Flyfishing rig build

[jdmidwest]

River boats only need traditional sonar and down scan.  Those side scan ducers are huge.

Watch the weight buildup.  Keep it light just in case you stuff it on a bar.

[fishinwrench]

10 hours ago, kjackson said:

I think you need this for your trolling motor; it's relatively fly-line friendly...and the price is right! You can ditch the stop switch and Big Foot paddle...

Wireless remote has totally spoiled me.  I like being able to dance all around the boat with the fob clipped to my belt loop.  

For flyfishing it's just 100% the way to go!

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

River boats only need traditional sonar and down scan.  Those side scan ducers are huge.

Watch the weight buildup.  Keep it light just in case you stuff it on a bar.

I installed a basic Lowrance Hook 5,   It has down scan, 2D sonar, Shows temp & Voltage, plus has mapping.....and the transducer is small 👍 

 

Yo, check out this trick interior lighting 😄 

 

I may pull the MinnKota Powerdrive system off the other boat for now, we'll see.   I need to take it for a water test tomorrow and see if I can bust the prop 😅

[fishinwrench]

Oh yeah, Forgot to mention....

We have TUNES 🎵 

[Mitch f]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Oh yeah, Forgot to mention....

We have TUNES 🎵 

Smallmouth like Skynyrd, Trout enjoy Barry Manilow  

[TRRANGER]

I am offended by you lack of color coordination of the tunes and your interior lighting. This will most certainly affect the fish catching ability of this boat. 

[fishinwrench]

18 minutes ago, TRRANGER said:

I am offended by you lack of color coordination of the tunes and your interior lighting. This will most certainly affect the fish catching ability of this boat. 

I agree.   Why don't they make Marine stereo head units with RED backlights.....so as not to hamper your night vision?    I mean your out on the lake/river....not cruising the Lake O strip!

[TRRANGER]

Wrench, just ribbing you on the rig. That is a really nice set up I would be honored to fish out of it. you built a great ride. 

[fishinwrench]

5 minutes ago, TRRANGER said:

Wrench, just ribbing you on the rig. That is a really nice set up I would be honored to fish out of it. you built a great ride. 

Thank, but no High-Fives yet please.   Plenty more steps to conquer 🙂 

[fishinwrench]

Took it out for a lake test this afternoon, and I'm quite impressed. Very solid boat. 

First I ran down to a high traffic area and pounded through some considerable boat wakes.   I never got wet until I purposely stabbed a 4 foot roller at WOT. A few drops on my sunglasses and a wet hat & left shoulder.    It crawls out of the hole in about 4 boat lengths, hammers your guts in a heavy chop but very smooth in a normal wind chop, and doesn't backwash at all when you dump the throttle.   With just me and no gear in the boat I blew the prop out once doing a hard turn at WOT through considerable chop......so I may slap a hydrofoil on it. Otherwise lowering the motor one hole would fix that, but I'd rather not lower the motor.  Top speed was 38.5mph.with just me in it.  

Ran up to the shallows, filled the livewell, and played around over a soft soggy bottom area.   It can idle without kissing the bottom in 17" with the motor fully down, and it needs a hair over 2' of water to get on plane..... let's call it 28" to be safe.  I calibrated the sonar unit to 2.5' at that spot.    

A 12v 50# thrust trolling motor moves the boat around just fine, so a single battery is all that's required (2 parallel if you plan on running the livewell pump all day and listening to music.

I covered 26 miles on less than 5 gallons of gas.  The old Evinrude 40 starts immediately, no smoke at all, and purrs like a kitten.   

Even though I stabbed a massive roller there wasn't a drop in the bilge at the end of the run.. 👍

The only downside is that the boat is HEAVY. for its size.   You aren't gonna drag this rig over any shoals, that's for sure.  And crawling over the bow to the trailer tongue when loading solo is kinda sketchy.....it needs a convenient step built onto the trailer tongue (or something besides the trolling motor shaft to hang onto). 

And of course I have a trailer light out🙄 

 

 

Pretty sure I'm keeping this rig awhile.    The Lowe 1648MT/ Evinrude 35 rig is going up for sale.  

Any offers ?