Can You Catch More Fish...

[FishinCricket]

My biggest fish always came within the first or second cast in an area. I personally think the fish wont forget in 10-20 minutes, especially after you catch a couple. They must get on their microphone and announce the threat

Spose it depends upon where you go as well, and what the fish are used to...

[fishinwrench]

A jet/Jon is going to give you access to more "bigger water", so I'd say if the time spent in each is equal you're gonna catch more numbers in the jetboat....IF you know what you're doing and where to concentrate the balance of your efforts.

On the other hand, if you are using a jetboat to access water better suited to canoes then you are creating more of a presence and would likely do better in a canoe.

[ColdWaterFshr]

darn jetboats.

[gotmuddy]

there are upsides to both. a jet will allow you to cover more miles of the river and fish in particular spots. but a canoe will allow you to get into tighter spots and be quieter. That is why I have both.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Ps. the three best fishermen I know all have Jetboats; Zipstick, Al Agnew and Corey

You should get out more.

But to really get to the meat of the question, it would depend on what type of water you are on. On your bigger rivers, I would tend to agree that a jet would probably have an advantage. You will have the added comfort of advanced electronic and a trolling motor too.

But on smaller waters, such as I fish, I would have to lean towards the canoe/kayak. You will be able to float over many areas a jet would most likely have to be pulled over. And when you get to a strainer, well I certainly know which one I would rather have to mess with.

But for overall access to stream and rivers of Missouri, I will stick with my canoe. And I just have one because that is all I can fish out of at any one time. And if I decide to go by myself, I just put 80 pound lead ingot that I have from Doe Run in the front. I have been thinking about getting one of those sawmill slabs that you stand on and paddle around. That sounds like a lot of fun.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Like your knuckles on the ground type thing?

Yeah, pretty much. Good thing I am tall so they don't though.

[Mitch f]

You should get out more.

But to really get to the meat of the question, it would depend on what type of water you are on. On your bigger rivers, I would tend to agree that a jet would probably have an advantage. You will have the added comfort of advanced electronic and a trolling motor too.

But on smaller waters, such as I fish, I would have to lean towards the canoe/kayak. You will be able to float over many areas a jet would most likely have to be pulled over. And when you get to a strainer, well I certainly know which one I would rather have to mess with.

But for overall access to stream and rivers of Missouri, I will stick with my canoe. And I just have one because that is all I can fish out of at any one time. And if I decide to go by myself, I just put 80 pound lead ingot that I have from Doe Run in the front. I have been thinking about getting one of those sawmill slabs that you stand on and paddle around. That sounds like a lot of fun.

I agree that some of the rivers are so small that they cant be accessed with a jet, I stay off those rivers. Another reason I prefer the jet is in the wintertime; how would you be able to take a kid or old person fishing comfortably without a boat. The risk of capsizing is too great, and in the winter that would be a disaster. BTW, I'm sure I would add you to the list is I ever fished with you! Your right, I need to get out more.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Well unless you are with Buzz in the winter, you'll be ok.

I am so much trouble it ain't funny now!

But in reality a canoe is only as stable as the operator. If they have no or little experience in a canoe, winter time is not the best time to take them. My father will be 73 in Jan. He still solo's in a 17 footer. And I hope to turn out the same way. Although if I found a solo dirt cheap, cause that is the way I am, I could see myself possibly getting it.

[Al Agnew]

It's a question that really doesn't have an answer, in my opinion. Each does something better than the others. For pure versatility, you can't beat a canoe, because you can take a canoe anywhere, unlike a jetboat, and you can carry everything you could possibly need for the most efficient and effective fishing, unlike a kayak. (By that, I mean you can carry multiple rods and keep them all rigged, ready to cast, and within easy reach.) For pure stealth, you can't beat a kayak, and you can take it anywhere you can a canoe. For pure fishing comfort and efficiency, you can't beat a well set up jetboat IF you're on waters big enough to use it without being too intrusive.

Lots of other things to consider, though. Since I got my jetboat, I wouldn't think of taking a canoe anywhere I can take it during the cold weather periods. Not that I didn't do a lot of winter canoe floating before, and still take a canoe to smaller streams ocassionally in the winter. But if it's big enough to use the jet, I use it in cold weather. Another sometimes overlooked advantage is that the fish are concentrated only in certain spots in the winter, and if you're in a paddle craft you waste a LOT of the short winter days just getting from one spot to another.

You can definitely fish more effectively from a jetboat even in the summer if the water is big enough. Having a trolling motor is a great advantage. However, there are situations where the jet is somewhat handicapped. I'm thinking of shallow, fast riffles and runs where there are pockets holding fish. If it's too shallow to run the trolling motor, you won't be able to fish those spots effectively. And during the summer on heavily pressured rivers, there are often a lot of fish in those spots.

I've always suspected that there are a couple other problems with jetboats. Not that they make a huge difference...if they did, you wouldn't be able to catch many fish from the jet. But I suspect that SOME of the biggest, wiliest fish on the heavily pressured rivers where lots of people fish from jetboats have gotten to the point where they associate the hum of a trolling motor with danger. And if the water is very clear, as high as you stand in a jetboat, you're going to be visible to more fish as well.

But all in all, I think that if you're talking about the streams large enough to use it, you can fish most efficiently from a jetboat.

However...the original question is, from which can you catch more fish? It's kind of a trick question. Fact is, in my experience the BEST streams for sheer numbers of fish are those that are too small for jetboats, and indeed some are too small to even float really easily in a canoe or kayak. If it was anytime from May through September and I was given the task to catch as many stream bass in one day as possible, there is no way I'd go on any river big enough for the jet. I'd go on some marginally floatable, not often floated stream, and I'd take the canoe.

[Buzz]

Well unless you are with Buzz in the winter, you'll be ok.

I am so much trouble it ain't funny now!

But in reality a canoe is only as stable as the operator. If they have no or little experience in a canoe, winter time is not the best time to take them. My father will be 73 in Jan. He still solo's in a 17 footer. And I hope to turn out the same way. Although if I found a solo dirt cheap, cause that is the way I am, I could see myself possibly getting it.

TWICE Only twice, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Although they were both costly from an equipment standpoint. I have never dumped a canoe in the winter though.

I'll take the canoe and, like someone said earlier, get out and wade the best looking spots. I'll have to say that most of my better fish are caught while wading.