February trip

[Ham]

15 minutes ago, 196champ said:

Anyone ever run a bass boat down there when the water is this high?

 

Yes, crazy people. 

[196champ]

Crazy what's so crazy about it? Safer than one of those little river boats 

 

[jtram]

Those boys on the white get emotional when you go over 25hp.

[196champ]

I'll guess I'll just peel off the 0 then 

 

 

[GamblinBlazer]

I'm headed down feb 17-21st.. i generally take my blazer with a 115 jet but have been considering taking my gambler with 225 for safety purposes.. there should be 0.0 fisherman wading and a bass boat on plane will throw less wake than a drift boat plowing up against 25000+ cfs.. There are many ways be to courteous other than boat size... just my 2 cents...

[Ham]

I hope you know the river really well. I'd never risk my BassCat on the White River. 

 

[GamblinBlazer]

I will defer to an expert and stick with the jet boat. Should be more than fine with it.

[Ham]

I hope that they will close the floodgates soon. I really think they will on the Norfork and I hope they will on The White River too. 

I don't like the river at >20,000 CFS, but I like it better than >30,000 CFS. 

Y'all do what y'all want. I see guys running Bass boats on the White and upper Taneycomo. I think the risk is too great. 

[Ferguson Bills]

Ham just out of curiosity I will be heading down there in early March. We are taking one flat bottom and had planned on renting another when we get there.  One of the guys has a 25 hp 16' mod v bass tracker,  would you advise against bring it and just renting. We only come down once a year so you would know the river much better than us.

[Ham]

FB,

I guess the full answer is it depends on where you are planning on fishing AND how much water they are running. You could safely use it in the long pool at Buffalo City, the confluence of the two rivers, and Rim Shoals regardless of water level. There is a LOT of fishing to be had in those areas. IF they continue to run water you could carefully pick your way around in other sections of the river.

The 16 foot metal boat with a 25 HP doesn't entail the inherent risk of a glass boat with a big motor. ie they move slower and draft less water. I would hate to scratch my aluminum boat up, but glass fractures are much worse. I guess a lot of people have a higher risk tolerance than I do. I would not be comfortable and would not enjoy my fishing in a glass bass boat on the White.