Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Experience of Fly Fishing Boats

By Bill Hefensen

Most people imagine the iconic fly fisherman standing in waste high water, and fully decked out in waders, boots, and fly vest. Many fishermen do indeed choose to carry all of their fly fishing materials into the center of a river. However, this isn't the only way to fly fish.

Some rivers are difficult to wade. Others are so packed with other wading fisherman that it is futile to try fishing. For these situations, fly fishing boats make an ideal solution. Once you try fishing from boat, you may never go back to wade fishing.

Giving the Drift Boat a Chance

Fly fishing boats change the way you fish. They allow you to reach all of those pristine fishing holes that wade fishers try to get to. They also allow you move right over the fish without spooking them. Fly fishing boats are ideal for fishing the larger rivers in the Western US.

Perhaps the most popular of the fly fishing boats is the drift boat. The drift boat is essentially a dory that has been converted for river use. These fly fishing boats have a flat bottom and sides that flare out. They ride high in the water and can spin around very quickly. This makes them ideal for maneuvering rapids and avoiding river obstacles. Many people use rubber rafts for river fishing, but rafts seem sluggish and hard to maneuver by comparison.

The reason drift boats make such great fly fishing boats is because they were designed with fishing rivers specifically in mind. They have ample dry storage, so you can bring your camera and dry cloths without worrying whether they will stay dry. Not only that, but they allow you to stand and fish. Many have knee locks that allow you to lock yourself in in standing position. This is great if you like to cast far even while running rapids.

There are many different fly fishing boats on the market. Most of them are river rafts. If you have used any of these others and then upgrade to a drift boat, you will immediately notice a boost in maneuverability. The drift boat moves much faster over the water and turns instantly, making it perfect for running rapid and reaching the best fishing holes.

The drawback to using a drift boat, is that you need a trailer to move it. You also need a boat ramp to launch it and remove it from the river. Additionally, they can bottom out in extremely low water.

Of all the fly fishing boats, drift boats are the most expensive. Of course, a quality drift boat can last a lifetime if it is well cared for. Even so, dropping five or more grand on a fishing boat is too much for many people. However, if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed.

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