The Mid-Atlantic's - Potomacbass Message Board

[Dignan]

Greetings everyone,

I have recently started to do some research for purchasing my first boat. I am new to the VA/DC area (Rossyln area), and would appreciate any advice local fisherman could give me. Based on my location, I would likely be fishing the areas near DC and down river. Since this is my first boat, and the Potomac is unfamiliar to me, I feel like I have a million questions, but generally I want to get some opinions on the most versatile boat for the Potomac so I can maximize my fishing of the river. I'll fish for anything, baitcasting, spinning, or on the fly.

1) I've heard people say that the main main stretch of the Potomac can get quite rough, but is this a factor that should influence someone to purchase a boat other than a bass boat (i.e. some small bay boat)?

2) At what point down river does a bass boat become impractical (if ever)?

3) If one did have a small bay boat, how significantly would your fishing be restricted on the river?

4) What type of accesibility do you have in some of the tributaries? I assume a bay boat would be impractical if not impossible, but are the tributaries problematic for bass boats too, and how ideal are the tributaries for fish compared to the main stretch of the river?

I realize that these questions are numerous and quite vague, but any information I can get would be greatly appreciated and really help me get the ball rolling on a future purchase. I have not decided on whether or not I will buy new or used yet.

thanks,

PK

[Carlos hathcock]

Dig,
Not able to answer all your questions, but here are a few observations that I have made. I run a 20'8" bass boat now and that is after starting with a 17' bass baot and had the snot beat out of me. I live more down river then you do, and it seems the River gets a bit wider here. My boat size is perfect for me and keeps me from gettign beatup too badly when the wind is more then 10 MPH. I have run from Aquia past the 301 bridge, and it seems to work pretty good for me, no complaints.

[mikesxpress]

Dignan,
Opinions are like *%@holes...
And when you ask an open ended question like what Boat would you buy, that just brings out the best in everyone!!!!!! And for the most part, the boat they have right now is the best boat, unless it's broke and they are looking for new one?

You really can't shop for a major purchase like this. You would end up with a dozen boats and wish you had a dozen more. Or you get one like this "I am a proud owner of a basscat!! go with a basscat" Hummm? I'm just gonna run out and get me one of those!!!!

My suggestion for your shopping:
1. Start off with, "All of these boats SUCK!". None of these bozo's build a rig I can jump rock piles, bounce off stumps, take 12 foot swells, and still drink my coffee while I run at 90 MPH. Now lets go from there.
2. Which of these crappy/overpriced rigs fit what I am going to use it for?
Casual fishing?
Tourney fishing?
**** extension rig? (biggest/fastest, stop here and buy a Bullet or Allison)
Family and other?
3. Needs to handle rough water. OK, your skipping a flat rock over waves. They all suck at that. Some less than others.They all get you wet. (If anyone says they don't, they lie.) Which one appears to have held together after a couple years of pounding? Look at the splash well sides and where the transom meets the sides. Check for cracks on some of the rigs at the boat landings. Most everyone will let you look through the boat and tell you how good it is. (Don't point out the cracks. they don't like that.)
4. Get some rides. Most everyone will give you a ride! Just don't ask to drive.
5. Don't buy a rig just because everyone else has one. This is a cattle trail thing. BASS switches sponsors and you see everyone dumping Rangers for Tritons, etc.... Moooooooo, don't follow the herd!!!!!! It leads to the slaughter house.....
6. Fiberglass or Aluminum construction? I have a 19' Xpress w/200, aluminum hull, and it sucks just as much as the rest of them. And comes with a lifetime hull warranty?
7. Horsepower? The bigger pig you get, the more HP to push it and stay up with your friends.
8. The trailer brakes are a good idea. I have them and they also suck. The tandem trailer sucks even more. Now you have 5 tires to take care of and can't move it by hand.
9. Get HYD steering! No cables. That way when it's broke, it's really broke! No if's.
10. Get the jack plate. Even if the "lot leach" at the dealership says you don't need it. He lies. That's his job. Know what you want before you go there.
11. Unless they are Woo Daves, people with sponsorship crap on their shirt got a couple bags of lizards for sewing it on (or maybe nothing?). Remember that when you talk to them. Bag of lizards??/ Opinion on bass boat=??? Be scared, very scared.....

If your going to keep this rig awhile, then look at the warranty.
Enjoy your search.
_________________
[b][color=red]My wallet sponsors me!!![/color][/b]

[Bucketmouth]

I have an 18 footer with a 115 HP Hydrasports bass boat. Some observations: The boat is great for fishing, but not much else. My wife and daughter don't like to play on it. Boats are a compromise, If they fish well, they give up other attributes and vice versa. The river gets rough. I expect with a larger boat, it may be more bearable running, but from my experience (and I have asked), they will all beat you to death, some just a little less. A bay boat or other may not have a trolling motor on the front, and this is critical for bass fishing. We can get up in the creeks and in water about 2 feet deep with a fiberglass and shallower with an aluminum. I had an aluminum boat and it and the river were not very compatible (16' jon boat with a 45 HP). Some of the newer hulls (Tracker Tundra) may work, but aluminum is light and the boat will beat on you in rough water. I hav no brand loyalty but I have observed that BassCat, Triton, Stratus, Ranger and others are competitive. I would suggest getting to know the area you would want to boat and fish. If it is bass you are after, an 18 foot glass would be adequate. When it is too rough for that, you need to stay home anyway.

Cheers.