service" It explains the benefits perfectly.

I live and fish the OP, and I usually get out about once a week. As for the rowing, I will probably be anchoring at multiple holes in a drift, so we could all fish. I will probably have my cousing Joe Gort teach me to row.

To answer your question Strike Rite...I would recommend aluminum for the resale value and I would not touch a boat that was less then 54inces wide at the floor. The wider floor offers more room and allows the boat to be rowed and controlled much easier. There are a lot of aluminum drift boats on craigslist right now and if you are willing to travel...oregon's craigslist can have some great deals too. Good luck!

Is this along the lines of what you were thinking of?
Aluminum drift boat

That's quite the boat for the money........

Keith

That one is worth taking a look at.

Yep...like I said...Portland Craigslist is the way to go sometimes. If you could get your hands on that boat for that price...you got yourself literally a money maker...You could turn around and sell that boat for over $2000 in a heartbeat. Good Luck!!

Hey..just a little story for ya...yes ten fish days can be achieved...recently hooked 16 silvres w/a friend. He also stated to me one day.."i never caught as many fish as when i had my drift boat..." I bought mine last summer and if you use it ....it will produce..

anchoring is a good method although i think once you get used to it and see the bennifits of bobberdoggin, side drifting, and plugging, you will find yourself rowing more and fishing less.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/motors/detail.asp?pg=ftm_vector3x

dont leave home without it.

Share the cost with a buddy, if you can. That way there is two of you to row. My buddy and I own our DB together and it works out great. I go solo from time to time on the Snoqualmie and anchor or put the boat on shore to fish. Its a lot more productive though to cover water with some of the other methods mentioned, all of which means, you row and don't fish.

take the money and hire a guide 1x per month and you will catch more fish. Or just buy a boat and become a "free" guide. you will suddenly have more buddys than you ever thought. They will have the 10 fish days but not you. LOL You will be rowing and buying the gas.

I honestly enjoy owning 3 boats and taking people out. but that is the way it is.

Kris