Flatbottom advice

[TroutFiend]

Hey guys, I just got a new Tracker Topper 1542. I have always canoed/kayaked the Caney Fork. Are there any sections you have put in and fished during no generation in this type boat? I know the lower section stays deeper and fairly navigable. Any luck not dragging around Betty's, Happy, Campground?

[Travis C.]

I fish it out of a S1418 PolarKraft and have used it on all of the river. There are some shallow spots but you can navigate it once you learn the holes.

How heavy is the boat and how much does it draft? Also if it has a filling livewell you should plug that at least until you need it. That's extra weight.

I have had myself (175lbs), dad (180lbs), small cooler, fishing gear, battery, trolling motor, oars and still able to travel upstream on low water from Happy without dragging as long as we watched where we're going. From Bettys put in on the upper end of the gravel bar above the riffle and headed upstream the same.

[Pookie]

By the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about relationship advice.

[TroutFiend]

Thanks Travis, the boat is 190 lbs. I just have a 30 lb trolling motor on it now. It has built in livewell. Have you ever tried from Betty's downstream or is current channel too strong for trolling motor alone?

[TroutFiend]

Originally Posted by Pookie

By the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about relationship advice.

That's on my other forum... LOL!

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by TroutFiend

Thanks Travis, the boat is 190 lbs. I just have a 30 lb trolling motor on it now. It has built in livewell. Have you ever tried from Betty's downstream or is current channel too strong for trolling motor alone?

Your boat is 80lbs or so heavier than mine and a 44lb Motorguide will s l o w l y push me + dad upstream. In the slack water it moves at an okay pace but in riffles or bottlenecks slows down a lot.

Some of that I believe is due to my battery charger or trolling motor not working as efficiently anymore (its old). I say that because me and another guy about dad's size fished the Obey under generation when the water was all the way up the the Hazard sign at the campground ramp. We put in and trolled up to the Dam from there. Never have figured out what it doesn't do better on the Caney other than not getting fully charged by my charger anymore.