New trout boat

[mixermarkb]

Ok, really, really dumb question, that I should prolly post as a stand alone, but I’m gonna resurrect this thread with it anyway...

Why do all the white river guys use the glass jon boats, and all the other current/meremac/gasconade river guys run the tin jets? Do you not run shallow enough on the white to bang up a glass boat? 

[netboy]

I think is just a matter of opinion. The White river jons are cloned from the old original wooden jon boats in the area. The southern Missouri aluminum boats were designed there and very popular. That said I have a 17/48 Blazer with a 25 Merc jet and use it on the White/Norfork with no issues.

What I have noticed is that the fiberglass Supremes and Topwaters are set up better for fly fishing guides with the center rowing station. I would probably get one of those if it came with a rower guy.😄 

[Greasy B]

21 minutes ago, netboy said:

I think is just a matter of opinion. The White river jons are cloned from the old original wooden jon boats in the area. The southern Missouri aluminum boats were designed there and very popular. That said I have a 17/48 Blazer with a 25 Merc jet and use it on the White/Norfork with no issues.

What I have noticed is that the fiberglass Supremes and Topwaters are set up better for fly fishing guides with the center rowing station. I would probably get one of those if it came with a rower guy.😄 

As a Gasconade, Meramec guy with a glass boat I agree, you could go on and on about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of boat but both are perfectly suited for any navigable Ozark River.

I don't have my boat set up with oars because i'd up being the rowing guy.

[Ham]

I think it is mostly because of local tradition and the large number of boats that were set up as guide boats that would have 3 or more customers on board. 

Both work. I’d love to have both. 

[fishinwrench]

Beats me, aluminum is as fine as it gets for river fishing.  Light enough to drag it if needed, and tough enough to take being dragged.   

Some might make the argument that glass glides over the rocks better but every glass Jon I've seen has some pretty wicked gouges on the hull.   Easier to fix if they bust through I guess.

[Stein]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

 

Some might make the argument that glass glides over the rocks better but every glass Jon I've seen has some pretty wicked gouges on the hull.   Easier to fix if they bust through I guess.

I wish that were true about gliding over the rock when Les and I hit a rock just under the surface with his at Jigfest.  The abrupt stop threw us both to the bottom of the boat in an instant.  I wonder if a UHMW poly sheet bottom would help.

[fishinwrench]

56 minutes ago, Stein said:

I wonder if a UHMW poly sheet bottom would help.

Heck yeah, but it adds quite a bit of weight that can slow you down.  Plus side is that weight added to the hull adds more stability when your drifting and fishing.

[netboy]

13 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Some might make the argument that glass glides over the rocks better

That is probably true since it is a smooth bottom whereas the tin boats have ridges on the bottom.

[Greasy B]

On 7/1/2018 at 9:37 PM, mixermarkb said:

Ok, really, really dumb question, that I should prolly post as a stand alone, but I’m gonna resurrect this thread with it anyway...

Why do all the white river guys use the glass jon boats, and all the other current/meremac/gasconade river guys run the tin jets? Do you not run shallow enough on the white to bang up a glass boat? 

A glass boat on Gasconade River.

 

 

[Gavin]

Have buddies with western style drift boats and they do fine on the Meramec & Gasconade. Have seen a few Supreme's with jets on the 11pt, small jet jon's on the Current. Skill of the operator. Many boats will work, but its mostly monkey see, monkey do.