FS Digest

It's a 12" aluminum boat, he said, "I wouldn't take it out on Eleven Mile Reservoir, it's too small, that's just asking to die."

But the thing is, when I was a kid, my stepdad and I used to take our 12" aluminum boat out on Eleven Mile Reservoir all the time, haha. Should we not have? Is a 12-footer just not recommended for catching bigger fish, such as pike?

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by Smuggler719

FS Digest

Its definitely easier and safer in a bigger boat but personally I dont see a huge problem.

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by Chegg69

FS Digest

Sounds like he is just scared of little boats on big bodies of water. John boats are pretty versatile, you should be fine. General rule of thumb for me is if I can take my kayak there, I can take my John boat there. I don’t plan to drop my kayak and go offshore, so I don’t plan to drop my John boat and go offshore either.

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by Caralinco

FS Digest

Is there that big of a risk of it rolling/flipping? I'm just surprised. Like I said, my stepdad and I used to go out all the time. Neither of us were very experienced and it never felt risky at all.

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by Smuggler719

FS Digest

Had a buddy flip his John boat up in the Wisconsin dells when he hit a pretty nice tour boat wake when hauling ass back to the ramp. Luckily he pumped the empty spaces below the deck he made with foam and it floated, allowed me and him to tow it back to knee deep water and flip it. Only lost a few unleashed rods and wrecked his trolling motor. Brush up on safety and how to approach wakes, I’m not an expert but I always slow down and take the wake at a 45 degree angle from head on. If you hit head on there’s a chance of water coming over the top, if you hit it sideways depending on the size of the wake or if it’s breaking it can roll you. Practicing good safety and paying attention to what’s going on around you will keep you upright in any weather conditions. I would still go for the boat, getting out on the water and having the freedom of your own boat is a game changer.

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by Caralinco

FS Digest

Just keep an eye on the weather so you don’t get caught out during a blow and you should be fine in almost any water, keeping in mind how long it would take to get back to land should the weather change.

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by hawkster1961

6106b

I fished 11 mile and it can get rough fast. I would not go out on it in a 12' boat.Some bodies of water require bigger boats and this is one of them.The water is very cold in 11 mile ,you would not last long if you got swamped.To much of a risk in a 12' boat.

randypruden

many people have died in too small a boat. A friend lost his son in a 14ft boat. They were together duck hunting. No life jackets on.

dafjib Loc: Asheville ,N.C.

That's fine for flat water ,but too small to get caught out in if you are not sure the water will stay calm .For big lakes I would not go less than a 14- 16 ft. boat .