stick steer boats

[jhef]

ok guys im interested in the stick steer boats,,i weigh 230 is this gonna be too much weight in the front? are they easy to control, i need pros cons etc. any help is appreciated..what about the crappie tournys are they legal? i know i cant fish the aba with a stick steer but im sick of chasing green carp anyways...and could you email me what set ups you have thanks

[GRIZZ]

There have been several threads about stick steering that may be helpful to you.

In the black bar above go to search and search for stick steer and it will list the threads that have that topic in it.

[jhef]

i done the search, but all that showed was companies selling the boats, i dont want the opinions of people selling the boats , i want the opinion of someone fishing from the boat ,, thanks

[LBM]

jhef

I have a friend thats pushing 250 lbs that fishes out of a 16 ft Fisher stick steer boat. He mainly tight lines with the 10-12 jig poles and likes his boat quite well. I have seen another fisherman that is probably > 300 lbs that fishes out of a stick steer boat who frequently fishes in the waters I fish. So I don't think your weight would be a problem at all fishing out of a stick steer.

One thing I don't like about the stick steer is that one is always fishing sitting down of course with that kind of weight I can understand why then do. My preference at fishing is standing leaning against a butt seat until my back gives out and then switching the butt seat for a sit down seat with a back.

[Mack]

I have a stick steer boat and i love it...BUT....I live on a small river lake, old oxbow..and it never gets windy or rough. If you spend anytime on large lakes or reservoirs, your gonna stay wet. The general design will not allow the front to come up enough to handle the waves..IMHO.

Now, i love being able to enter the boat, sit down once, and do everything i want to do in a boat without ever having to stand up again.

I hope this helps alittle or at least informs you of a potential problem...

enjoy

[410MAN]

I fish from an old 73 Terry bass stick steer, 50 hp evinrude ,Love it cept when going into big waves , usually get wet up front this is 2nd one I had think in about getting another newer one I weigh 225 I like all the room between the front and back seat have put a lawn chair for 3 of ou to fish.

[paw paw perch]

I'm retired and have a few health problems, weigh 200 lbs. and fish out of a 16ft. aluminum trition stick steer and really like it. I do many different types of crappie fishing and it all works great. If there is a problem it's that it is not quite as good in rough water as my 18ft. sea ark that I traded in . When it get real rough I just trim the motor and pick the nose up a bit and go right on going. works great by my self which is the way I fish mostly but if someone is in the back seat they may get sprayed a little if I going sideways in the wind. I am rebuilding an old pontoon so if I'm planing a trip to the big open water I'll be using it some. I would not get rid of my ss though.

[boatman44]

Just got my first stick steer boat about 3 months ago, I have really enjoyed it, its a 16 ft. carolina skiff dlx, its deeper than the j series, so I haven't got sprayed with the water yet. I drag 10 rods by myself, and 16 with two people. it work great not haven't to get up and move. Find somebody close by and test theres before you purchace. good luck with your decision

[tnvol]

Jhef:

I have a Tracker 16' Panfish Special....and like it so far. All of the above comments are valid...but its very nice when fishing alone, especially. Everything is within reach..and the boat seems to handle nicely. If you are looking for a SS boat..look at the Triton 1650 SS thread on the Swap-Meet section here on Crappie.Com.. that is one beautiful boat for sale ! He will send you pics if you request them. Oh..and I weigh a lot more than 230 !

[bowdenja]

Jhef,

I have a Triton 1653SS with a Johnson 40 on the back. It's a 2004 model and this will be my second season to fish with it. If it swims and bites a hook I fish for it. I live very close to Ross Barnett Res. and have fished Pickwick, Bull Shoals and Table Rock with it. Plus the Pearl river below Ross Barnett.

In three words........ I love it! I'm 250# and 6' so it's no problem for me and my partner in crime is 6'2 and 230# and we cruse at 23 mph by the GPS. Planes quick and runs good on smooth water. I've even gone to a composite prop for the motor.

This is a smooth water boat, any chop and you will take some bumps because you are hung out in front. Kinda like a teeter-totter.

Storage for large items can be problem, but most boats are wanting in this in the 16' and under category.

I looked around and settled on the Triton, because at that time it was the ONLY boats that was all aluminum. NO WOOD anywhere. I understand that Bass Pro has done this now with their's.

Again Stick Steering boats have their limitations.....

No Motor over 50........ torque is too much with large motors
Not a rough water boat - This is my biggest beef. But usually I just slow her down, takes longer to get there but maybe that just safer!
Limited storage for big items
Cooler style livewell - mine seems to have a problem with keeping larger fish like bass and such alive.

But the Pros, for me anyway, were way more.

Easy to load and unload of trailer. Especially by yourself.
Up front view while on plane very easy to spot underwater stuff BEFORE you hit it with the prop
Better Situational Awareness - all around view much better
Faster fishing. No getting up and down. You are always at your fishing station
Smaller profile, very easy to get in tight places.
Smaller HP motor CHEAPER on gas.

These type boats are not for everybody, if you know the limitations and are willing to except them they are great fishing platforms. If you fish rough water all the time, want to be the first to get to a spot every time, you might want to go with the bigger boats.

Just my opinion. Hope this helps.

john