Pontoon Boat Basics

It is also possible to slip out of your pontoon boat in the river, letting the current hold it against your legs while you work a productive run or cover the slack water behind a submerged rock. If you position your boat in a back eddy, you can work the foam lines for sipping fish without getting out of the boat or anchoring. Some fly fishers use a pontoon boat to reach their favorite holes, then beach the boat, slip off their fins, and wade-fish.

Begin with an easygoing river to practice controlling your boat, and always remember that the river comes first. You must pay attention downstream to give yourself plenty of time for course adjustments. As long as your fins are moving, your boat is going to respond to you rather than the current. Using a scissors kick, a side kick, or just a straight-line kick to move against the current will always keep you in position and in control.

I discuss more advanced river fishing techniques, including whitewater techniques, in my book, Fishing Untouched Waters, but the beginner should become comfortable with pontoon boat basics on slow and moderate rivers before attempting these maneuvers.

Accessories

Fins let the pontoon boat achieve its intended purpose—letting you move through the water with your hands free to fish. If you decide to leave your oars at home and use only your fins, bring along a spare. A fin tether, such as “Fin Savers,” will keep your fin attached to your ankle.

When walking on shore with your fins, you need to lift your feet high and walk carefully. It’s simpler and safer to put your fins on once you’re in the boat.

The first thing I look for in a fin is whether it is sturdy enough to handle the heavy kicking motion required to move the boat through the water. Some of the lighter-duty fins on the market fold back on themselves when kicking through a rapid or trying to power across a wind-blown lake. I also like fins with quick-release straps and a wide enough foot pocket to accommodate wading shoes, which provide more support than the neoprene booties popular with float tubers.

I always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, even when fishing flat water. Because they are lightweight and less bulky, I prefer inflatable life jackets for flat water or slower rivers. On heavier water, I use a conventional life jacket, despite the additional bulk, to be safe.

On a river, an anchor helps keep your boat in place if you get out and fish. On a lake, one will keep you stationary when the wind is blowing. There are many types of anchors on the market, but I like to use a 14-pound drift-boat anchor.

Do not anchor in fast-moving current. It can be done, but it is an invitation to disaster. An accessible knife should be part of your safety equipment in case your anchor is caught (cut anchor rope) or you get tangled in any hazards. Anchor systems incorporated into the boat frame are popular. Make sure your anchor rope is adequately secured so you don’t accidentally drop your anchor in whitewater.

Stripping aprons on pontoon boats usually consist of a piece of nylon mesh fastened to the frame and stretched across your lap, then hooked behind you so it wraps around your waist. Without a stripping apron, sinking line can be a real nuisance as it pools in the water in front of you, wrapping around your fins. A stripping apron also helps keep your line free of coils and ready to shoot on your next cast. Newer stripping aprons incorporate two taut lines that run along the pontoons, allowing you to quickly slide the apron forward when you want to jump out of your boat and fish a run more thoroughly.

You’ll need a two-way hand or foot pump to inflate the pontoons. While most come with many adapters to fit different valves, be sure to ask the manufacturer of your boat what you’ll need.

When I fish, I always have multiple rods rigged in rod holders attached to the boat frame. Each section of a river dictates different techniques and equipment, and having different rods prerigged and in rod holders saves valuable fishing time.

You can also outfit your pontoon boats with all sorts of amenities from drink coolers to tippet dispensers to suit your needs. Many different attachable bags are available, including dry bags for longer floats. Side bags, often compartmented to keep your gear organized, are handy and come as standard equipment on most pontoon boats.

Dave Scadden is one of the pioneers in the pontoon boat industry and author of Fishing Untouched Waters, a book of pontoon boat techniques and tales.