Does Speed really matter??

Jeff Jewell · Post by **Jeff Jewell** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:27 am

With the thread about squezzing a few more MPH out of our boats, it got me to thinking, How many of you really run wide open anyway?
I have a 150 on my boat and I might get into the low 60's with it, I know alot of guys who have boats that will do mid 70's.
But guess what, I am rarely passed on blast off. At the 100% TOC I was in the middle of the pack and was never passed either day?
Maybee it was because I was going to where there were no fish

PS how's the Stripers going??????
Be Safe Jeff

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:35 am

More importantly, does size?

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:03 pm

I HAVE FOUND THRU THE YEARS IT ONLY MATTERS COMING IN TO WEIGH IN.....ALWAYS THAT LAST CAST AND YOU MAY BE LATE OR DQ'D OH NO !!

Blue_R70 · Post by **Blue_R70** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:29 pm

Bassbones wrote:Its not teh size of the hammer that matters but the size of nail your throwing it at.....

Ever throw a hotdog down the Caldecott Tunnel?

Kelly Jeffers · Post by **Kelly Jeffers** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:10 pm

I'm not sure if I got this right?,but when I'm at home and looking around downstaires, and theirs an echo that's bad??? also whats the point of having a 70+mph boat if your not gona use it

Randy Walker · Post by **Randy Walker** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:20 pm

I agree with the weigh in deal.....I fished in an event where i was an hour away from weigh ins, I got a 150 merc on my ranger and I tell ya what...at that point I wish I had a faster boat to get to my spot and back - I would have had about 20 minutes more of fishing time...that could have made a huge deal since I was a fish shy of a limit on the 2nd day. It's always nice to have the power if needed..you dont have to use it until needed.

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:44 pm

Speed aka Meth, aka Ice is the number one problem in counties that we fish in (San Joaquin, Calaveras, Tulomune, Lake, and Butte)
So the answer is yes, Speed does matter!!

Blue_R70 · Post by **Blue_R70** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:55 pm

TTaylor · Post by **TTaylor** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:15 pm

At times, speed does matter. During certain times of the year, you may have quite a few areas that you will be fishing during day. The faster you get to each one, the more time you'll have to fish that area.

The Delta is one body of water where speed plays a part. If the tournament you're fishing is launching at Russo's but the area you're fishing is over in the Stockton area, then the faster you get there, the more time you have to fish.

Just my opinion.

Ken C. · Post by **Ken C.** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:06 pm

Dave, are you st-tarting to st-tutter now or are you just t-trying to hit 1000 posts the cheap way????

Andy Giannini · Post by **Andy Giannini** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:31 pm

Its fun to race around at blast off, and on smaller bodies of water, key areas are important. (So if you get there first, you get that point or whatever.)

Its fun to fish till the last minute, while you are getting bit and race back to weigh.

I asked for a smaller motor when the 19 was purchased. Figured 200 was not needed. Dealer said two things, severe weather you might need the power in big nasty water. And he mentioned resale nobody would want a 19 with 150 and it didn't add much to the total cost to go with 200. So it would be like buying a corvette with a six cylinder. So the boat was bought with the 200.

I propped mine with a slower four blade to stay on pad at slow speeds around twisty sloughs. It still goes 73 on GPS when you open it up. (Probably 69 or so now, grazed a sandbar.) That is going pretty good.

I don't think speed matters that much at all. Steve Sapp rides around at about 45 MPH, and he seems to do ok.

If speed REALLY was the key, ask this question.

"If my boat went twice as fast, would it make me twice the angler I am?" (Would my bag be twice as heavy?)

.02 A.G.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:14 pm

It's a lot easier to scare the **it out of your nonboater at 80mph than 60. Your *ss comes twice as far off the seat when you misjudge a wake and the ringing in your ears really helps when your passenger is whining about their back hurting.....Can't wait to get my new Stratos dialed in...anyone want to go for a ride????

James

TTaylor · Post by **TTaylor** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:36 pm

It's about total time in a day...... 2 to 5 minutes at a time adds up to more time to have your bait in the water.

Those extra minutes gained in a tournament can be huge. Every minute your baits in the water during a tournament, the more chances you have of catching fish.

I know that you can't catch fish at 70+, but every extra minute gained can be very valuable at the end of the day.

Just my 02.

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:16 pm

I think speed does matter. I was with a pro at Havasu when we saw all the "smaller" boats headin back for weigh in and we still stayed there. 5 minutes later we were still fishing, at that point I landed a fish and we were able to cull a smaller fish out. We still made it back with plenty of time and we uped our weight. So does speed matter, yes.

my .02

L

Eric Thoss · Post by **Eric Thoss** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:30 am

I don't think a few miles per hour makes a whole bunch of differance at all. Having an underpowered boat is a whole differerant story.

Underpowerd boats are more dangerous in big nasty water also in areas where there is alot of boat traffic . You will also find a boat that is properly powered will consume less fuel and last much longer.

I fished pro-am's for a number of years and have probably ridden in every configuration you can think of and one thing rang true. The guys who had the max HP motors on there boats were far less hard on them than the guys who had underpowered their boats... without a doubt.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:05 am

Bones, here's an algebra equation for you. Pro #1 finds a 10lb bed fish near Red Bud on the last day of practice. During partner pairing at Konocti Vista Casino he finds out he is boat #1 for day 1 blast off. Pro #2 also finds the same 10lb bed fish but draws boat #10 for day 1 blast off.
Assuming Pro #1's boat does 60mph carrying a tournament load, Pro #2's boat does 80mph carrying a tournament load and the TD launches 1 boat every 20 seconds, who gets the first shot at that 10lb bed fish?

James

CORAL 96 · Post by **CORAL 96** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:54 am

Yes, to both size & HP!! I have owned both an 18' boat with a 150 Mariner carbed & now a 20' with a Merc 225 efi. I can actually run at less rpm's with the 225 to go the same speed as the 150 would go (topped out at 56 mph). The 225 will push my 2' longer boat at 68 mph, not that I run that speed all the time, but nice to know it's available. The other issue is starting. I HATED fooling around with the carb motor at times starting. Had flooded it out several times trying to start (Wait 15-30 minutes & try again). That's wasted time to me. With the EFI, turn key!!! Plus the ride in the 20' is superior to the 18'. My 3 cents!!!

Gator · Post by **Gator** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:07 am

Well James - I ain't Bones but this intrigued me so I did the figuring -

RedBud is approximately 12 miles (according to my measurements on Google Maps) from Konocti Vista

Pro #1 - Launches at 6 a.m. , runs 60 mph for 12 miles, arrives at 6:12 (average 1 mile per minute)

Pro #2 - Launches at 6:03 am - runs 12 miles at 80 mph, arrives at 6:12 (average 1.333333 miles per minute)

So, they would arrive at the same time (approximately)

Of course, this would be affected by hole shot, maintaining speed in corners and water conditions.

chris ball · Post by **chris ball** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:22 pm

i like to go fast......really fast!!!!

chris ball

350V RGR · Post by **350V RGR** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:09 pm

IMHO Absolutely Speed matters. Now let me be the first to advocate Safty. Every person who gets behind the wheel of a High Preformance Watercraft must always take into consideration. All of the aspects of Safty, Regulations, Laws, Weather, Surroundings, Vessel Limitaions, and Personal Limitations. Ect, ect
I truly believe a Fast Boat is just as important, as lets say your Fluorocarbon fishing line. You may not need fluor or Speed but they are there if needed. They are Tools to be used to help you Win a Tournament. I dont think there is a Pro Angler anywere that has not benefited from a Fast Boat. We have all seen or heared of a Angler who's time was running out and he or she made that one last cast that ended up being the last fish of a Winning weight. If Top Pro's fish like this, Should I not follow suit? It's not the size of your Rod. Its the size of your Sack. Dont hate the Player, Hate the game. Will Mathers

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:37 pm

Your math is correct and while the two Pro's fought over who should get the first cast, the toothless guy in the rowboat fishing crawdads, lands the fish and proceeds to clean it before heading in for breakfast.....

James

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:42 pm

i like my fast boat, when im behind a water skier in the Delta in the summer, and i need to get around his wake i got he power to do it.

Scott D. · Post by **Scott D.** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:22 am

Does having a faster boat get you in a different frame of mind, and therefore affect your fishability? If you are in a "hurry up" frame of mind, and hole jump all over the place, you might be fishing in a hurry too, and sometimes that can NOT be good. I still think that I will worry more about making the time with the trolling motor down more important than getting to my next spot. I'll worry about the next spot when I get there at 69 MPH in my "Slow" Ranger 520. Now, another point to mention. Mother Nature is the all mighty equalizer. When there's nasty big rolls on the lake, Hmmm, I seam to get to the spots faster than the "fast" boats, plus, I'm getting there safer. Now before anyone goes bashing me on this, IT'S MY FRICKIN OPINION, SO LEAVE IT AT THAT!!!!

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:36 am

Ask Steve Sapp. I hear that guy is good

His boat is awesome too!

lionkiller · Post by **lionkiller** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:57 am

When I'm doing 60 down the lake, thinking about going 70, I know that's stinkin thinkin, esp at 12:30 a.m. I might feel differently if there were a boat on the line... Agreed about underpowered. I was just talking to a good wrench here about fuel consumption...he explained to me the benefits of propwork, jackplates -not necessarily that you've got the top end, bit that you can ease off WOT and maybe get two or three trips to the tank, instead of one...while traveling at the same speed you were going wide open before.

In any competition, speed , or at least knowing it's there will matter -another 'confidence factor' for the angler. Like the .357 in the nightstand -I may never need it, but I sleep like a baby just knowing it's there..

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:19 am

I run a 19' with a 150 so my boat is "underpowered" it gets me to my fishing holes great however at blast off I may have to go to plan B when I guy behind me overtakes me and beats me to the hole.

The rain-x post was a bad joke on my behalf, I thought it was funny. But at the end of the day I just hear the mantra of off road riders, "there aint no substitute for Horse Power." Does that mean you have to always have your foot in it, no but when you need it, it is there and not leaving you wanting for more.

I would rather have a 200 hanging on my boat doing 60mph with room to throttle up then having my 150 at 60mph with room only to throttle down.

To each thier own but at then end of the day There Aint No Substitute for Horsepower! and maybe some Rain-X

492slayer · Post by **492slayer** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:01 pm

Well, I learned a long time ago about having a boat that was under powered. I owned a 16' River boat with a 85HP Jet (65hp) and it was reated for 130HP Jet. The price was right, but holeshot was dangerous a few times in rough water, and there was no power to overcome big water when needed. Today I run 335HP on my 22' Ranger. I'm not as concerned about topend as I am getting 3 big guys and gear out of the hole. I can get on plane with two and a tourney load in 3-4 seconds. I don't fish tournaments out of it because of all the technical rules, but I always have the needed power to run big water or get out of harms way. I don't have pee pee syndrome like some suggest when you max out the HP, but I do know that more is better.

R Marxmiller · Post by **R Marxmiller** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:59 am

Gotta love the comment about the guy that buys the Z06 Corvette and the brand new boat with a Mercury Optimax 250 XS "Racing" setup!! Too funny, I think I have seen this guy!!

Seriously up here in the motherlode, Kyle Rassmussen and Joe Menzes fish out of Kyles old Ranger with a 150, and it does not affect thier performance, those guys can beat most of us out of a row boat! So I would say speed makes NO difference.

NaCl · Post by **NaCl** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:53 am

usually run below 50mph and, if their record of success is any measure, we should ALL be running a lot SLOWER! HaHa!

.....NaCl

Pil9rotten · Post by **Pil9rotten** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:46 pm

Depends.

If you have spots in familiar water that is far from the launch during a tournament then speed counts.

If you are way out in the sticks and it's close to weigh in, then speed counts.

My view is that it does not matter. As a tin boat driver with a 65 hp merc, speed is not an option. Oh, I can get the silver bullet up on Tracker pad and hit MAYBE 40 on a good day with no load.

So I plan my day, fish methodically and navigate my way around. I have to keep in mind how long it will take to get back to the ramp on time. I may not be able to fish Clear Lake end to end and side to side but I am going to focus more intently on what I am doing in a smaller body of water. I also break a lake up into a series of smaller lakes and fish them accordingly. This was my game plan when I won the Rally in 2002. Tin boat, small motor, low speed ...gotta focus on those areas I have access to. I think this handicap has made me a better angler.

Do I want to go 70 mph and blast across a lake and look cool?

Hell yeah I do. That's why my next tin boat will be a 21 foot Xpress with a 300 HP motor capable of doing 90 plus. But I will still fish the same way because it works for me.

Just my .02

Kenji

Pil9rotten · Post by **Pil9rotten** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:19 am

"There is NO body of water in California ( unless your an idiot and going in circles ) that you can go 80 miles in ONE direction... "

Last I checked California was a coastal state so there is a body of water you can travel 80 miles in one direction. Ever heard of the delta?

LOL

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:50 pm

my boat dosent do 80, but i have stayed at 65 for about 30-40 minutes. Launched at Lazy-M, fished Italian ran up to Sherman for the heck of it, just to see what kinda milage the boat would get.

Jim Conlow Sr. · Post by **Jim Conlow Sr.** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:46 pm

We all seem to agree that time on the water is one of the main factors in being a successful Bass fisherman. Being quick on the water allows us the greatest opportunity to fish the places of our choice for a greater length of time than if we had a slower boat.
If you are fishing a tournament at Clear lake with launch at Redbud and you had found your best fish at the mouth of Rodman. Lets assume that the distance is 25 miles and the you have a boat that will do 60 or one mile per minute. You have a round trip time running the boat of 50 minutes. If instead you have a boat that will do 66 miles per hour you will have a round trip time of 45 minutes. Therefore not only will you be more likely to get to your spot sooner than a slower competitor but you will have 5 minutes longer to fish than if your only driving a 60 mile an hour boat. Many tournaments and at least one classic that I can remember has been won in the last 5 minutes of fishing time.
Time on the Water only means something if your bait is in that water.

Jim Conlow Sr. · Post by **Jim Conlow Sr.** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:57 pm

With 100 boats in a tournament if there were 3 minutes between boats it would take 300 minutes or five hours to complete the blast off

Jim Conlow Sr. · Post by **Jim Conlow Sr.** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:58 pm

BLAZER 210 · Post by **BLAZER 210** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:12 pm

Having the speed is nice if and when you need it but the only time I really noticed it as a huge was on the columbia river and being the 32 boat out ended up being the first one to the hot spot and fished for almost 5 minutes before anyone else showed up. I also got to fish 15 minutes longer at the end of the day before I had to head to weigh in. Runnin 85mph I was able to make the 40 mile run in just under a half hour. But on most lakes if you can run 65-70 you will get were you need to be fast enough. Sure is fun blowin by everone first thing in the morning though.

Jim Conlow Sr. · Post by **Jim Conlow Sr.** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:40 pm

If one guy wants to go faster than someone else as long as he is within the law then thats his own business. If some one else wants to go slower so be it.
But the fact remains that whoever gets there first gets to fish that water.
Pure and simple in a tournament I would like to be able to fish the best water that I found in practice first. And I would like to be able to fish where I am catching quality fish just a little longer. It matters not if the run is 10 miles or 30 miles, Ask the guys who have fished with me in a tournaments and you will find out that I typically pass 5 to 10 boats in the first 5 or so miles. I dont know for sure where they are going but if they were headed to my first choice spot they are not going to get there first.
Once in a while I get passed by someone in a Gambler or one of the other light weight flatter bottom boats but when there is a chop on the water they dont stand a chance.

BLAZER 210 · Post by **BLAZER 210** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:43 pm

hey jim how fast is that new legend anyway?

Jim Conlow Sr. · Post by **Jim Conlow Sr.** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:44 pm

Why is it that common sense is so damned uncommon

BLAZER 210 · Post by **BLAZER 210** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:46 pm

I don't know I could only run 80+ in the right conditions other wise it was no faster than the others

Jason Wood · Post by **Jason Wood** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:48 pm

I've pushed my new 199 with a 225 ProXS up to 73 fully loaded with 3 guys in it... It was running like it had some bad gas... Still pretty fast, but never run it up there... No need really, I'm not gonna catch 'em no matter how fast I get there!!!

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