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Crucial Aspects of Presentation, Your Boat
By Sam Anderson

As I wheeled my  190 Fishunter out of the garage the other day I started to think that many anglers don't realize that a boat is an extremely important part of your fishing presentation.  Hundreds of articles have been written about how important your rod, line, and bait selection are, but few, if any have been written concerning your boat and how it is a factor in helping you to catch fish. 

I know what you are thinking at this point.  You probably think that a boat gets a person to a specific spot that he can't reach from shore.  That is true, but your boat does more than that.  Think about what you have in your boat, Yes, i 'tis true that it not only makes it easy for you to reach the spot, and your tackle, thermos and cooler.  Again, your boat is more than an object to carry items, it is part of how you present our bait so that fish find it attractive enough to bite. 

What then do you need to look for in a you want?  The answer of course will describe what kind of fishing you prefer and what items in a boat, "creature features' you can't live without.  For example, how does this particular boat drift?  Will it drift faster from the stern or bow?  What or how do you need to compensate for an uneven drift?  Do you need a bow mount trolling motor or a stern mounted trolling motor?  Does your boat give you a dry ride?  Are there places in the boat that are advertised as dry storage, but in a torrential down pour you discover that your expensive camera is ruined?  How does the wind effect the boat?  Does this boat have big enough side boards to take rough water?  My answer to all of these questions have been answered by .  in fact is the official boat of the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail. When a person spends 175 to 200 days on the water a year as I do, it's important that you fish in as much comfort as possible.  I also realized that I was doing a lot of walleye, crappie, northern and bass fishing and that my boat would have to be rigged for a multi-purpose, multi-species approach to fishing.  For example, I do a great deal of back trolling for walleyes, therefore it is essential that the "nerve center" for my boat is in the stern of the boat.  I also like to cast for muskie and bass, so I want a boat that has a casting deck and some of the same vital instruments in the bow of the boat as well as the stern.  It becomes very important then, to rig your boat for maximum efficiency. 

As you can see some thought has to go into rigging your boat before it can become the fishing machine made just for you.  As I mentioned before, first, determine where you will be doing most of your fishing from.  With the advent of the multi-species boats, some have "mini  command" centers throughout the boat.  If you have selected a boat that has a big outboard. and a kicker motor, then you probably want a command center in the bow, stern and at the console.  Many anglers today have chosen boats that are comfortable for the entire family to run.  They can serve a dual purpose as a fishing machine, or a pleasure craft that will pull water skiers and tubers. Anglers who cast a lot, often prefer to fish from the bow of the boat.  Most bow fisherman like to have a depth-finder on the bow so any bottom changes can be noted.  You can buy an extra depth-finder or simply install a quick attach mount and use the same sonar you use when running your outboard.  You will need an extra transducer however, The transducer used when running the boat at high speeds is mounted on the transom, Install this transducer to the foot of your trolling motor.  This way, you'll know the depth directly below your fishing position.  If you were to use the same transducer that was on the transom, the depth displayed would be the depth at the back of the boat, which can be different than the depth at the bow.
Make sure your electric motor's propeller will reach the water. 

This year I ran  Fish Hunter and it's a great boat.  It's a deep V boat and it is the driest and smoothest riding boat I have operated, but you must extend the shaft of the electric motor to get it into the water and preferably below the keel line of the boat.  Many manufactures allow the fisherman to select the length of the shaft to allow for this extension.  There might be an additional cost, but it is money worth spending to increase the function of your "nerve center." 

Your boat is as critical as the rod you select or the bait that you de on.  It delivers you to the spot to fish, but also gives you the confidence to arrive there safely and works with you so that you can get the most fishing pleasure, It provides you with the tools you need to enable you to harvest a days catch and gives other members of your family a relaxed enjoyable experience.  If you have selected the right boat you will notice that it stays in the family for a long time, because it has become part of your presentation. 

If you have selected the wrong boat you will see it in the classified section, because it just didn't fit the bill for your presentation purposes