I just bought a boat!

[coastiecappy]

Coastie-
I never fished the Maumee...wanted to find out some info though.  The spring run is the spawning run right?  When you say wall to wall fisherman...how difficult is it to get a boat in there?  How long is the spring run?  How's the fishing?  Do you still use erie dearies during that time or is another bait effective?  Any info is appreciated.

You right this is the spring spawning run. The area we see the most action is far upstream, starting at Waterville and going down past Fort Meigs in Perrysburg. To get a boat bck in there is going to be rough, plenty of shoal water, small rapids and lots of rock. Most are waders, knee to chest deep out in the river. Boaters put in well upstream and come back past the I75 bridge. You can expect to run to last until mid- April before they are out to the mouth where the bigger boats are. According to the Fish Wrapper, the fishing is supposed to be better this year, more and bigger fish. Most are using live bait, although I have tried spoons with limited success.
As of this weekend, water temp was 34°F, light pack ice was coming in.
Many of us wait out the run until they are out on the lake, alot of our boats can't make it in, we draw to much water. My prefence is to through a line over the stern and troll on a refed jib and no main.

[coastiecappy]

We were up working on the boats this weekend. The Maumee is high and rising fast, and there were a couple hundred walleye fisherman out in the river. Also check out couple of launch sites, one is in Waterville on the west side of town on 24, the other is near the west side of Perrysburg on 20.

[Hoopty]

Well, the boating season is just about upon us again.  Not that it really ever goes away down here on the south coast...but, I thought I'd revisit this thread and get all the boaters geared up to get out on the water.

As you probably recall, I've never owned a boat until I moved down here to Biloxi, and picked up a nice used bowrider shortly after arriving.  It was ok for a while, but I quickly came to realize that it just wasn't the right boat for me.  You couldn't really use it for fishing.  Mostly just cruising around.  So, I found myself not using it that much.  In fact, I had it out maybe twice last year.  I spent most of my time out fishing on friends boats, while mine sat.

So, this year, I decided I would sell the bowrider and get the right boat this time around.  One with an eye towards fishing. 

I went to a couple of boat shows in search of this perfect rig and finally settled on the NauticStar 20' offshore.  It's a center console setup for fishing, yet it has about the same seating options as the old boat.  So, if the family wants to go for a ride, we still can.

Anyway, I should be picking up my new baby next week sometime and I can't wait to get it out on the water.  Here are the specs and some stock photos:

Length -- 20' 3"
Beam -- 102"
Motor -- Yamaha F150 4-stroke
Transome Height -- 25"
Dead Rise -- 19 Degrees
Approximate Weight -- 2200 lbs.
Fuel Capacity -- 75 Gal.
Rear Live Well -- 20 Gal.
Fish Box -- 45 Gal.
Persons / Total Weight -- 8 / 1200 lbs

Let me know what you think!

~Hoopty

[MIRCS]

Nice boat.

Now park it in the yard and come join us on May 19th for a day of fishing.

[coastiecappy]

Just rub it in, we still have ice on the water. I'm jealous.

[Hoopty]

Don't think I can make it up there MIRCS, wish I could.  You know I'm always down for a day of fishing.

Sorry coastie... didn't mean to rub it in.  When's the earliest you can usually get out?

[coastiecappy]

Hoopty,
We went up to check on ours, ice was out 3 to 4 miles before we could see any open water. We'll be lucky to launch by late April or the first of May, isn't warm enough yet to start hull waxing and bottom painting. Season is short up here if your lucky in by mid-April out mid-December, unless the west winds pick-up, then your setting on mud.