News — fishing tips

Pontoon Boat Prep: Before the Season Starts…

By: Misty Harbor Boats

If you’re like most pontoon boat owners, you’re itching to get back on the water once the season starts. If you don’t live somewhere with year round warmth, you may have stored the boat away for winter—but that doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing for the spring and summer season now!

Read on to see a few things you can do to get your pontoon boat ready for fun once the warmer weather rolls around.

 Make improvements

As boat owners, we’re always looking for ways to make our next trip even better than the last. This might mean making improvements to your pontoon boat that make it more enjoyable for everyone on board. If you’ve been thinking about adding features such as a ladder, slide or tent cover to your boat, now is a great time to do it. By the time the season starts up again, your pontoon boat will be decked out and ready to go!

 Clean up your pontoon boat and make necessary repairs

There are, of course, practical issues you may need to take care of during your offseason time. If there are any repairs you need to make on your pontoon boat, now would be a good time to check those out and pick up the necessary parts you may need. If all your boat needs is a bit of freshening up, devote an afternoon to cleaning it up and getting it back to looking like new.

 Plan your next adventure

A fantastic way to keep yourself and your family occupied during the winter months is to plan your next adventure. Whether this is to a local spot or a bona fide vacation destination, everyone will enjoy having a say in the planning process. It’s also a great way to keep your mind focused on the water fun you’ll be having—without actually being on the water.

 Give it a name

If you have not yet given your pontoon boat a name, do it this winter! Every boat needs a good name, both for practical reasons—so help on the water can find you easily, should you ever need it—and fun ones. Every pontoon boat has its own unique personality, just like the people who use it, so be sure to give yours a name that sticks.

 Purchase your new pontoon boat

Like many boaters in search of a fun alternative to traditional powerboats, you may be considering purchasing a brand new pontoon boat this year. Why wait until the season’s already underway to do it? The winter months are the perfect time to think about the style and design you want and get your new boat ready for fun on the water in 2018.

If you fit into this category, get in touch with us today! We can make your pontoon boat wishes a reality in time for the season ahead.

Can’t wait to get back on the water? Try these ideas and hold on just a little longer—you’ll be seeing fellow boaters on your favorite waterways in no time at all. 

PONTOON BOATS: A GOOD PLATFORM FOR FISHING?

By: Line and Sight

Most people think pontoon boats are only good for pulling water-skiers and wake-boarders. The truth is that a lot of anglers today are using them for freshwater and saltwater fishing. Pontoon boats have some key advantages over regular fishing boats. Of course, there are a few downsides to fishing from a pontoon boat as well. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of pontoon boat fishing.

THE PROS
More fishing space

Party barge pontoon boats offer lots of deck space to move around on while fishing. You won’t be cramped for room to cast your line, as you would in a typical two-seater boat.

Keep in mind, not all pontoon boats are big. Some are small one-seaters built for lone fishermen. These types of pontoon boats are comfortable, but don’t offer much space. Bigger pontoon boats give fishermen more space to operate. Their wide, rectangular shape allows for plenty of elbow room. You’ll also have more space between each rod while slow-trolling. You can better space out your down riggers — although you’ll have to order a specialized mount online.

You can safely stand up and move around

If you’re embarking on a family fishing vacation, big pontoon boats are perfect. Their wide deck gives you better stability and balance while standing. The spaciousness a pontoon boat provides will give you room to teach junior how to properly cast his line. Your kids can practice their fishing techniques without snagging you.

Your kids can also move about the boat, which means they’ll be less fidgety and impatient. You can stay on the water with them longer, and enjoy more fishing with the family. The seat sizes in big pontoon boats are also ideal for all day fishing. They’re comparable to sofa cushions, and are good for adults and kids alike. Plus, if you’re out on the water and need to relieve your bladder, having a sturdy boat helps. Just make sure no one’s looking when you do your business.

Of course, if you’re using a one-seater pontoon boat, standing up is not an option. Standing is only smart if you’re on a bigger boat.

They’re a smooth ride over moderate waves

If you like lake and saltwater fishing, then tri-toon boats are a good mix of size, speed, and comfortability. They’re seaworthy, as long as you stay close to the shore. Larger tri-toon boats can be rigged with huge outboards. They can zip through the water at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and beyond. Ocean anglers say they’re performance is comparable to a V-hull.

Pontoon boats can come with very nice interiors. It’s less like a boat, and more like a living room. They definitely offer more comfort than traditional bass fishing boats. Their elevated design allows them to handle bumps and chops on windy days. You can coast smoothly. Their stability on the ocean also makes them ideal for drift fishing. As long as you stay away from big waves, you’ll like pontoon ocean fishing. Just be smart and use them in ideal water conditions.

THE CONS
They’re taller than deck boats

While their height makes them a comfortable ride, it’s more difficult to get your fish into the boat. You’ll have to reach further, and/or lift the fish higher with your rod.

A one-person pontoon boat puts you closer to the water, and allows you to work your way into nooks and shallows. But the bigger, taller ones can cause you to lose fish at the last second. Remember, it can be dangerous to lean over the side and fight with a fish. It’s a good idea to take a fishing net with you to help safely secure your catch.

Poor handling

Pontoon boats have a pretty poor turn radius. They’re not ideal for making sharp turns. You won’t be able to fit a party barge style pontoon boat into a tight channel or cove. If you want a boat with a tight turn radius and ideal mobility, try a traditional deck boat. They offer better steering, and are easier to maneuver on the water.

They’re not good for deep sea fishing

As mentioned, pontoon boats can coast over choppy water. But when it comes to big waves and rough waters, they are not the boat of choice. To get the best performance out of a pontoon boat, you’ll want to stay somewhat close to land. You’ll also want to avoid rivers and lakes on extremely windy, wavy days. It’s good to be brave and try new things. But setting out into deep wavy water should be avoided at all costs. Pontoons can handle moderate water conditions, but are not designed for rough waters.

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of fishing in a pontoon boat, give it a shot—or don’t. At least you’ll know what to expect, and what to avoid while pontoon-fishing.

RBFF's Best Family-Friendly Places to Fish and Boat

By: PDB Magazine

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has compiled a list of the Best Family-Friendly Places to Fish and Boat. The list of locations is bolstered by endorsements from celebrities and fishing pros, and the help of federal and state representatives. 

The full list of Best Family-Friendly Places to Fish and Boat is available at TakeMeFishing.org and highlights include:

• Percy Priest Lake, Tenn. - Country music star Luke Bryan admits "a good fisherman never shares his best spot," but still offers up his favorite place to escape his fast-paced world for some relaxing time on the water. Known for "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day," Bryan's favorite spot near Nashville is a natural addition to this year's list. Bryan has a clothing line of the same name available at Cabela's, and fans can catch the country music megastar on his HFE tour this summer.
• Presque Isle Bay, Pa. - Professional offensive lineman and former Army Ranger, Alejandro "Big Al" Villanueva, picked this popular spot on Lake Erie, and knows a thing or two about the importance of good tackle and a strong line. When he's not protecting the quarterback, Al says, "I spend a lot of my free time fishing and really cherish any time on the water."
• Degray Lake, Ark. - Having grown up in nearby Poyen, Ark., country music singer Justin Moore often frequented Degray Lake as a young boy, and passed down his love of fishing to his own kids. He remembers, "watching my oldest daughter catch her first fish all by herself has to be my favorite moment out there."
• Texas City Dyke, Texas - Professional angler Cindy Nguyen added this spot, noting, "I grew up fishing in Texas City Dyke and the surrounding areas. It's still one of my favorite places to bring the family."
• Central Park, N.Y. - Host of South Bend's Lunkerville, Michael de Avila, better known to his fans as Mike D., picked an unexpected fishing oasis in the middle of the nation's largest city. Central Park offers three unique family-friendly spots at the lake, the pond and the Harlem Meer.
• Webb Lake, Fla. - Women's sportfishing advocate and outdoor writer Debbie Hanson loves the fishing at wildlife at Webb Lake. "Not only is Webb Lake great for numbers of largemouth bass and bluegill, but there are also some fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. I've spotted sandhill cranes, great blue herons and white-tailed deer on my visits."
• South Padre Island, Texas - Pedro Sors, professional angler and Mexico's most popular fishing TV show host, chose this popular spot for its ability to provide him and his sons with "a sense of freedom and a way to connect with nature and myself."
• Buckeye Creek, Calif. - Chelsea Day of the Someday I'll Learn blog, fondly recalls memories at this picturesque spot in the eastern Sierras. "Our oldest son caught his first fish at this spot, and it was really special to be able to cook it right up and serve it for dinner at the campsite. Such a sense of accomplishment for him!"

"This year we decided to ask some of our friends and partners where they like to go fishing, and the response has been overwhelming," said RBFF President and CEO, Frank Peterson. "While the locations are as diverse as the people who shared them, some key themes emerged. Fishing and boating are easy ways to escape life's tensions, and you're never too far from a quality body of water. So whether you're getting over a stressful week at the office or simply trying to cut back on screen time, this is the year to get out on the water together to help conserve and restore our nation's aquatic natural resources."

Tips for the Pontoon Captain | Pontoon Depot

By: Restore Pontoon

At first glance, the difference between driving a car and steering your pontoon boat may not be immediately obvious. Both have steering wheels, throttles, and an expectation that vessels will pass each other on the left side, just like on the highway. However, even though the official rules of maritime navigation are informally called the Rules of the Road, these rules make it clear that there are great differences between steering a pontoon boat and driving an automobile. A responsible pontoon captain who is attentive to safety will want to familiarize themselves with the Rules and conduct themselves accordingly on the many waterways that they’ll travel and explore in their pontoon boat.

The Rules of the Road, officially called the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, were written in 1864 during the time of the Civil War, when steamboats were gaining popularity. The Rules were updated several more times over the past century and a half. Although times have certainly changed on the waterways since the Civil War, many of the rules have not. The most current version of the Rules has 38 items that govern turns, maneuvers, and other sorts of signals required of maritime craft, including pontoon boats, operating in American waters. The primary purpose of the Rules is to help avoid collisions between maritime vessels. Every state in the union has adopted these U.S. Inland rules. In theory, anyone operating any sort of maritime vessel—from a small pontoon boat to a massive luxury cruiser—is expected to abide by the Rules. However, only a few of the Rules have direct applicability to pleasure craft such as pontoons, so here we’ll only cover the Rules that directly apply to pontoon boat operation and navigation.

The most important Rule is called the “Rule of Good Seamanship” and is at the heart of the rest of the Rules. “Good Seamanship” has never been strictly defined in the Rules, although there are seven broad generalities. The first is to obey the Rules unless extreme circumstances necessitate departure from them. Second, you should take whatever action necessary to avoid a collision. Third, if you cannot avoid a collision, you should attempt to alleviate possible damage of the collision by maneuvering to take a “glancing blow.” Fourth, you must know how to use a radiotelephone and be able to use it to communicate with other vessels. Fifth, sensibly enough, you need to keep a proper lookout at all times. Many pontoon boats offer wide, unobstructed views, but if, for whatever reason, the captain does not have a 360-degree view of the horizon, he or she must enlist a crew member as an additional set of eyes and ears to be alert to the sight or sound of other vessels. Sixth, you must insure that other crafts can see your pontoon boat by using proper lights. Seventh, your boat is equipped with a radar device; you must use it at all times. Although they are not specifically covered in the text of the Rules, court decisions over time have added additional items to the definition of “good seamanship,” such as proper training for crew and equipping of your pontoon boat with appropriate navigational charts.

However, the general and important rule of “Good Seamanship” has a caveat, called the “General Prudential Rule” which states that any of the Rules can be ignored if circumstances warrant extreme action. For example, a pontoon boat should ignore a Rule if it would cause them to collide with another craft. There may be occasions where it is impossible to obey a Rule, such as navigating near rocks or in shallow waters. Also, there are situations that are not covered by the Rules, such as when three or more craft are involved. When more than two craft are involved, none have right of way and all must yield and be sure to execute all maneuvers to avoid collision. Finally, if circumstances warrant, both vessels can agree to not follow the Rules if they have communicated and decided that this course of action is necessary, but this is extreme and has legal perils, since a miscommunication can lead to disastrous consequences. As you can see, the Rules depend on commonsense, good communication, and a general understanding of how vessels are expected to interact during maritime encounters.

The Rules articulate specific requirements for maneuvers involving the interaction between two vessels. When two craft approach each other, neither has the right of way and both are expected to pass each other on their left, or port, sides. If one vessel is coming up behind another, or overtaking it, the slower vessel has right of way. If the slower vessel does not want to be overtaken, it should sound five long whistle blasts and the faster vessel must steer clear and wait for another occasion to pass. A faster vessel must always steer clear of the slower one. If the direction of vessels involved is neither head-on, nor overtaking, they are referred to as crossing. In a crossing situation, the vessel that is approaching another on its starboard side must slow down or alter course to avoid collision, while the other vessel maintains course and speed.

The Rules explain specific methods for audible communication between vessels by using “whistle signals,” that are, in modern times, sounded by air or electronic horn blasts. Although many small pleasure crafts, such as pontoon boats, often fail to use whistle signals, the Rules require that all maritime vessels use audible means to indicate their maneuvers and how they will interact with other vessels. These “whistle blasts,” similar to Morse Code, are structured in series of short and long blasts. A short blast is a sound of about 1 second. One short blast means that your pontoon boat wants to pass on the port side of the other craft. Two short blasts indicate that your pontoon boat is attempting to pass another craft on its starboard side. Three short blasts means you are operating your pontoon boat with its engines in reverse. Five short blasts mean your pontoon boat is in danger or is unsure of the intentions of a different craft. A long blast lasts around 5 seconds. One long blast would be used to announce the location of your pontoon boat to other crafts, such as when leaving the dock. However, weather conditions, such as rain, fog or other adverse situations, can alter the meaning of these signals. In these situations, one long blast every two minutes is expected from your pontoon boat so that other vessels are aware of the presence of a power-driven vessel. Two long blasts communicates that your pontoon boat is adrift or otherwise not progressing. One long blast and two short blasts are required of special vessels, such as sailboats, fishing boats, and tugboats; other power-driven craft (such as pontoon boats) are expected to give right of way to these kinds of special vessels. If you anchor your pontoon boat in adverse conditions that affect visibility, you must ring a bell for five seconds every minute.

Obviously, there are no speed limit signs posted on rivers or other open waters, but the Rules do have some guidelines for proper speed on the water. They require that all vessels, including pontoon boats, maintain reasonable “safe speeds” that can insure the avoidance of collisions between craft. When there are no other vessels on the waterway, “safe speed” might be full open throttle, while “safe speed” during dense fog conditions might be slow enough so as not to produce any wake. Pontoon captains must factor in a variety of variables so as to determine the safe speed of their pontoon boat: the state of visibility, the density of other vessels around, the maneuverability of your craft, the strength of the waves or wind, the depth of the water relative to your hull, and, at night, the background lights on the shore that could obscure the lights of other vessels and your own. In short, the “safe speed” of your pontoon boat is relative to the prevailing conditions.

The Rules, while appearing complicated, are really designed for one single purpose; to avoid dangerous or deadly collisions between vessels. If you use a bit a caution, commonsense, and alertness, you’ll fulfill the spirit of the Rules and ensure fun times on your pontoon boat.