Outdoors Board -

A pretty good Poling Skiff conversation spun up on another thread (http://forums.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=2500842&forum_id=34) and out of respect for OP's original topic (where to find a decent priced Yeti) I've started this thread.

I'm not familiar with Poling Skiffs, but became instantly interested once I looked into them based on the info from the previously mentioned Yeti thread de-rail.

What do you look for in a Poling Skiff? What do you avoid? What makes one brand better than another? Etc., etc...

[This message has been edited by CSTXAg92 (edited 7/25/2014 9:39a).]

I'll add more when in on the computer, but to start the conversation -
Weight. Run shallow, get up shallow, pole shallow.
Stealth. Little to no hull slap to stalk fish.
Tracking. Some boats pole straighter than others, some crab in the wind. A boat that can spin easily is good.
Profile. Obviously for fly fishing a clean and low profile to reduce line fouling.

And just like any boat, ride and dryness - but those are sacrificed to a large degree for a true skinny water poling skiff.

I hate those entitled guys in cheap bright colored knock off fishing shirts standing on the end of the boat on a bow hunting stand. They stick a glossy white 20' pole up in the air every 15' running every redfish within 200 yards out of the area.

Will they give you the customary 400 yard berth....hell no. They pole on by pulling up sea grass roots every time the pole comes out of the water.

Then when they get ready to leave you have a 250# guy trying to hole shot a boat that has a skeg 18" below the waterline while sitting on a 23#(color matching) Yeti filled with 18# of cheap beer covered with 22# of ice.

I hate those guys.

[This message has been edited by sunchaser (edited 7/25/2014 10:19a).]

But how do you feel about that sunchaser??

Of course if you buy one I'll meet you at Starvation Hole and you can pole me around one morning and I'll reassess my point of view.

Fs18 bateau.com. Build your own.

I have a good friend who's a part-time guide and he takes me out a few times a year, fishes a Hell's Bay Professional. We fish from the super skinny water in the LLM to just offshore chasing tarpon. That boat is incredible! Very smooth ride, takes chop well, fit and finish are top notch. Just be ready to pay top dollar for a best-in-class poling skiff.

I won't wear a cheap shirt.

Great.....and no John Deere or Lyford Co-op caps.

Although I wouldn't mind a red trucker from Lyford or San Perlita.

Check out this forum

http://www.microskiff.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

lots of good info and people that know what they are talking about. Their classified section is actually reasonable compared to the guys getting rid of them in Texas.

Whoa whoa JKA- don't be giving out all the secret fishing holes....

This thread is worthless without pics...

Here is a link to the refit of an older Hell's Bay Whipray that just sold a couple weeks ago. http://www.tribenwater.com/forums/hells-bay-darkside-association/3198-2000-whipray-restoration.html Very cool. I don't think I could buy something that sexy and tear it down without fishing it just a LITTLE!


This will put a wet spot in you panties. 17.8 Whipray Pro w/ a VENTED tunnel. Sold a couple weeks ago too... to an AGGIE in Florida (that's awesome for him). This was an '02 model, perfectly restored.




East Cape Lostmen. Tons of front deck area to cast from but still has a generous cockpit.

East Cape makes some cool boats and partner Kevin Fenn videos and narrates almost every boat they build. If you search East Cape on vimeo you'll see overviews of most boats as they go out the door of the shop.

Then the Mavericks. This picture comes up for Maverick HPXT on Google search but I believe it is actually a Micro (because this particular boat was reviewed as a micro). The HPX series of boats from Maverick are their skinny water skiffs that come in a V bottom, T (tunnel), Micro (stripped down for weight), and the newest S (built even lighter yet).


HPXT


Built in Texas, the New Water Stilt referred to in the yeti thread

That Whipray is incredible.

Here you go CP...

http://willyflatsboats.com/17willy-classic/

Nice pics CenterPole. Question:

quote:

---

Whipray Pro w/ a VENTED tunnel.

---

What's the vented tunnel about?

Nevermind... Found a great demo here:

http://www.eastcapeskiffs.com/ecs-quick-clip-vented-tunnel/

This thing looks like it runs in ankle deep water - is this for real??

Oh yes, very true when up on plane.

That's a lot of console and leaning post, not very common to have such a high profile on a technical poling skiff. Can't tell, is that a Stilt? Texas meets Florida flats skiff; that's the combination East Cape is shooting for with their 'scooter top' boats.

Speaking of East Cape, I don't know if Finn has made it over here, but if so check out this Hell's Bay Skate that East Cape is selling. I think they're asking 12,500 for it... Original Ad



[This message has been edited by Centerpole90 (edited 7/25/2014 7:34p).]

Anyone have any thoughts on gheenoes? Or other cheaper alternatives. Not sure I can spend 20k on a boat right now.

You might like looking at Ankona skiffs.

I've got an Ambush and had a Beavertail. When you get ready to buy one call me. My buddy in Corpus loves his East Cape and I really like the Ambush. But, like any other boat, you're going to give up "something" to accomplish "something!"

If only this thread was 30 days older. There was a SWEET Gladesman in Houston sold on microskiff a couple weeks ago. Asking price was 5600.

Finn is most qualified to comment on Geenoe, and like CE said, there are a lot of options all through the price range - Ankona certainly deserves a look.

[This message has been edited by Centerpole90 (edited 7/28/2014 7:18a).]

Doc- which Ambush are you talking about?

Are you talking about one of these?



As for the Gheenoe, it's a really cool little boat that does what it does well. But it definitely has it's limitations. If you're used to kayaks it's a big upgrade in terms of getting to places that take too damn long to paddle in a yak and the ability to stand & pole and you gain a good 18" of height off the water vs. a kayak when spotting fish.

And I think with the way East Cape is doing very high-end fit & finish and custom jobs they will be extremely stiff competition for Hells Bay & Maverick.

This is the Fury with the scooter set-up and it's badass. I saw a Lostmen with the same basic configuration over the weekend and it's a sweet rig.

Oh, and if y'all were as badass as us skiff guys you'd use a Yeti as a casting platform...

Finn I bought Sommerlatte's old Hell's Bay Ambush.

Right on. I don't ever recall an Ambush made by Hells Bay though.

Spoke briefly with Scott on Saturday- we were washing down boats in adjacent stalls. Somehow he knew I fished with a particular guide who is new to POC and said guide might have cut in front of Scott's panga off the beach front in looking for tarpon and Scott's client might have been a little bit pissed.

I felt kinda bad because I wouldn't have done what my guide did but that's between them IMHO.

2008 Gordon's Boatworks (Hell's Bay) Ambush from an old micro skiff ad.

Love some skiff porn.

That's it, only we've got a "coffin box" in the middle where that icechest is.
Like I said though. What we get in ability to pole skinny is wiped out when it gets really sloppy! So, fishing somewhere like the lower Laguna and relatively unprotected water can get a little $h!tty!

57 mph on a Chittum Islamorada 18.

i want this guy, but i want it to be able to run some chop and distance, haul some decoys and go up river for whites.

http://www.maverickboats.com/boats/mirage-17-hpx-s/

From the Rio Grande Valley Fly Tyers Club One Fly Swap Redfish Tournament Saturday. 19.5", doesn't take much when the wind has the bay blown completely out.

Quaid94 caught the winning fish and minutes later I caught one of almost identical size, but we let it go (1st prize only). The angler and fly tyer split the pot... and I drew the fly Quaid94 had tied.

If we knew everyone else was having a crappy day we could have let his fish go, entered mine, and split the pot between us.




[This message has been edited by Centerpole90 (edited 7/29/2014 8:44a).]

I see how you shot NW80 the bird....me likey.

Why are there three lines?

[This message has been edited by sunchaser (edited 7/29/2014 9:16a).]

I noticed that later. That's a big ol' bird w my fat fingers. The fly is tied back on the rod, not in the fishes mouth- and with a long leader, to keep the knot out of the eye, the leader comes back down the rod around the real butt in the fly hooks into one of the eye feet higher up.

Hey MouthBQ98 - I have seen you post the link to that boat plans website multiple times and reference it on a few threads in passing. Have you built any of the plans on the site? Just curious what experience you have on it. I would be interested to know more about the process.