DLM84

Those motors are going on only the most expensive half tons first. It will be a loooonnnnnggg time before I can think about one of those. I don't think the Half Ton option is for me. The I-4 barely makes enough MPG to get considered and I know I can tow the rigs with my car. I am wondering about pulling it out of the river loaded up with cats and a buddy. I know I have seen little trucks pull such a rig out with out any trouble but Ill be darn if I can figure out which engine they are using or for that mater 4x2 or 4x4.

Ok guys here is my dilemma. I am looking at small trucks for a fishing/Hunting vehicle. This will be my only vehicle so I am leaning heavily on the I-4 5 speed manual 2x4 set up because of the gas mileage. They are around 20-25 mostly. I know I can pull quite a lot on my little trailer and my little car, which is a I-4 manual with a trailer hitch basically the same engine/gear box. The car simply is not set up to tow or haul much as the car squats badly when the trailer is loaded up near the cars max towing capacity (its listed in the manual) so I think a Truck frame will solve the problem. Well the Boat is either the canoe or the little John Boat. The little John boat is the little fella they like to sit out front of bass pro shops front doors, Trailer and a Merc Motor they ask between 5-10k for it. They say its a 2 man boat and do they ever mean it but it does what I need to do. Scoot around on The Sac and Conservation Area lakes (all no wake zones) so you know I really don't need much and this boat is it. Question is you people that use the small trucks to pull little boats like this, what engine do you get? will the I-4 do the job? or do you think the v6 is a must? The v6 in a small truck seems to do 15-20 on millage all around while the I-4 is at least 20-25. If that's true then the 1/2 tons with a small v6 or v8 will get the same millage but the cost may be a bit more. I haven't checked their price difference. Id hate to give up boat fishing just because I can't afford the gas bill to bring the boat to the water.

I too don't understand the question. With Aluminum and Fiberglass the boat companies put all the finishing touches on them that they should need. Now I have seen some people "upgrade" their boat by replacing the carpet with one of those spray on bed liners for trucks. That was one sweet set up. To bad my boats are simple riveted john boats so not shure it would be a good deal for me (no floor) soo.

High guys, I have been up to schell osage reserve fishing but the crappie have not been biting. Some said it was best around sundown but shut off shortly after. Others said it had been to cold, "wait till it gets about 80 for a few days son then come out and see how it is" a Old timer said. What do you guys think? Do we need about 1 week of 80's to warm up the lakes or is the crappie just being picky?

Ethanol will eat rubber like its candy, You have to use synthetic gaskets and such in place of it and tune it. Then it will be good to go! As for the moisture thing I don't know about that, most guys don't take care of their crap any way so if it wasn't the ethanol then it would be some thing else I think.

Ok guys I have been thinking, what is the best boat for fishing Stockton lake for me? I have heard some stories from some of the old guys just sitting in a restaurant over hearing them talk about fishing the lake with their old bass boats. Apparently they are all well before they stuffed em with as much foam as they can cram in their. Some thing about not coming off plane till you are in a cove some where or you WILL get swamped. So I wonder should I look for a high walled styled fishing boat for fishing the lakes like Stockton? Is Stockton the only one which has this problem, I know their are sail boats on the bigger ones around the Branson area. I just want to catch some walleyes, crappie and maybe some bass for fun. Ill probably not be going to the muddy rivers with a boat unless my Uncle wants some company ( he has a john boat) so no worries there. And maybe ski some but most boats have the stuff for towing skiers if you want that so Im not really worried there. I have read that Aluminum is noisy on the water while fiberglass is quietest. Price seems to fallow those two from cheapest to most expensive too it seems like to me. I have seen plenty of both on the water at stockton so they must be good enough. So I am just wondering what your experiences are with both and what should I be looking at? A tall sided sort of "trolling" in deep water type or the bass boat type? If bass boat I would be looking at used or perhaps those cheaper variants like the x5 or stratos XT series. If the high waled versions I might be only in the aluminum boats. So what might work best on the Lakes? :shrug:

Yes having Impact rated sunglasses is a good thing. I love mine just a regular 30-40 dollar pair from wall mart. I keep em in the car to, helps cut down the haze and what not when it was to bad for other drivers I could see just fine. Its a all around basic safety thing to me.

Thanks for the help every one. Its been a while since I have been in this thread. I am surprised it is still around! LOL I am now thinking about going a different route. I think I will nix the 4x4 requirement and I found out you can get a kit that allows a car to pull one of those small trailers people use to haul ridding lawn mowers around. I think that really could be the ticket. The boats I have been looking into would be like a 1 person canoe or some thing like that in a john boat. They can be carried to the shore and back. No need of launching ramps. Then I could look at those really good gas mileage cars. Now with the hatch back and 4 full doors I think I could be set. Lots of room inside and with a trailer hitch I could bring a little boat or drag my mower out to the parents or to the hunting lease (those deer take a lot of room) or what ever needs hauling. Those little trailer hitches do about 1,000lbs no more. Could be really help full around the place. I may end up looking at some thing bigger than a 2 man lake boat. My dad and I live near Stockton lake and have always wanted to fish there but his John Boat is to small. We need some thing with taller sides to fish lake Stockton.

Like the tittle says, this is about the Jeep wrangler for a hunting/fishing buggy. I had a dodge ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.7L pushrod engie. It was a 2002 model. It was a great truck provided I didn't need to go far (10 mpg city) and you never got boxed in some really tight little parking lot. The other day my Dad and I decided to go on a little fishing trip. We pulled a 18' John Boat with a Ford Bronco 4x4. Its old but it still runs good and I was impressed by the fuel economy. Its little engine does really well just scooting around town and with the little trailer we have no need of a giant long truck bed. I wonder why little vehicles like this haven't taken off in the USA? They are great! So I decided I need to get me a replacement hunt/fishin trip rig and this time I don't want a half ton truck. I looked around for a Bronco but with none to be found I thought I would have to settle on a small truck or some thing. Then I saw a little vehicle on a car lot. It looks like the Bronco, high up & 4x4 but really short like the bronco. It was a Jeep Wrangler. So now I am wondering about this Jeep Wrangler. What are they like reliability wise? Will they do what that bronco did? Gas millage? what are your thoughts on them?

Im real dont ban me PLZ!!! Okthanksby!

I wonder if it wasn't a sneaky way the Peta people could get the Dem's to ban fishing? After all *in the PETA people's eyes* we are just out there to torture those poor little helpless defenseless fish and animals.

I kind of doubt it took just 3 days, When I was sent over it took 2 days travel time to set foot in kuwait from texas. then it took many more days before a mil. transport could go on into Our base.

Sweet, Cause I need a live well up front and a bait well would be nice also. Why the boat manufacturers don't ever seem to catch on to that I will never figure out!!

On a Fiberglass boat can a storage compartment be modded into a aerated live well? What about bait wells? Are there any boat companies who realize we need compartments both in the bow and the stern for live wells and bait wells? what about a cold spot to put worms? or leaches? what about the Aluminum Bass boat companies, do any of them have a common sense layout?

Which is better the Nitro or Stratos boat? they are both around 15k to 20k *and so in my price range* so I was wondering which one was the best boat. Also I wonder what it would take to make one of the bow storage areas into a Bait/live well. There is only the one at the stern and Its just madening to have to run back there every time I catch some thing I want to keep. Your thoughts?

what do you guys use them for? Are they good eating?

Woot to that, watch out for the chine walk though!! as for the nasty places (aka the Rivers here in MO.) I just talk my dad in to dragging out his ole aluminum welded john boat

I was wondering where the Nitro X4/5 fell in quallity ever since I found out there price. I have been wanting a nice bass boat for the lakes/hydro-electric reservoirs around here but they have been just to dammed expensive. FYI Stratos makes a 17' er for 14k, 176XT they call it. They have a 18' model at 18k called the 186XT (cleaver name eh?lol) I do not know of any other fiberglass bass boat company makin a sub 20 grand boat though.

Thanks all, I really appreciate the help.

Some time this summer. I usually go to Bennett springs about 2 maybe 3 times a year but was looking for some place to trout fish closer to home, Home being El Dorado Springs MO. FYI. How is the bank fishing? or should I plan on bringin a boat? Its a long ways to drag a boat so I am hoping bank fishing is gud!! Thanks, DLM

Hi all, I am looking into planing a trip to the Niangua River and can not find any info pertaining to Special fishing permits. I seem to remember that in bennett springs you need a special trout fishing permit but not on the Niangua, Is this true? will a regular MO Conservation fishing license be all I need? Thanks, DLM

So your saying my pond is over stocked?

Great, now what about Crappie and Pan fish?

I have a crappie jig with a chartreuse wiggelie tail thing about 1-1.5" long. Never know what is gona grab it in that pond. Bass, panfish & Crappie will make runs on it there but that is a pond for you.