Drift Boats

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, the one on the left is more the traditional driftboat, which is what I think is the round peg for the square hole. The exaggerated rocker, high ends, and flared sides are all designed to handle serious whitewater, which is non-existent in the Ozarks. Each of those characteristics makes the boat more affected by wind and more difficult to get in and out of, compared to the skiff type on the right.

I've fished a lot from drift boats, and love fishing from them. As the rower, I love handling them in the big, fast Western rivers...until the wind is coming upriver at 25 or more mph. Even then, they are a little more fun than a raft. They just seem to fit those rivers. In my opinion, canoes and the skiff type boats that are closer to the traditional Ozark johnboat fit the Ozark streams.

[Lancer09]

I really dig that skiff Trigg.

I know as the owner of the boat I will get stuck rowing more, but when I do get to fish it will be more enjoyable than out of a canoe, or jon boat. I have done both and spent more time dicking with line tangles, or getting stuck on a paddle, having to adjust after a single cast, etc.... A drift boat gives me the space i want, and I am not a small guy at all. When I get my fishing time in i'll get to enjoy that time instead of working while trying to fish as well.

I've looked at the towee boats and was really thinking about them as well with a rowing frame.

The skiff style boats I have looked at have had the more open layouts and walk around interior which is fairly important for what I want.

[Ozark Sweetwater]

I really dig that skiff Trigg.

I know as the owner of the boat I will get stuck rowing more, but when I do get to fish it will be more enjoyable than out of a canoe, or jon boat. I have done both and spent more time dicking with line tangles, or getting stuck on a paddle, having to adjust after a single cast, etc.... A drift boat gives me the space i want, and I am not a small guy at all. When I get my fishing time in i'll get to enjoy that time instead of working while trying to fish as well.

I've looked at the towee boats and was really thinking about them as well with a rowing frame.

The skiff style boats I have looked at have had the more open layouts and walk around interior which is fairly important for what I want.

The Clacka "headhunter" skiff is a great choice for around here and there are several guys on the board that have them.The new ones have walk around leg braces which mine does not. They also widened and raised the stern. I'm picking up my Towee Feb 1. It will have a rowing frame and removable casting braces.

[Lancer09]

The Clacka "headhunter" skiff is a great choice for around here and there are several guys on the board that have them.The new ones have walk around leg braces which mine does not. They also widened and raised the stern. I'm picking up my Towee Feb 1. It will have a rowing frame and removable casting braces.

Shooot, you'll have every fishing boat need covered.

[cnr]

Like Al said I don't see the point of drift boats in the ozarks. Great boat for out west but limited use here. I've used them a few times in MI tribs like the PM and big Manistee but that was with a guide and he did all the rowing. I'd rather fish than row. :-)

[fishinwrench]

If you want to cover some water, flyfishing as you float along then there's no better platform to flyfish from than a driftboat, period.

Jon boat a close second. (The Towee is like the best of both worlds IMO).

Toon- 3rd

Canoe/kayak.....forget it!

[Al Agnew]

Wrench, the canoe is doable, but takes a bit of discipline and practice, and a stern man who is responsible for ALL canoe handling while the guy up front is fishing. The fly caster has to get his paddle and anything else out of the way behind him, and has to have a little practice at casting while sitting. It's really not difficult, but most people are so used to fly casting on their feet that they feel awkward doing it sitting down.

For the solo angler, whether from canoe or kayak, it's tough. The paddle has to be where you can grab it in an instant, and so it becomes an obstacle that you'll get tangled on constantly. I've done it from my solo canoe, but it's not enough fun to do it often. If you want to flyfish, from a craft, solo, get yourself a Watermaster personal raft. You control it with swim fins while fishing, and with oars when you really want to get someplace in a hurry or run a fast riffle.

I've never fly casted from my jetboat, but see little reason why it wouldn't be easy and effective. The only thing that your line could get tangled on would be the foot control for your trolling motor, and there are ways of getting around that just by moving the foot control.

A well set up johnboat, with a rowing set-up in the middle and casting braces front and rear, should work well. The skiffs are basically similar.

[Lancer09]

Wrench, the canoe is doable, but takes a bit of discipline and practice, and a stern man who is responsible for ALL canoe handling while the guy up front is fishing. The fly caster has to get his paddle and anything else out of the way behind him, and has to have a little practice at casting while sitting. It's really not difficult, but most people are so used to fly casting on their feet that they feel awkward doing it sitting down.

For the solo angler, whether from canoe or kayak, it's tough. The paddle has to be where you can grab it in an instant, and so it becomes an obstacle that you'll get tangled on constantly. I've done it from my solo canoe, but it's not enough fun to do it often. If you want to flyfish, from a craft, solo, get yourself a Watermaster personal raft. You control it with swim fins while fishing, and with oars when you really want to get someplace in a hurry or run a fast riffle.

Exactly though even if one person fishing is fishing there really has to be someone else in a canoe to control it. As well as the fisherman not really having the space needed. When it's time to switch who is going to keep the boat in position good luck.

HOWEVER that doesn't mean I won't fish out of a canoe,and frequently, I'll just stop and wade more often. My girlfriends parents gave us our Christmas present this afternoon.... This was sitting in the back when we went outside.

[fishinwrench]

A canoe with a shitter and a magazine rack? Now we're talking!

[sean c]

The Clacka "headhunter" skiff is a great choice for around here and there are several guys on the board that have them.The new ones have walk around leg braces which mine does not. They also widened and raised the stern. I'm picking up my Towee Feb 1. It will have a rowing frame and removable casting braces.

Like trigg I have the older model head hunter a buddy of mine just bought the head hunter 2 that I think they started making in 09? I like it a lot. If it wasn't for the low water bridges on the nfow where I mainly fish I would own a low side or the clacka eddy. Ro has some pretty cool new layouts but they are expensive and I have always wanted to row an adipose but again they aren't cheap.

I bought my boat from mountain driftboats and they are good people very similar to buying a used boat from one of the manufacturers it is refurbished and usually has a new trailer and oars. Most of their used boats are a couple year old guide trade ins. Buy a refurbished used boat from on of the manufacturers or dealers is your best bang for the buck IMO like trigg said you will save a couple two or three grand and get a like new boat. The main thing is you will have to be patient to get what you want.

It's hard to figure out exactly what you want if you haven't spent much time in a driftboat but they all basically get the job done. I wish I had gotten a galvanized trailer, walk around floor plan and something with better rod storage. Besides the cost of the boat you will likely spend some money on upgrades and to have it shipped to you I spent around 1k extra on mine I think 600 of that was shipping.