fishing pro/ams out of an 18.5 footer

[gofish42189]

I'd really like to start fishing pro/ams in the next year or so. Thinking about won or maybe evn flw. My biggest concern is my boat. I have an 18.5ft 2000 Skeeter zx185 with a 150 Yamaha hpdi. I plan to keep everything maintained and don't plan on having any major issues, but you never know. It's more so the size that worries me. Is taking this boat out on big water and fishing against the top dogs a bad idea? I'd love to buy a new boat but its just not realistic for me right now. What do you guys think? Should I be hesitant, or just go for.it?

[mojobassin]

Remember its not the boat its the fisherman but the only sucky thing is they'll just get to the spot faster, but a 18.5 footer should not be a problem

[scott h]

There is nothing wrong with that boat, the bigger boats are faster in big water but on the other hand you can get into places they can't, back in the day an 18 with a 150 was the deal and they fished much bigger waters than we have out west you just have to navigate the adverse days wisely and go catch em.hope to see you out there more guys need to move to the pointy end, its you against the fish.tight lines!

[JT-Madera]

You will forever remember the question you have posed and the answers you recieve here. One day you will be fishing Clear Lake on a very cold winter day, your bite is down south and you stayed too long catching your fish, you have 20 minutes to get back to the casino, you fireup the motor and head back, you round the corner at Windmill point and discover the wind is blowing 25 mph with gusts 35mph. The narrows will have waves 10-15 ft high or higher, the odds of you making it back to the weighin just shrank down to nil, you not only screwed yourself, but your AM as well.. when or " if " you make it back the thing you do next will be to buy a much bigger boat...............why take a chance??? If you think you are good enough to run with the big dogs you better have the equipment to stay with them or save your money and stay home.... A 20ft boat is just as dangerous as a 18.5ft with a bad driver, but why would you want to take a chance with your life..you will need all the right things going for you just to get your money back in a Pro-Am. Why chance your life..

JT-Madera

[gofish42189]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really appreciate your advice. So you're saying you would run a 20 foot bass boat through 15ft+ plus waves. Not to question you, but its hard for me to believe. I've been in true 4-6 footers at Mead in my boat and it was freakin scary but we just worked our way through it, just like all the 20 footers around us. No doubt would a bigger boat be better, but is it necessary? I think running any bass boat in some conditions is risking your life. I have been stranded at Mead in very bad weather, but it was totally unrelated to the size of my boat. Why take a chance? Because I can't afford a bigger newer boat. I would love one and will have one eventually, but I just can't right now. I'm not saying im good enough to hang with the big dogs, probably not yet, but only one way to find out. Staying home and counting pennies doesn't seem like the best way to chase my dream. Maybe im wrong?

[N.A.R]

Someone needs to run and tell Steve Kennedy he needs a 20 footer, he still running a 19'er. He won Clearlake out of a 19 footer.Tak just moved up from a 19'er. Aaron won plenty of Tournaments including back to back Won events out of an 18 footer. Havasu and Clearlake.

That boat you have is just fine, its loaded with storage and plenty fast to compete....

http://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/pri ... final-hour

Go have fun.....

[kmah]

Your boat will work out perfectly fine. You just plan for rough water, leave earlier, etc. We prefish the weather & conditions anyways. You just have to consider your boat also.

It has very little to do with what your competition is running. Does a 20 footer make things easier sometimes when you are running, storage, etc. Sure!

All the damage is done when you are stopped anyways. Make sure your trolling motor is solid, your live well's are tip top & that your big motor is running well. We all have an obligation to be "professionals" In general and to our co-anglers some of them are fishing for points etc. And every fish they weigh in through the year can make the difference.

If we can prevent break downs, being late, or any equipment failures, we should take every precaution. In the end bad things happen regardless.

It will feel so good to whoop sum...in a boat that is paid for anyways.

Good luck hope to see you out there!

Ken Mah

[roaroar]

.

[hawghustler]

BTW. There is not a lake in the country capable of producing 15' waves. People around here exagerate to the extremes. If you have been in S!@#Y weather at Mead than you have seen it as bad as any tournament director would consider allowing a tourny to fish. Im making the same decision you are. After traveling to both BASS Central Opens as a co-angler I have seen the competition at the highest level (yes Table Rock was canceled). If you have the cojones to put down the dough and go pro don't let your boat hold you back. At Lake Lewissvlle, the only competitor from New Mexico and now a good friend, fished from a LATE model 18' Ranger with a 150 Mariner on the back. The weather out their was bad, the fishing was tough and although he did not cash a check, he faired much better than multiple Elite guys and full time veterans. A mere 1.4lbs from a check including a 5lbr the last full day. My advice, make sure your equioment is in good working order. For piece of mind if nothing else, you can worry about fishing instead of your boat. And most important, GOOD RAIN GEAR. Its what sets these guys apart. You do all your fishing with the boat stopped. Warm and dry is so much better when its cold, wet, and windy.

[JT-Madera]

Finally do what your heart tells you. Do not let people on this site belittle you into thinking you need a larger boat to fish any type of tournaments.

I hope no one on this site belittle's anyone for their views, because no one on here is better than anyone else..."no one" I started fishing team tournaments in the early 80's and Pro_Am's in 93... I fished out of a Ranger 482 until 2003... so I do know what I am talking about, sometimes...However one day on ClearLake what I described above happened to me....by the time I made it back to the Casino half my fish were dead and my Am and I were soaked to the skin...it was then that i decided to go for the 520 Ranger and never looked back. If you a sweating the price of gas then you should'nt be fishing Pro-Am's in my mind.

Are there guys who fish the Pro-Am's out of 19 fter's, you bet they do, can you be successful in a smaller boat, you bet...I did.. I only gave you my opinion because you asked and some people on this site don't like other contributers opinion's.. you should always be open to all opinions, toss the ones you don't agree with and keep the ones you do..

But don't add words or insenuations to someone else because you don't like their's.....that is the number one reason this site has lost so many members because people attack what someone says and not just give their own opinion, maybe it's easier for them..

If you want to fish go for it

[toddmc]

I fished pro ams as an am back in the day and an 18.5 boat is fine as long as you are organized, the boat is well maintained, and you are a good driver. One of my "pros" showed up with a 25 year old ranger full of garbage, ran out of gas, and had a bad battery. Needless to say, I was upset. Make sure you have adequate room for your am to store their tackle.

[Robchik]

Go for it. If you are familiar with the waters you fish and are cautious, who's to say you can't do it. I fish out of a 19 footer... I haven't done well, but that's not the boats fault

I was at the AC Clear Lake Pro Am, and if i am not mistaken, the winner had a 18.5 Skeeter with a 175 that had an unfortunate meeting with the pavement. Just liek they say in Nascar, it's not the car it's the driver. Like magic, it's not the wand, but the magician.

Good luck.

[Rich hamilton]

I agree with what most of JT says-

First off if you folks continue to push people out of this forum you will be talking to yourselves only. That is a real comical situation. I am not going to quantify my experience or situations because it is readily apparent to me that some of you folks dont have the consideration to let people have their own opinion without trashing them.

This just does not happen on this forum it happens in my job as well. I am sure it happens in your jobs too.

I will answer and give my opinion for the guy who asked the question and anyone else who wants a different perspective. The size of the boat does matter but what matters the most is the percentage of your brain that you use. As already stated be aware of the weather and have a back up plan. be prepared to tuck in, thrown in the towel if a tsunami hits out of nowhere. This is fishing not the war in iraq.

I would suggest moving to the front and fishing out of your own boat as soon as possible. Skeet learned how to kick all of our butts out of a float tube!

Having a smaller boat will limit you on any body of water. I bought a 20.5 foot Ranger after learning the hard way. I have witnessed what JT stated in the narrows on clear lake. I have broken the transom out of my skeeter having the motor barely hanging on by a thread. I have rescued two guys in that same place in the same type of conditions while driving a 20.5 feet ranger. The biggest I have seen clear lake was 6 feet and that was plenty big for me. that means it takes a third of your boat to go up the face while you tak down the backside of the wave. When you cant see the horizon over the waves you are in big stuff no matter what the size is.

It is not always the length of the boat but how the actual boat and driver handle the conditions. I have had several friends who used to post on here drown so it does happen. I would consider fishing close to your launch area if conditions get as bad as stated. There is no shame in using your brain.

[stickbait]

In most all cases 18 ft will handle anything you want to fish..some of us did it for years and others still do..

[Bill Cook]

Not only did Ron Tobey win Clear Lake out of a 19' with a 175, Phil Dutra won the Delta AC pro-am out of a 18' boat with a 150 or 175. Learn how to drive the boat, keep it kept up and running well and understand the restrictions on running a smaller boat and you will be fine.

Good luck,
Bill Cook

[Terry Smith]

18'is fine. I run my 18' BassCat at all the lakes from Don Pedro to Shasta. Drive smart learn what your boat can do and HAVE FUN!!!! GOOD LUCK IN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT!!!!!!! I have been in some nasty stuff and have only taken water over the bow once. The reason was because my partners back was hurt and it was to rough to run the way I needed to. I saw 21 foot Rangers in the same Goldenstate tournament last year at Folsom taking waves over the front of the boat so size doesn't always make the difference. Larger boat smoother ride of coarse but experience behind the wheel is A LIFE SAVER!!!!!!!!


Terry

[stickbait]

No bass boat will handle 15fters nor 12 fters or even 8 fters.. and IMO... anyone would be crazy to even try it..most all tournament orgs would canel in these conditions if it was forcasted anyway. My advise to anyone that runs into these conditions find a lee or a cove and wait it out.. no amout of money or fish is worth the chance..

Bassboats are fishing platforms not ocean going boats..ya 20's are alot better than 18's and 18's are better than 16's ect ect.. but to think because you are running a 520 it can handle most anything out there is just not the case..

[Tin Can]

I am calling BS on 10-15' waves on CL. 6 maybe, but I think 10-15 is crazy talk.

[jletsinger]

I just fished the FLW tournament on the delta on the pro side fishing out of a 1988 17' 10" Ranger 363v, I put all new stuff on it and love it. I can get into all the nooks and crannys on the delta and haven't met any water it can't handle. An 18.5' is perfect, not too big or too small, just make sure everything is sound and in good working order.

I had a z19 camanche with a 225 etec and hated it, besides handling big water a little better, being 5 mph faster, and having more storage, I can't justify the 25,000 dollar difference, higher insurance costs, and the luxury tax.

[CN]

Your boat is all you need and is perfectly capable of fishing these event's. As stated if it's in good working order and you know how to drive in those conditions you will be ok. Plus I think your going to fish waters your familiar with right.

And I dont think you will see to many day's with 10' wave's.

Mike Nance

[LV Ba$$]

10-15 footers? DANG SON! What's the crab count in that stuff?

You'll do fine in a boat that size. I fished many tourney's at Mead and Mohave in a 18 foot boat and did just fine. It's all about the SKILL!!

[george]

I have fished out of a 17ft Stratos dozens upon dozens of pro-am tournaments on the Delta and Clear and all of the motherlode lakes.
I have never seen a 10-15 ft wave in my life on the delta or Clear lake!
Fishing out of Lakeport I have run to Rattlesnake and Redbud and back and have had some heavy water getting back but have made it just fine, you just have to pick your battles.
On the delta I have run from Ladds to Franks tract and White slough and even though it takes me longer to get there and back I dont think you have a huge disadvantage; I just try and make sure that those areas are going to produce via pre fishing.
I would run an 18ft boat anywhere in California, it can be a little tight on space but I have cashed quite a few checks out of the smaller boat. You will save on fuel cost and you can get into some of the skinny water that the 20 footers cant get into.
So dont hesitate fishing pro ams out of the 18 footer, if you put in your time and practice you will find it fishes as well as the bigger boats.
Big boats are like big trucks some of the guys that have them do so because they are lacking in other parts.

Good luck, and dont ever believe you are at a disadvantage!

[ricky]

When I was starting out I fished out of a 18 foot Astro and a 518. I dragged that 518 all over the country and made a bunch of money out of it. That is plenty of boat to get out there in.

The fish don't care.

[G-unit]

I have not only fished, but placed! Out of my 17 foot tracker. Do it. It's no the arrow it's the Indian

[Trace]

Remember back about 10 + years ago? Everyone: Skeet, Folkstad, Gliebe, Sapp, and Reynolds all rode in 18.5 ' boats. I drew Andre Moore once in an 18' Ranger with a 150 carburetor motor. That's what the sponsors provided and they were still beating everyone and making a career. If you're on fish, no one cares.
Tracy

[Ceaser]

When I was 17 I was standing in the old hook line and sinker with my 12' boat in the back of my El Camino outside. I was talking to Dee Thomas and Junebug about how i need to get a real boat for tourneys and yadda yadda.. Dee looked outside at the boat then asked "you get em good today?" I said hell yeah.. and he laughed and said said "Whats wrong with that boat there?" I thought he was joking till he added "Kid, a boats only as good as the fisherman standing in it." I left the shop and my views on tournamnet fishing were forever changed. Go give em hell!
tight lines
Ceaser
Ps. THANKS DEE

[dyollp]

Your boat is fine. You're giving up a little speed and storage, but you certainly wouldn't be taking a chance on your life - that's a little bit of a stretch. If it's that bad out, they'll probably cancel the tournament. If not, then the extra foot or so isn't going to make you that much safer. Wear your PFD, learn how to drive your boat, and don't do anything foolish. That's true for any size boat though. You're just going to have to leave a little extra time to run to weigh-in.

Smaller boats are great. They're cheaper to run, easier to tow and fit better in your garage.

[swordfish]

There is a huge difference between a 15 -16' boat and a 17'10 to 18.5. A boat 18 to 19 while not considered big nowadays is plenty worthy with driving skills and good judgement . Saves on fuel too as well as the other before named benifits. As to big waves in the Narrows, you must leave plenty of extra time to run back north from south you can bust up a boat in the narrows, Jason Quinn and KVD underestimated the water there and destroyed their boats tryin' to power thru the rough water in practice Elites 2006 while others called for trailers pulled to ramps down south, a good choice. 32 years boating on Clearlake and I have never seen waves in the narrows like seen on Powell and Mead. CL Narrows 4 to 5 ' is awfull that is pretty much max wave height. Plus if you round the corner at Windmill Point from the south you will be heading towards the Oaks, going north round the corner to Lakeport would be Buckingham Point.

[NorCalBasser88]

10-15 foot waves i highly doubt it maybe at the great lakes or the bay thats about it haha 6-8 believable back to the subject go for it man an 18 foot boat can do it for sure i gotta an 18 foot basscat and i fish all over the main key is to know your boat and its limits.

[Mitch]

Ok, so JT may have embelished the height of those waves a tad, but his point is that the big water is tough on smaller boats. I started in an 18.5' Ranger and soon realized that it was safe enough, and fished well, but it also had many other disadvantages too. I moved up to a 492 (20'6") and then to a 520 (20"10"). I'm a pretty good boat handler and I know how to run in rough water. It was just safer and had more room in the larger boats. I had one of the worst and dangerous rides on Clear Lake as a co-angler in an FLW in a Ranger 520. It wasn't the boat, it was the driver !! Make sure your boat is in tip top shape and know how to run in rough water. If you don't already know how, get someone to show you. BE SAFE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

Read the thread on running in rough water thats running now

[ken a]

Maybe he means it seems like 15 footers, especially at Mead