Looking for recommended boat to fish the St. Croix.

[Dexter]

I am new to the stillwater area and would like to fish the St. Croix. I am looking for recommendations on the type of boat to purchase for river fishing (tiller, console, fiberglass, aluminum, length, width, hp, ...). I would like to keep the price down without giving up fishability. I don't need the latest and greatest; just safety, durability and fishability.

[BoxMN]

Welcome

Basically, anything will work there, and you will see it all. Here is my 2 cents worth. We have 18' with 150hp side console, but have fished it with 16', 17' and larger boats, always aluminum for us.

-Waves can get big, so having a minimum of 16' boat with a deep V hull style will help cut them and make you feel safer.

-We like alum for many reasons, but one in particular if you go to upper St. Croix is the rocks. The glass boats will take the big lower St. Croix wakes better though, no doubt.

-One with a large gas tank is nice, for those days when you just want to cruise. We have 35 gallon, and have never used it all up in a day, or even two.

So basically anytthing will work. You want an outboard that will troll about 2-3 MPH and that is basically a 50hp up to a 150hp. For me, anything under 90 I would tiller. Anything 115 or over I would go console. Tillers give you more room, but when bouncing through the big wakes, having a solid wheel and console in front of you is nice and safe feeling.

I would also say a bow mounted trolling motor is nice for slipping the current and hovering over fish.

Get some planer boards for trolling (Off shore brand is what we use) since you can use two lines per angler. Fun way to fish!

Good luck, and check the St. Croix forum, as there are some really knowledgabel guys there on the river.

[slipperybob]

I'm still shopping for my first boat...a lot to learn.

I'm considering a tunnel john boat from G3 and a yamaha jetdrive 80/115. I figure skinny water upper St. Croix, so one of these days...gonna walk down to the dealer and ask about it.