I thought it might be interesting to show some pics of how we have improved our jon boats. You know, what you have done to make fishing from them easier and more fun. I haven’t done much to mine yet but I have some fuzzy ideas like a foot controlled electric motor so I can fish from the middle seat. Or maybe doing away entirely with the motor and just using oars. Maybe some outdoor carpeting for the deck so I don’t make as much noise. Let’s see some pics. I need some new ideas. :lol::lol:
I can’t make photos at the moment but a couple of ideas I have used on my 14 ft. I put a deck, only the width of the bow seat, over the bow seat, , I used pressure treat pine and mount a trolling motor mount there and I have a seat mount there. This gives you maximum distance from the guy in the back seat. I wired my boat where I can put my battery in the middle of the boat and have trolling motors fore and aft so both fishermen can keep themselves in good position. I have terminals mounted under the small deck with a very small hatch door where the trolling motor wire clamps attach. This minimizes wire above the deck and interference with fly line.
I have a high density styrofoam (scrap from a hot tub cover manufacturer) between my ribs and 1/8" aluminum covered with “astroturf” fastened down over the ribs. The aluminum was given to me so cost was not an issue with mine, it replaced 3/4" plywood which was too heavy. A lighter plywood is workable using an exterior or marine grade, if you wanted to mount a pedestal seat it would require. This quietens the boat and adds floatation. Don’t use styrofoam that will absorb water here and be sure the rib channels are clean to allow water to run out.
I have some pretty nice upholstered seats for my boat, another scrounged item, I have them where they are easily and quickly removed when the boat is parked outside so weather doesn’t ruin them.
My drain plug is attached to the transom with a short piece stainless steel aircraft cable so it doesn’t get taken or lost. It will not install itself however.
For a foot control trolling motor go to Bass Pro website serch item #38-531-958-00. I am not good enough on a puter to post a link. Its a clamp on foot control no big mount or drilling.
I spent the entire day today thinking about fishing from my jon boat. The only thing I have to do is wait for ICE-OUT. When I row my boat, dragging a wet fly, I can just about promise a great day of fishing. The only problem I have is that with the oars in my hand, going backwards with my fly rod in a rod holder, the only indication of a strike comes from watching my rod tip starting to dance. Very successful way of fishing, but I miss feeling the take with the rod in my hand. Maybe I’ll just have to stop whining and get used to successful days of fishing. I love the tussle from take to net, but I miss the feel of the take.
Sounds like there is a funny and embarassing tale in there somewhere Uncle Jesse. 
Early morning, pitch dark, wet feet, need I say more. A learning experience.
Wondering now how to attach bow and stern anchors controlled from one seat. I know, bow and stern pulleys with rope dogs. Anyone have any pics they would like to share?
I pimped mine out to somebody else and bought a portabote. Nothing wrong with it but the portabote fits on the roof rack.
I fish from my jon boat in non-moving water so I don’t use an anchor much but would running anchor lines through opposing pulleys mounted ont he side of the middle seat onto a single winch work? Drop and retrieve both anchors at the same time.
Joe, i went through what you’re wanting to do and had comfy fold down seats, minn-kota and was thinking about upgrading to a foot control model, i have had many fine days of peaceful flyfishing out of my 14 footer and my 11 footer. Downsized though because it became a hassle so i sold the 14, and all the goodies from the 11…returned to how i used to fish from it…take it to a lake, row to the other end, leave the oars in the water and the boat on any breeze would troll my fly and i caught a lot of nice wild trout that way. Since my hands were free, i could hold the rod, reach for the beer or pat the black lab any ole time and once the wind put me back at the start, i’d row back and start again…sometimes on a wind shift i could get several hours of flyfishing and rubber neckin’ in without ever touching the oars. Well, except to go ashore every couple hours to check lakeside foliage.
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
Well as you know Joe My boat Sea Barf is not exactly a jon boat but its nearly the same size. I epoxied a transducer directly to the inside bottom of my Livingston it shoots directly thru the hull with almost no signal loss. That lets me see my hummingbird depth sounder to watch all those fishies that drift under my keel.
For the electric motor if it didn’t come with them in the first place cut off those bolt on connectors and replace them with alligator clips for connecting the batteries much easier.
If I’m going to be alone in the boat I clip a short lanyard from my fishing vest over to one of the alligator clips so If I were to fall overboard the motor would stop.
You should also think up a catchy name for your favorite ride. To this end I meticulously and with great skill and care spray painted the name of the boat in blaze orange on both sides of the boat. Really snazzes it up!
One thing I did that really helps when you’re rowing down the lake is to have a large Truck mirror attached to the stern so you can see and avoid the other trollers coming from the other direction. This really saves your neck muscles from craning around to check the traffic.
Glue a marine carpet on the flooring of the boat to deaden sounds so as not to disturb sleeping carp or other fishy denizens of the deep.
I have a canvas catchall bag that attaches to the sidewall of the boat by velcro strips. It contains amongst other things a tube of graphite lube for the oarlocks. Nothing more annoying that squeaking your way down the lake hour after hour.
On the Transom I have mounted two wheels so when I turn the boat upside-down I can wheel it down to the lake with relative ease.
Glue a tape measure to each gunnel for measuring each fish.
Cup holders , need I say more.
50 cal Machine gun for people who troll across your bow.
I have a clamp on knot meter which is simply a weight dragging thru the water on a short line attached to a pointer on a knots per hour scale. Important for trolling for kokanee. 2.2 knots is optimum. Trout 2.2 or better.
For cheap effective anchors I use two iron 10 lb weights such as weight lifters use.
Anchor-line should be tied securely to the boat when you toss them overboard or you will have to find a flat rock to substitute like I had to at Stan Coffin lake when I tossed it all overboard and it quickly disappeared out of sight.
I use eye bolts instead of a pulley for the anchor rode to travel through as I have had the rope snag on the pulley more than once.
You can easily stand up in my boat so I can reach each end to set the anchors.
PS. Those Obus seat cushions with the heated massagers built into them will clip right on to the trolling motor battery. Caution their use can cause you to sleep right through bites.
Thanks Gnu Bee. I knew I could count on you. I like the idea of eye bolts instead of pullies. And of course, the 50 cal.
I finished my boat project over the winter and just had to share.
Before…
Yesterday…
What do you guys think?
Hello fish4trout, lookin’ good…reminds me of the one i sold a bunch of years ago. I used it at Shasta, Baum, Shastina, Siskiyou etc. You been catching some good fish out of the new boat already? Wow…the boy got big fast…!
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
Hey George… Went Crappie fishing yesterday and it turned into a nice boat ride… guess I should have hit Shasta for bass…
Allen, nothing wrong with a nice boat ride…i’ve been on three of those in the past few weeks…though i did get some ‘bumps’ and a couple solid takes but no joy from steelhead. Sure am havin’ fun though, glad you are too ! Yeah, Shasta bass must be workin’ in the coves by now…waters still low i imagine. I used to like the Pit arm a lot.
Cheers,
George
Nice boat and you got the catch of a lifetime sitting int it too! Take that boy fishing and enjoy!
And that’s what it’s all about !
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
yep… He is hard core now! He is already asking where we are going this weekend.
