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Posts: 149
| Would you look down on someone who was muskie fishing from a pontoon?
I know it's not ideal at all, but it's the only boat I have access to. My buddy has been on several fly-in trips to Canada and has caught a bunch of muskies. He has a boat that we could pull to a couple of local muskie lakes (Kinkaid, Shelbyville). The problem is that the boat is a pontoon.
I look at it as a great deal if it gets me on the water with a shot at muskies. My only other options are not fish for muskies at all or cast from shore. (I don't like either of those options) I am afraid other muskie guys would laugh us off the water. I don't want to be "that guy", but if it's the only way to chase muskies I guess it's what I will have to do. |
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Posts: 142
| If it's stable, who gives a crap. |
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| Do what you gotta do! |
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| i fish muskies off a pontoon in hayward. great way to spend the day. catch fish and be able to stretch your legs |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | The muskies don't care what boat you own. If you have a graph and trolling motor, you can catch muskies from a pontoon. |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | I fish sometimes in a 10ft jonboat and I'm sure I'm scoffed at by some and figure I'm out throwing crickets for bluegill or somethin. But if you get to fish more with it and can upset some ol fuddy duddies, have at it! |
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | gene miller on mille lacs guides out of toons. granted its trolling be its still muskies. |
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Posts: 32922
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I DO fish bluegills. On purpose. No one complains while eating them at the Hideout, either. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | 20 years ago after a long day of fishing complete with sore shoulders I saw a guy troll past pulling 3 lures from a pontoon. He had his radio cranked , sucking on a wobbly pop, and grilling a steak my thoughts were this guy knows ho to live. Where could you find a more stable platform. If I lived right on the lake instead of a mile away I would have one but I wouldn't give up any of my other boats. |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI |
I guess my first question is why on earth do you care what other people think about the boat you are fishing out of ? Quite frankly, I've seen guys fishing out of $70K boats acting like school girls and that boat (beautiful Ranger that it was) didn't change my opinion of the people casting from it.
Fish from the pontoon, behave as a good sportsman, and have a blast. To hell what the others think of the boat. |
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| dfkiii - 8/23/2012 7:03 AM
I guess my first question is why on earth do you care what other people think about the boat you are fishing out of ? Quite frankly, I've seen guys fishing out of $70K boats acting like school girls and that boat (beautiful Ranger that it was) didn't change my opinion of the people casting from it.
Fish from the pontoon, behave as a good sportsman, and have a blast. To hell what the others think of the boat.
Totally agree, sounds like you are able to get out on some great water with a buddy that has some muskie experience. Doesn't get much better than that. That is what fishing is all about. BR |
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Posts: 56
Location: Illinois | some of the best muskie fishing I have done is from a pontoon. No trolling motor, no electronics. I normally fish from a 620, still sometimes prefer the pontoon! As long as you get out to fish, who cares what others think. |
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Posts: 9
Location: Leech Lake | I caught my first Muskie on a pontoon 47 years ago...on Pike Bay (Cass Lake)... They work fine for casting, nice big deck, with a 101 Terrova would work a lot better. Just dont put a big bimini top up..hehe.
Started my whole muskie problem I still have today...  |
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Posts: 149
| Glad to hear that it's not taboo to fish for muskies from a pontoon. The only reason I was even wondering about it was because I did a search on this site for "pontoon" and all of the posts were complaining about sharing the water with pontoons and jet-skis.
It's really a pretty good setup. He has a grill on the deck. He has a portable depth finder that he takes to Canada with him. 3 guys could have PLENTY of room to maneuver around. If we had to we could even take our wives "boating" and let them lay in the sun while we reel in some monster muskies.
We have kicked around the idea of entering a tournament at Shelbyville on the pontoon. I bet that would cause a stir. |
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Posts: 140
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Pontoon, Grill, Keg, Muskie fishing ... where do I sign up?? |
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Posts: 128
| horsehunter - 8/23/2012 6:27 AM
20 years ago after a long day of fishing complete with sore shoulders I saw a guy troll past pulling 3 lures from a pontoon. He had his radio cranked , sucking on a wobbly pop, and grilling a steak my thoughts were this guy knows ho to live. Where could you find a more stable platform. If I lived right on the lake instead of a mile away I would have one but I wouldn't give up any of my other boats.
Now THAT sounds like a good time. How nice would it be to have dinner while trolling, eat/relax all while having the chance at more fish......Then when you are ready get back in the boat and go till after dark....
Wheels in my head are turning now LOL |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | My 73yr old Uncle got one on our Pontoon last summer. I was teaching him how to cast a bass rod, 6lb test with a tiny white spinnerbait we got at Fleet farm for $2. No net so I bear hugged the fish to get it, it bit me right on the arm and now I have some cool scars to show off. The blood is mine on this picture.
(Fishing Muskie Labor Day 025.jpg)
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 Fishing Muskie Labor Day 025.jpg (46KB - 212 downloads)
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Posts: 1086
| dfkiii - 8/23/2012 7:03 AM
I guess my first question is why on earth do you care what other people think about the boat you are fishing out of ? Quite frankly, I've seen guys fishing out of $70K boats acting like school girls and that boat (beautiful Ranger that it was) didn't change my opinion of the people casting from it.
Fish from the pontoon, behave as a good sportsman, and have a blast. To hell what the others think of the boat.
I agree 110%. Well said.
If it floats and you're able to stay safe, that's all that matters.
You should see some of the boats some people go out on to the Great Lakes in. Same mentality: if it floats and they can stay safe in it...go with it. Who cares what everyone else thinks? |
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Posts: 479
Location: Eden Prairie & Pine Island | You Illinois guys crack me up! |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Two questions :
Does it float?
Does it go?
Gotcha a musky boat. |
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Posts: 28
Location: Sauk Centre MN | Fishin is fishin! You are always better to be out fishing than not to and if anybody busts your chops for fishing out of a pontoon tell them to take up golfing. They obviously don't get it... Go catch a monster in that pontoon and post the pic on M1. Steve might even put you on the front page!! |
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Posts: 785
| A few guys will probably laugh at ya but just don't take yourself too seriously and it's all good. I much prefer a fishing boat but if the only way I could go musky fishing was to jump in a pontoon than heck yes I'd do it. Only thing to keep in mind is a plan on how to handle fish with the higher sides, where to hang the net over and a plan for safe release. From there I'd say go tear em up. |
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| Shhhhh!! Don't tell the muskies you are fishing from a pontoon boat they don't care. |
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Posts: 149
| musky-skunk - 8/23/2012 11:53 AM
A few guys will probably laugh at ya but just don't take yourself too seriously and it's all good. I much prefer a fishing boat but if the only way I could go musky fishing was to jump in a pontoon than heck yes I'd do it. Only thing to keep in mind is a plan on how to handle fish with the higher sides, where to hang the net over and a plan for safe release. From there I'd say go tear em up.
Thanks! I definitely don't have a problem with taking myself too seriously....
Good point about the high sides on the boat. Probably makes 8' 6" or longer rod a neccessity.
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Location: Illinois | No special length rod is necessary. I do suggest first and foremost a DEEP net with a long handle. There's no rule against fishing in a pontoon on the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail. Submarines are no longer allowed.  I actually think it'd be pretty awesome if you guys fished Kinkaid or Shelbyville with us. If you have any question about our events, please contact me here, through PMs, or at [email protected] Good luck!! Mike Witowski www.illmuskie.com
Edited by muskellunged 8/23/2012 2:28 PM
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Posts: 151
Location: IL | Seen a guy fishing from a pontoon the other day.. |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Thad - 8/23/2012 9:02 AM
Pontoon, Grill, Keg, Muskie fishing ... where do I sign up??
+1 |
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Posts: 192
| We always have 1 or 2 pontoon boats in our MI club tournaments. The one guy and his wife finish in the money on a regular basis. Next tournament is October 20 and 21. Bring it down. |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | Put the two women on it from the band little big town and then we are talking! |
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Posts: 109
Location: Spencer, Wisconsin | Fishing for Muskies on a party barge....ahh man do a little cookin, chillin, and fishing with the comforts of a nice stable roomy ride....I would not mind it myself. You have a 360 degree perfect angle on catching them....I agree with ToddM chicks, tunes and let the good times roll! |
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