Adam Johnson Outdoors • Reading Outdoors

Choosing the Right Boat

By Adam Johnson

As I prepare to attend another boat show here in Minnesota the temperature hovers around zero. Surprisingly there will be a bunch of boats sold at these shows. It doesn't matter that it's bitter cold outside. The people up in this neck of the woods are always thinking about those beautiful summers and what they're going to do with all that open water.

There are some questions from boat buyers that fall into the, "I've heard that one a million times," category. I never tire from providing the answers because I've had these same thoughts. For instance, many people want a boat they can take the family out in and do some skiing and pull a tube, but they also want a fishing machine. The answer here is simple.

Pick your boat to enjoy the water sports first, and then outfit it for fishing. Make sure to put a bow-mount trolling motor on your new run-about that has enough power to move it easily. This bow-mount motor can be installed on a portable mount and easily be removed when you want to run around. When it comes time to fish you have the equipment that will give you some boat control.

Sonars are another consideration when buying a boat that does double duty. Mount the bow sonar on an easily removable mounting bracket so you have it there when you're fishing and remove it when you're recreating. Good sonars and a strong bow-mount electric will put you in the driver's seat of the perfect family ski/fish boat.

Many anglers ask me what makes a great fishing boat. Two things for me. The storage and the livewells. All of the top-of-the-line fishing boats have great hulls and if you make sure the motor is not much under the horsepower rating for the boat then you will get up on plane and attain the speeds you're capable of.

Since I fish competitively I keep a lot of rods rigged and ready to go. Rod storage is a huge factor for many other anglers and me. But we also need room for tackle boxes, rain gear, tools, and whatever junk we bring along. Fortunately many of the boat manufacturers realize this and have given us lots of room to put our essentials.

In the past most livewells in boats were marginal at best. They might keep a couple of fish alive for awhile but if you caught some big fish and kept them in the livewell for more than a couple of hours those poor fish would get so stressed they died.

The stress is due to lack of oxygen as the fish use up what little the aeration system added. There was a real need for true oxygenation in the livewells and now some of the boats are installing pure oxygen generators in their livewells. These oxygenators don't use pumps and keep plenty of oxygen in the water to keep the fish lively and stress free. At the end of a day of tournament fishing I have confidence that the fish I'm taking to the scale are going to be alive and well and releasable.

Oh sure, I like a DVD player with heavy-duty speakers and plush carpet and hot colors, but give me plenty of storage and a well-oxygenated livewell and it's a boat that will make me happy. Good luck picking out your new one.