How To Set Up A Jon Boat For Bass Fishing
When information technology comes to bass line-fishing the only gunkhole that is amend than a Jon boat is a bass boat. But a Jon boat has its own unique advantages when information technology has the right set. In this article we will show you how to prepare your Jon boat to requite you lot the best chance for success when bass fishing.
And then how do you set up a Jon boat for bass fishing? Offset by attaching either permanent or removable rod holders to the side of the Jon boat. You can add a casting deck with enclosed storage or simply stow storage units for gear and livewells for your catch. Bass angling is done in reduced light then attach nav lights to the boat. Ensure you have some form of manual propulsion for stealth, such equally a paddle. Optional upgrades include pedestal seating and remote steering.
Contents
- Why Jon boats are corking for bass line-fishing
- Setting up a Jon boat for bass fishing
- Rod holders
- Storage
- Navigation & search lights
- Casting deck
- Seating
- Fish finder
- Propulsion
- Adding remote steering
- Converting a Jon gunkhole to a bass boat
Why Jon boats are not bad for bass fishing
A Jon boat is perfect for bass fishing and is a much cheaper, alternative to a bass boat. What's more a Jon boat has a few advantages over its much more expensive analogue.
A Jon boat has a completely flat bottom which allows it to gain access to extremely shallow waters. The flat bottom and low freeboard on a Jon gunkhole give it a very shallow draft. Waters that are only a few inches deep can easily exist navigated with a Jon gunkhole and a paddle or pole.
A bass boat on the other mitt has a deeper draft and a more "five" shape to its lesser and then it tin can't access those extremely shallow waters that a Jon boat tin.
A Jon boat is much, much lighter than a bass boat though both boats tin be loaded and unloaded easily by i person.
The biggest difference between a bass boat and a Jon gunkhole is the price. You can choice up an crawly Jon boat for a fraction of the cost of a bass boat. You tin even convert a Jon boat to a full-on bass boat much cheaper than it costs to purchase a bass gunkhole new (more on that subsequently).
And so how practise you set upwards a Jon boat for bass fishing?
Setting upwards a Jon boat for bass fishing
Setting up your Jon boat for bass fishing does not require much more than endeavour than it would to set up information technology up for line-fishing whatever type of catch.
However, you lot volition definitely want to include lights on your boat as fishing for bass is virtually successfully done in low light conditions.
Below are the main things yous will need to add to your Jon gunkhole to get it ready for a successful bass line-fishing trip.
Rod holders
Installing rod holders to your Jon boat is an obvious stride in the setup process.
Many Jon gunkhole owners will permanently affix rod holders to the interior sides of their boat but these days this is totally unnecessary, unless of course y'all desire to practice that.
There are rod holders that clamp onto the side of your boat so they can be easily removed and reattached when needed. Likewise you tin as well get rod holders that are fastened via Velcro
and I prefer these because they can exist fastened and unattached easily within seconds.
Don't forget to behave a skilful quality net for netting the fish.
Storage
You tin create your ain built-in storage units on your Jon, as we demonstrated how to do here, for gear, bait and catch or you tin can simply carry livewells and/or buckets.
If you decide to add a casting deck so you will need to ensure you incorporate storage into the design. Just follow our instructions on that (link given below) and you lot'll be fine.
Bass are not exactly nocturnal fish but they sure aren't big fans of the midday lord's day. During the hours when the light is brightest and the sun is hottest information technology can exist difficult to locate bass as they head for shelter.
For this reason most bass line-fishing is washed during the very early morning time hours and late evening hours when the light is simply coming up or fading.
Be aware that if your Jon gunkhole is fitted with an outboard motor and then you are legally required to fit it with navigation lights – unless yous are canoeing on your own individual waters.
You volition also want to add together some type of deck low-cal or handheld search light not simply to spot fish in the distance but to also encounter where you are going on the h2o.
We have a full guide on buying Jon boat lights if you want more details on this.
Casting deck
Adding a casting deck to your Jon boat is purely optional simply it does make storage more than organised and allows for easier movement on the gunkhole when fishing.
Although adding a casting deck to a small-scale boat volition oft arrive tippy this is not a problem with a Jon gunkhole due to its flat bottom and superior stability. Be aware that adding a casting deck to your Jon gunkhole volition reduce the amount of passengers information technology can comport though.
Adding a casting deck is relatively like shooting fish in a barrel. If you are interested in this conversion only follow our instructions here.
Seating
Although y'all can just as easily fish for bass from the standard bench seating in a Jon gunkhole why not consider an upgrade?
I would propose y'all add two unlike types of seats.
The commencement is a low back seat that can be attached directly onto the bench. It can also be attached to the bench via a small pedestal so information technology can hinge. This offers a lot more comfort and allows for freer movement when working the tiller.
The 2d upgrade I would suggest y'all consider is adding one or ii high swivel pedestal seats – just like those on a bass boat. High pedestal seats will give you better vantage and the power to cast off while remaining seated.
If you choose to convert your Jon boat to a bass boat then pedestal seats are must-have items.
Fish finder
Fish finders are now relatively cheap and very easy to install on a Jon gunkhole.
As bass tend to feed in the shallows a fish finder is not totally necessary for bass fishing but they are handy and for the depression price I remember they are wroth it. Apart from that, you may non ever be fishing for bass or other shallow water fish!
Propulsion
You volition need both an outboard motor of appropriate size and at least ane form of manual propulsion.
Adding a tiller propelled trolling motor volition give y'all more than enough power and control to reach line-fishing grounds quickly. It volition also give you lot the power to motility from one fishing spot to another over large distances.
However, merely using an outboard motor will be detrimental to your catch count. When budgeted bass fish you need a scrap of stealth.
Bass swim in the shallows when hunting for nutrient and are hands alerted to motorized boats. So. yous should carry some form of manual propulsion for approaching the fish quietly.
A paddle works fine in about waters simply when you lot are moving through very shallow areas you may want to use a pole so you lot can punt the boat forrad.
Adding remote steering
Some Jon boat owners volition add a remote steering mechanism to their outboard motor so they can seat more centrally in the boat.
Of form this is not at all a necessity simply it is something you tin can do yourself at home when you have a spare day to manus.
If yous would like to add remote steering to your Jon boat and trolling motor we showed how to practise that hither.
Converting a Jon gunkhole to a bass boat
If you lot desire to become all the way with your setup and create a kick-ass bass boat consider a total Jon boat to bass boat conversion. There are many benefits to doing this.
Benefits of converting a Jon gunkhole to a bass boat include:
- A Jon gunkhole has a shallower draft and then can access shallower areas than a bass boat.
- A Jon boat is more than stable in at-home water than a bass gunkhole.
- A Jon boat is much, much cheaper to buy than a bass gunkhole.
- Even a total conversion from Jon boat to bass gunkhole volition work out thousands of dollars cheaper than ownership a bass boat new.
- A Jon boat converted to a bass boat has all the same functionality every bit a store-bought bass gunkhole.
We take detailed instructions that prove yous how to convert a Jon gunkhole to a bass gunkhole and if yous want to go the whole squealer and create a bass boat for a fraction of the toll of a new one you should read that article.
Source: https://www.flatbottomboatworld.com/how-to-set-up-a-jon-boat-for-bass-fishing/

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