Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 29

of ¾-inch plywood was needed under the motor
mount to reinforce the aluminum deck.
A glitch in the plan
Next, I laid out a raised casting deck in the
A snag was encountered in terms of expected boat performance.
bow. The completed, carpeted, plywood deck
The boat could not attain a level running position with my 10 hp
extended to the first split bench. With the
motor. Even with the smallest pitch prop on the outboard motor, the
installation of a standard ¾-inch pin base, I can
boat ran with the bow angled high into the air, preventing a clear
exchange a stand-up pro pole (employed when
view. Bay boats with this style of set-back transom have relatively
casting or flipping for bass) for a cushion swivel
flat hulls. I suspect the set-back transom on a V-hull changed
seat (employed when spider rigging for crappies
the dynamics in terms of power needed to lift and level the hull.
or drifting for walleyes). An additional storage
Therefore, to see where I was going, I had to step up in hp. I was
area was created under the bow deck.
able to locate a used 20-hp motor. It pushed me over budget but not
A sonar unit in the bow is every bit as
nearly as much as buying a new motor. Lesson learned. Never buy a
important as a transom unit. I’ve had a flasher
boat without first testing it with the outboard you plan to use.
style depthfinder on the bow of every boat I’ve
owned. Interpreting these flashing red lines with
However, with the set-back transom design, I was unable to
quick glances between casts is how I learned to fish deep
fit an electric motor on the transom. A transom electric motor
water effectively, but flasher-style depthfinders for boats are
is useful for positioning over deepwater walleyes or crappies
disappearing from the market. Fortunately, a sonar company
while jigging vertically. I knew from experience that clamping
provides a boat conversion kit for their flashers including a
mounting bracket and puck transducer for the trolling motor. the trolling motor to the side gunnel did not achieve a secure
fit, but a new special locking bracket product allows installation
of a transom trolling motor anywhere on the gunnel.
With the three-rods-per-angler regulation, I also wanted to
be able to spider rig for crappies. Spider rigging is a multi-rod
technique popular in the South where small jigs dangle straight
down off bow rods and are pushed forward very slowly into
the edges of submerged cover. Rod holders are supported on
a T-bar system positioned on the bow’s port and starboard.
Not desiring permanent attachment, I found a portable T-bar
system, which does not require drilling. Instead, a Y-shaped
Sonar shows blade bait being
base is held in place with the ¾-inch seat pin. In addition to
The flasher-style sonar in the
jigged around a deep water
spider rigging, one side of the rod holder system is perfect
bow has the transducer on the
school of fish.
when drift fishing.
trolling motor.
Other invaluable tools for precise presentation include
At the other end of the boat, the transom depthfinder
anchors and drift socks, items which many anglers neglect to
is the major search tool for structure and fish while slowly
have on board.
running the outboard. A pixel graph unit is more practical.
Anchoring is a great approach when casting to concentrated
I selected a quality color fishfinder with only the necessary
groups of fish in breezy conditions and is applicable in both
features rather than an overly expensive multi-tasking unit
deep and shallow water. The main anchor is deployed off
with features I didn’t need.
the bow, while a lighter anchor is sometimes lowered off the
transom to keep the boat from swinging. Cleats installed on
both sides of the boat are critical for securing anchor ropes.
Drifting across extended flats while dragging live bait
or jigs can be very productive, particularly for walleyes on
Pymatuning Reservoir and smallmouth bass on Lake Erie.
The appropriate size drift sock slows the drift speed, so lures
remain in the strike zone. Once again, cleats on the gunnels are
brought into play to hold the drift sock.
I still need to install a cushioned fishing chair for the
outboard operator, as well as heavy duty rod holders for
musky speed trolling. Upon completion of this project boat,
I will be able to tackle practically any technique for panfish
and gamefish. The smaller hp motor grants me access to
excellent fisheries at 20-hp state park lakes, while the deep
V-bow is suitable for Lake Erie. And, the overall weight of
the boat, trailer and motor can be easily pulled with today’s
While hovering over a deepwater school of fish that are visible on
downsized vehicles.
the sonar, the boat is controlled with an electric motor.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2013

http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013

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