Quite contrary to what my wife contends, a guy can’t have too many boats! After all, there’s no one perfect vessel. I mean, you’ve got to have the jet for running shallow rivers…then something that can handle a little chop out on the bay. Well, then, of course you’ll need to have some weather protection when you’re running offshore and then…
See what I mean? Anyway, here’s my current list of 5 boats you just can’t live without…
Maritime 23 Voyager
Okay, so the MSkiff Voyager 23 would be the perfect all-around rig for bay halibut, salmon (when they come back), rockfish, close to home tuna… and would even make a good Lake Tahoe jig boat! I also love the fact that you can duck out of the weather…a very nice feature.
2410 Bay Ranger
Fishing the big waters of the California Delta, I love the idea of being able to move around to distant spots quickly — like I see the guys in the bass boats do. I also like how much deck space and fishing room bass boats have…However, I don’t want to be anywhere near one of those low-sided affairs when the wind kicks up and the tide starts running against it. Luckily, Ranger has come up with the perfect solution: The Bay Boat!
Willie Predator
While all that deep water stuff is great, I still have a tough time finding anything cooler than running up a wild river…going 30 mph in 3 inches of water. And really the only way to do river fishing right is to fish out of a tiller boat like Willie’s 23′ 6″ Predator. It’s nothing but open fishing room!
FishRite
What’s that you say? You can’t decide if you’d rather have a jet for river running or a prop for the lakes and saltwater? Well, the good news is you don’t have to! FishRite’s 21-foot Explorer Outboard Jet/Pro combo is just the ticket! In an hour’s time you can switch out the lower end and transform this thing from an offshore salmon troller to an in-river side-drifter!
Klamath Swimbait Boat
Then, when I don’t feel like burning a bunch of fuel and just want to get out for a quick and easy day of striper or smallmouth fishing, I’d bust this sweet little number…
I know I said these are the 5 boats I can’t live without, but actually, there’s one more that I’d drop ’em all for…
Brian Scott " captain grizzly says
I agree with it is hard to decide what boat is the most versatile. I own a 2009 20′ x 72″ 10 degree predator. It has a 102″ beam, 32″ inside depth. A complete fishing machine. People seem to always crack there neck when we are filling the boat with fish or cruising by at 32 mph in heavy chop. For the winter steelhead, spring chinook, and upriver fall coho and chinook. You wont find a better boat. I power the 2014 yamaha 150/105 hp jet on a jack lifted all the way up. In the fall i put the prop lower unit on and its 38 mph loaded with my crew of 4 salty fisherman. Willie boats, ” Simply the best” there is a reason for that. “Team Grizzly” , fire in the hole.
Tobey Wong says
that "munchkin" looks like J. Klar….one of the guides that JD promotes on this site.
Allen bushnell says
Hey JD where is the Ocean Kayak Trident 15?
JD says
I said “boats”…not plastic shark bait!! Just kidding…I’ll have to try that one out!
Hugh says
JD I'm pretty sure thats a willie predator it looks really big is it because a munchkin is running it ?
JD says
Capt. Smurf!