boat size for aplach

[KajunPCB]

i was just looking through the FCC slideshow and noticed a bay boat there...how well would a 18ft center console be able to fish the aplach? i've already blown a powerhead on the james river on a 1.5 ft mud flat...then once i repowered with my 140 johnson...the first time i put in in water in the chespeake bay i hit a sand bar! clogged it up with sand :mad:..luckily i didnt blow it up.....bascially wouldnt be comfortable with anything less that 3ft of water......think i can safely fish the river without running aground or running into stumps? are there any online nautical/depth charts of the aplach? the ones that shows depths of whole river system..

i do have a 14ft jonboat with a 15hp i will be bringing from louisiana eventually but i dont want to wait to catfish until i get it down to fl....what i'd really like is a 18 or 19ft aluminum jon boat rigged for cattin that river...maybe i can sell the 14 and find me one...

here's my 18 sport

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2930/dscf0009sz9.jpg

[KajunPCB]

here's my cattin setup....has 3 rod holders per side...

this is the day i blew my powerhead...it still ran at half speed so i decide to go fishing anyway :) barely made it back though lol....i got used good powerhead to put on it though and well fix it when i get to PCB then put the 120 force back on my boat...the 140 johnson is too heavy for it...sinks my scuppers....

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5549/backendjb7.jpg

[Tee]

I am here now and I have a 24ft Seaark with a 225. It is great for catfishing. It is a little big to get into the sloughs.
T

[Catbird]

Chad,
You will be fine, just take your time. The Chipola should give you no problems at all as long as you stay mid stream. The Aplach has a few sand bars so be sure and watch that river a little closer. My boat is very similar in size and style. Last fall, the river was pretty low but I got a round okay. I busted a prop in the Dead Lakes on a stump but that is because I was going to fast and found a new stump.

[capt.kirk]

Chad,like Dale (Catbird) said last year the river was some what low
but the Main Channel was still 8 ft deep,there are sand bars and stumps
hidden in places you may have to tilt it in places but you should have no
problem finding pleanty of good fishing holes,when you come in June you
will have pleanty of time to learn the river,we got a couple of top notch
river men to help us out,I have only been on it one time,the main thing
i was told was Respect the river and use common sense in getting around,
Following instructions and watching the depth finder I had no problems
in getting around in the night,there are places it takes a canoe to get to,
but i didnt want to go there anyhow,you might go to the FCC site and
e.mail to Don about a map of the river at normal depth,if there is one
he would be your contact person,we will learn it this summer best we can.
Tee has some what of a battle ship,and i dont think he had any problem
last year or last week that i know of.:cool: Kirk
PS Be sure and have an extra Anchor Aboard.:D

[catman-fl]

onother thing is to learn how to read the water . to see little things on top of the water that tells you there are things under the water that you can't see.

robin

[hushpuppy]

That's a nice size boat for the Apalachacola and the FCC. You could even bring that thing down for the catfish rodeo next year.

[KajunPCB]

thanks..well i sure hope it works for that river....and i dont blow another motor..or hit a stump and blow a lower unit lol i'll give it a shot until i can find a bigger aluminum boat....

catbird..i think that was your boat i seen in the FCC pics...i'll stay mid channel and avoid the dead lakes then