Where Can A 10 Ft Jon Boat Take You?

[Jack Jones]

I'm looking towards getting a small 10 ft jon boat or 12 ft aluminum v-hull since that's probably the limit I can tow with my little banger. If I do, other than the James River, where would that size boat be appropriate? Can I do most lakes if I boat within a 100-200 yards of shore?

[RSBreth]

I'm looking towards getting a small 10 ft jon boat or 12 ft aluminum v-hull since that's probably the limit I can tow with my little banger. If I do, other than the James River, where would that size boat be appropriate? Can I do most lakes if I boat within a 100-200 yards of shore?

Unless you plan to only hit lakes, the James isn't the greatest to drag around in a john. If you have a jet outboard on it in spring maybe, otherwise it'll be a bear to use compared to a canoe or kayak. When big boats are out any little boat will get tossed around by waves, but I've paddled my solo across many of the creek arms of Stockton while duck hunting, and all over Table Rock and Beaver when I was too broke to run the "big" boat. just use common sense and wear your PFD.

[FishinCricket]

I've got a 16x36 river John and while I've been successful in tooling around the coves at LOZ, I'll admit that I don't do it anymore just because it's unnerving to be in 20+ feet of water in something so small... Prolly just me though. lol

[junkman]

LOZ would be a little tricky in my 12' v bottom I would think with all the traffic. But on some of the quieter water it doesn't bother me. I will say Truman makes you look pretty small though. Pommi would probably be a good choice for a smaller craft as well. I only worry about some major wind coming up. If you are like me, you don't have extra cash to be buying a several thousand dollar boat so just buy what you can and enjoy. I have maybe $500 in my boat motor and trailer and plan to enjoy it for many years to come.

[Al Agnew]

I used a 12 foot aluminum johnboat for floating rivers and fishing smaller lakes for several years when I was a kid. It worked pretty well for stream float trips, but forget about moving it very far upstream. It was fine on small lakes. I'd hesitate to take it on any of the bigger reservoirs unless you can use an access that's pretty far up an arm or cove and can stay in such smaller, narrower portions of the lake. And while you can paddle a small johnboat on easy rivers, you'll definitely need a good trolling motor, and a small outboard will also help, on the lakes.

[gotmuddy]

my TDI beetle pulls my 18x36" jonboat and 9.9 just fine. you should be able to do the same or better.

[Jack Jones]

That's for all this info and experiences. When I was a kid in Connecticut, my grandfather had an aluminum v-hull. I would say maybe 12-16 ft that had an outboard on it. I can't remember the horsepower. It also had oars underneath the gunwales on either side. He used to just putter around on Candlewood Lake in the coves and what not. That's what I'm aiming for and was just trying to figure out which lakes and bodies of water would be best for something like that.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My grandson still has my 10' Richline from '57, it's been around. I agree with Al that you don't want to go upstream in a jon if you have many riffles to worry about. On the positive side a small trolling motor will give you some help in frog water situations. Cricket makes maximum use of one on the Niangua. I would go with a 12' and would only use it on lakes where I can put into coves and stay there. This isn't always a bad thing because more often then not people who launch in a cove can't wait to get out of it.

I would check my towing capacity and go for the max because a small jon won't have much in the way of wind resistance, allowing you to utilize all your vehicle's capacity. You might be able to get into a 14' or 16' jon if you stay with the 36" bottom and that width is very stable within reason.

Springfield and fellows should be doable if you use common sense.

[FishinCricket]

Remember that towing capacities are more about what amount of weight the braking system can safely stop.. My 92 tracker with its iddy bitty 4 banger could pull the John boat okay (albeit a bit doggedly) but it took a long time to get it slowed down, and that almost caused me to wreck the whole she-bang one day when a jack wagon pulled out in front of me.. I was only doing 40 down the hill next to Sand Springs but I just couldn't get it shut down! Ended up taking the wrong lane blind and got very lucky.. I DID warp my rotors and ruin my brakes..

Wonder how a TDI's braking system would compare? lol (really, GotMuddy, you should include some kind of disclaimer with your advice, something like " I won't cover your expenses if my advice costs you a set of rotors or the rear bumper of a 92 Buick that was tooling along slower than you anticipated"... Seriously.

[fishbait3]

i would suggest a 12 ft boat or u could even go with a 10ft pelican from Academy for right at $500 (cheaper than Bass pros pond prowlers). I use a 30# thrust and i go to pomme and stockton just as long as the wind is none to mild. Definately stay in coves or river channels. the deepest we have taking our 10ft pelican is in about 25 ft of water but that is normally to cross from oneside to the other.

Best of luck, hope this helps.