Fishing on a Pontoon Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

If you’re an enthusiastic angler and seek a boat that will allow you to indulge your passion while accommodating the needs of your family and friends, look no farther than a pontoon. Thanks to its design, a pontoon fishing boat is an ideal platform for serious angling. First, it’s very sturdy and won’t rock or tip easily. Second, with its shallow draft, a pontoon fishing boat can get you into the skinniest waters when the fish are near to shore. A seemingly inaccessible cove can become a private fishing hole in a heartbeat.

Click here for Places To Boat & Fish

Next, the wide-open layout of a pontoon fishing boat gives you plenty of room to cast and work around the entire boat rather than being limited to one small space, especially if you have fishing seats both fore and aft (pontoon fishing boats can offer two fishing seats on the bow deck or two fore and two aft). A pontoon boat also features gates around its perimeter, making it effortless to retrieve a fish. Anyone who has fished aboard a more traditional powerboat knows how frustrating it can be to lurch, lean and grab over a railing or the boat’s gunwale. And, most models are available with vinyl floor coverings instead of carpet, so cleanup won’t be a hassle.

Most freshwater fishing boats do not come equipped with a Bimini top; here, too, is an added benefit aboard a pontoon fishing boat. You’ll appreciate that Bimini on hot, sunny days, and it won’t obstruct the fishing action the way it often does aboard deep-V fishboats that do offer such tops as optional equipment. There’s always plenty of room aboard a pontoon boat. In fact, there’s so much space, nonfishing guests can comfortably socialize around the table in the L-lounge while anglers focus on the fish! For them it’s a party barge!

If the weather turns inclement, a windbreak enclosure will come in handy, giving you and your guests shelter from the elements with easy access to your rods. A pontoon fishing boat also boast rod lockers, vertical rod holders, built-in tackle boxes and aerated livewells, with electric trolling motors, lure trays and fishfinders as available options. (Anglers will find that the built-in aft vertical rod holders are very handy for trolling.) In addition to ample gear storage, you’ll find more than enough space to stow coolers loaded with cold beverages, eagerly anticipated snacks and any necessary personal items. This is the way fishing was meant to be.

Catch a few while the kids are exploring the beach. Or, given the spacious layout, consider a group outing! Ask a few friends to join you on a fishing trip, and if you have fellow anglers in your pontoon boat community, think about organizing a fishing tournament. It’s true: You can have the perfect fishing boat and the perfect family-and-friends boat, all in one.

Print Article