I am considering getting a drift boat, but am courious to what the pros / cons are with a drift boat. May sound like a stupid question, but it never hurts to ask.

Any help is appreciated.

FS

Pro- cover more water, catch more fish, have more fun.

Con- need a buddy for the turn around, need a place to store it, spend some money and time from time to time in maintenance.

Pro: you can get to areas that bankies can't get to easily.

Con: You may spend less time fishing, unless you share rowing duties.

What Dogfish said...

Top speed with a 6 hp kicker on it - 8 mph.
Top speed with a 200 hp kicker on it - 8 mph.

Pro = You don't have to bushwack any more while getting tired legs, sore back, torn waders. Boat has heater, beer holder, seats, room for lots of gear & food. Chicks dig it
Con= The only thing I can think of is the friggin trailer tabs.

Pro: no exhaust fumes.

Pro: no oil changes.

Con: can't pound the Wallace Flats with 40 drifts in 2 hours.

Tell us how you really feel 10footfred.

Fish Seeker:

There seems to be a variety of opinions on the question...and one rather bitter individual that feels he invested poorly, and now wants to blame the dealership for his mistakes. Too bad for him.

I am a new owner of a very old DB. Living on "big water", perhaps a sled would have been more appropriate, however financial constraints did not allow for that, so I will do the best I can with what is available.

DB's are a "one shot" deal when it comes to working the river...typically, there is no going back once you have passed the slot..unless you have added sufficient power (trolling motor, etc) or row your arse off to get back to the top of the slot.

DB's can do several things sleds can NOT do. There is more DB water available on rivers than sled water. You can fish the OP rivers (only after you are proficient at handling your boat!) where no sled would even consider going.

You can launch a DB from most any place where you can get decent bank access, and retrieve it about the same.

You can plug the slots in rivers that jet-sleds can not. Plugging requires that boat go slow..and here on the Skagit, in the CnR season, motors can not be run with aline in the water...hence, no sleds plugging for winter run steelies.

As for "turn around", plan ahead and drop off a vehicle ahead of time where you plan to take out at..no big deal, really.

The guys are right that you will fish less and row more, unless you find a partner equally as proficient at the oars and you share the duties.

You don't have to register the DB like you do a powered boat, no gas to buy (rowing oil, but that is optional.. and the motor never breaks down..if it does take 4 Ibuprofin and it is fixed within an hour..

Quiet and peaceful drifts are ahead. Be sure to look at all the manufacturers out there. I have fished from Lavro boats and a Hyde..both are nice, but if your buying new I would go Lavro..that or purchase a kit and build your own.

Look for deals on used boats...check the classifieds here. You don't have to spend 7k for a boat...hell, when completely restored I'll have less than 1k in mine.

I'm off to the OP for the weekend...in a DB (with a guide). Hope we find something to bonk!

Mike B

Pros: Economical (fuel not required)
Excellent exercise (rowing)
Peaceful and quiet
You get to meet and fish with very good people.
FUN FUN FUN!!!

Cons: Tired at the end of a float trip

Because drift boats are fairly easy to use, have a lot of room, and can be completely silent drifting down a river they are also fantastic vehicles for wildlife viewing, photography, hunting, and make pretty good vehicles for multiple day drifts...you can stow your camping gear up in the front, pull off on a river bar somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and set up camp.

That final reason is the straw that finally broke the camel's back in my "discussions" with my girlfriend as to why we need a driftboat.

Fish on...

Todd

Can't agree with that. If you can't catch more fish from a boat than you can from the bank, you're doing something wrong.

This is easy:

Pro- not listening to BBBBBBWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHH all frickin day!

BD

You havent fish from the bank long enough if you are asking that.

Pro- Pricless Con- The turn around

pro- they are beautiful pieces of engineering.

they dont help fund middle east terrorists like sleds do (yes i know... so does my truck)

when your girlfriend throw your ass out on the street... you can usually fit most of your stuff in the drift boat that wont fit into the truck.

After you wreck it on the sol duc... it makes a great planter box in the front yard

con-
i think that many people actually catch fewer fish when they first get a drift boat because you spent less time at the hatchery stacking holes and are forced to learn some new skills like reading water and finding new holding spots, identifying traveling lanes, pulling plugs, side drifting, spoondoggin etc.

sleds do really begin to bother you when they rock the hell out of you with their wakes while you are pulling plugs.... and since my chicken came before their egg... I say they ought to adapt to drift boat rules and not the other way around

and the WORST CON of them all..... it may mean having to ride a MOPED.... which as you all know is like dating a fat chick...... fun till your friends see ya on one!!

I bought my first boat last October.... I always though I was pretty good. I caught way more fish than the other guys at the hatchery hole.

PRO: Taking a newcomer out without standing in the combat zone. Access. Serenity.

CON: Learning how to fish again. Gas for two rigs on the Trip. Driving Solo because your buddy's following behind you with the second rig.

It's been the best purchase I've made in years... best of luck to you.

Fish Seeker:

Pro:
1. Quiet way to fish
2. Only way to boat on the Queets and East/West Forks of the Humptulips river, or many rivers when the water gets super low.
3. Can get away from "bankies".

Cons:

1. Need 2 vehicles, or pay for "turn around" person.

2. Just more and more drift boats, not fun to be # 14+ at the put in.

3. Crank down the river to get to that "Favorite hole".........and there I sit, in my jet boat!!!

4. Tough to row back up river, if you miss a fish.

5. If the weather turns bad, then it can be a "long row out".

I have do all......bank, driftboat and jetboat....poor old drift boat just hasn't been used much in the past 12 yrs.

I use less gas in a day of fishing, with my jet boat, than most people that have to run 2 vehicles back and forth.

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

I have to agree.

Pro - carries more people and stuff than a pontoon raft.

Con - heavier and less manuverable than a pontoon raft.

I have both. For solo trips I much rather use my pontoon.