Drift Boats

[sean c]

Trigg have you rowed the towee? How does it compare to a driftboat?

[Ozark Sweetwater]

Trigg have you rowed the towee? How does it compare to a driftboat?

I have and it performs pretty well. It's not as responsive as the drifter but I didn't expect it to be with the hull differences. I'm keeping the drift boat but the Towee will open up some other waters that have limited access.

[sean c]

I have and it performs pretty well. It's not as responsive as the drifter but I didn't expect it to be with the hull differences. I'm keeping the drift boat but the Towee will open up some other waters that have limited access.

That's interesting I have my drifter and a jon but it would be pretty cool to have one boat that could be run with a trolling motor, poled or rowed.

Would you mind posting some pics of yours with the leg braces and rowing setup when you get it?

[fishinwrench]

That's interesting I have my drifter and a jon but it would be pretty cool to have one boat that could be run with a trolling motor, poled or rowed.

Um, well.....

[Justin Spencer]

If you enjoy the social aspect of fishing a driftboat makes it much more fun. With 3 guys in the boat you can enjoy good fishing without spreading out where you have to yell to talk to one another. The rower is as much a part of each catch as the fisherman, and I think most of us who have drifters enjoy rowing nearly as much as fishing (but you still need your partners to row). If you like to fish alone, like others have said, don't bother with a driftboat there are far cheaper and easier ways to get to your wading spots.

[Al Agnew]

I was friends with a guy who used to guide on the North Fork. He used a big jetboat type johnboat but without a motor. Rowed it when he had to, but when he had clients in the boat, he controlled the boat in all but the deepest pools simply by getting out and wading while guiding/pulling/pushing it. I've seen him neck deep in the water holding the boat back so the clients could fish a good spot. He earned his tips! The boat was a dream to fish from, with standing braces and open, level casting platforms fore and aft. Not as sure about how well it rowed. But because it was so wide and flat, it didn't draft much water.

[sean c]

I was friends with a guy who used to guide on the North Fork. He used a big jetboat type johnboat but without a motor. Rowed it when he had to, but when he had clients in the boat, he controlled the boat in all but the deepest pools simply by getting out and wading while guiding/pulling/pushing it. I've seen him neck deep in the water holding the boat back so the clients could fish a good spot. He earned his tips! The boat was a dream to fish from, with standing braces and open, level casting platforms fore and aft. Not as sure about how well it rowed. But because it was so wide and flat, it didn't draft much water.

I've seen him numerous times on the river if I remember correctly he just uses a trolling motor to get from shoal to shoal. Never seen him rowing.

I also wanted to add that drifting certain areas vs being static is a huge advantage especially on a river like the north fork. Now if he could walk that jon down the river at the speed of the current he would really earn his tips.

[Lancer09]

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

Exactly;)

Have you ever tried deucing in a river? Ain't easy.

[Geoff]

Exactly;)

Have you ever tried deucing in a river? Ain't easy.

This is a brilliant reply to a brilliant comment!!

I want a boat in a bad way the kayak works but I really want something with a motor I can use to just hop up and down between access points. I should get a johnboat and toss a little motor on it.

[Lancer09]

That's what I thought to myself at first but the stability with the width of a drifter as Well as the space was a little more important to me than a small motor.

I spoke with the guys up at stealthcraft, really because I like their 15' skiff style boat, comes fully loaded for about 8k.

http://stealthcraftboats.com/index.php?view=category&catid=19&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=165

Cool fact about them, if you live in Michigan they have a bank that does financing with them, but you have to be a Michigan resident.