Question:
Inflatable pontoon boat for fly fishing?
Just wondering about were I can get a set of pontoons or plans on how to
build pontoons (if this can be done at home)
or a full set of plans for a fly fishing pontoon boat. I am new to this a
just looking for some direction if someone could help
me that be great?
Answer:
- Remember to look for hook-proof designs. Flycasting and inflatables...bad
recipe.
- Where are you planning to fish? A pontoon boat would be OK on a pond or a
lake but if you plan to drift a river, I would not recommend it. It would be
hard to control and holding position to work a promising hole would be a pain.
For about the same money and a bit more labor you could build a McKenzie style
drifter.
I built my second boat from Greg Tatman plans. A 16 footer, it cost about
$800 to build and I sold it for almost twice that two years later.
BTW, if you are new to fly fishing, let me give you a secret to happy
angling. When you finally break down and buy that graphite Sage or Winston
rod, take the tube and let it roll around in the back of a pickup for about a
week before you let your wife see it. Then when she says "You bought another..." You innocently reply "This old thing?
- I hate to disagree - actually I love it but nonetheless - I float the
Rogue and the Umpqua regularly. I have used a regular drift boat, a ten
foot aluminum pram and a pontoon boat. The drift boat is nice for fishing
a bunch of people or going with a guide, but otherwise has little to
recommend it. A small and white water certified pontoon boat is like
having a race car. You can easily go back upstream, anchor anywhere you
want and fish, and just a lot of fun. If you want to build one, look in
surplus stores for pontoons. Even better, watch the classifieds - lots of
people buy them and then don't use them.
As far as the second suggestion, I also disagree there. I hate to see a
nice Sage rod kicking around. However, like crows, women can't count. Buy
your new rod and leave it in the car. Walk out to the car with two rods
and return with three. She'll never know the difference.
