Boat Experts - Your Two Cents Please

[mic]

Question, most of the places I fish on the east side have a ten horse limit. If I put a good quaility 9.9 on a Tracker Pan Fish 16, would I hate myself in the long run.

[Greasy B]

I dont know much about boats but I do know about southern Illinois 10 horse limit lakes and your set up sounds perfect. The lake I just spent the holiday weekend on had 9.9 outboards on everything from party barges to big glass bass boats and its the way to go. One things for sure getting around with a trolling motor only doesnt cut it on any lake bigger than 20 or 30 acres. Theres nothing like having honker southern IL bluegills bending a 3wt fly rod double.

[Terrierman]

I duck hunted and fished for years out of a 16' john boat with a 9.9 Evinrude on it. I wish I had it back right now.

[exiledguide]

I agree with everything greasy B says I had a fishing buddy who used a 17ft fiberglass v bottom with a 7 1/2 hp and it worked great. People who never fished for S Illinois Bluegill have missed some great fishing.

[fishinwrench]

The floorplan layout of the Tracker Panfish leaves alot to be desired IMO. I'd recommend that you consider getting a good quality 16' utility jon and customize it to suit your personal needs/wants.

[jdmidwest]

I like the stick steer of the Panfish 16. A 9.9 should work on it. You just have to plan on taking a little longer to get there.

It probably won't come up on plane much, but it will run it. The Pro 17 I just bought came from the factory with a 9.9 and was changed out to a 35. It weights more than the 16 and is wider in the back. There was a guy come by on the lake with a Pro 17 and a 9.9 on it. It was a 2012 model.

I see you are in IL. They have that funny rule that if the lake says 10 horse limit, you can not run any gas motor above 10 hp or get a ticket. In MO, you can run larger motors at no wake speeds.

[mic]

I like the stick steer of the Panfish 16. A 9.9 should work on it. You just have to plan on taking a little longer to get there.

It probably won't come up on plane much, but it will run it. The Pro 17 I just bought came from the factory with a 9.9 and was changed out to a 35. It weights more than the 16 and is wider in the back. There was a guy come by on the lake with a Pro 17 and a 9.9 on it. It was a 2012 model.

I see you are in IL. They have that funny rule that if the lake says 10 horse limit, you can not run any gas motor above 10 hp or get a ticket. In MO, you can run larger motors at no wake speeds.

Taking longer... It is better then not getting there; where I'm at now.

Limits... I'm not sure how a feel about it. I think it is intrusive, but I'm always hearing complaints about boaters who run above wake speeds. I think in IL, I would rather have the later. To many folks who think they own the place and rules don't apply to them.

The floorplan layout of the Tracker Panfish leaves alot to be desired IMO. I'd recommend that you consider getting a good quality 16' utility jon and customize it to suit your personal needs/wants.

My biggest problem is I don't know enough to make a decision. I think I like the layout for pan fishing, and I really think I will like driving in the front so I can see what I'm getting into.

[mic]

Thanks everyone.

[fishinwrench]

Stick steer is an easy to install option that can be adapted to any hull.

If fishing by yourself any, having all that weight forward with no substantial motor weight on the back seems like it could be kinda squirrely. Maybe not though.

[mic]

If fishing by yourself any, having all that weight forward with no substantial motor weight on the back seems like it could be kinda squirrely. Maybe not though.

Hey you calling me fat