Any one own, or ever own one of these? ClackaCraft When I decide to get a new boat, I think one of these might just be the way to go.

This is what I was trying to think of yesterday.
http://www.rodriftboats.com/skiff.php

There is something about that guided skiff scenario
A man paddling/sitting while I fish standing, him looking at my tookus, it being in center view, maybe laughing at my stupid jokes.

Puts me off my best frame of mind.


I prefer a pal who is slowly irritated, competes for the best first cast, is able to say 'Shut the F up' at some point in the day, and has flies that I can steal.

Plus HE pays for 1/2 gas. & Brings the one liquor I forget, and I glad he didn't .


That's why I sometimes fish with my brother.


That's what those skiffs mean to me..



Of course, a guide who paid to say, 'we're here, get out, go there.... ' He's aces !

Where will you be drifting in Texas?
Do you know how expensive those boats are?

I'd love to have one as well, but they arent popular in the South for a reason.

I agree. There are just few places where it is practical in Texas. Up here in Montana, its awesome. Its the only one we use when fishing with 2-3 people. Its really quite easy to use and just a blast in the rapids. I find the raft a little bit more forgiving for the fast water novice though. Here is me sitting in an old(20+ years) ClackaCraft with a Missouri River rainbow I caught with my BWO emerger. This type of craft can last for many years and can really take a beating. If anyone is looking for one, I recommend buying one used but have somebody who is knowledgeable to go with you. Also make sure to take it for a test drive before buying. Better yet, if you know someone that has one, just go with him or her and be sure to learn to guide or at least learn to row, that'll insure future invitation.

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wow what a great fish!!!!

Derik, I am just waiting for the perfect clacka headhunter skiff to hit the market and I will be driving to get it. I am closer to more water you can use one, but I have wanted one long enough. These RO skiffs are bada** skiffs but you dont find many on the market used.

I got tangled up in the romance of the drift boat after the one trout fishing trip I've ever taken. I looked at them pretty hard, but they just don't make as much sense in Texas as they do in a lot of the other states.

Flysouth is right, they are terribly expensive and the used market just doesn't occur down here. For the same money as you'd give for a drift boat, I think you could find a good used aluminum flat bottom boat that would go into a lot of the same places, but still give you the flexibility to get out on some reservoir water as well to chase sandies, hybrids, and stripers.

I got into my little 14' aluminum with a 35 hp Johnson, a trolling motor, and stick steering last year for under $1,500. As far as I can tell it will float in about 6-8" of water. I've never taken it on a river excursion, but one of these days I plan to do so. I have inadvertendtly had it out in swells that were around 18" to 2ft and it handled it fine. I won't ever do that on purpose, but it's nice to know it will handle a little weather.

If you haven't looked at them before, you should take a gander at the Gheenoe. From all I've read and heard they are awesome boats that would go a lot of the places a drift boat would and more.

A Gheenoe would be perfect for most fishing anybody does 99% of the time, I wouldnt want to be in one in bad weather, but pretty sweeet looking ride especially for smaller water & rivers.. multi purpose too ...

What fly do you think he took that thing on?

Whooooweeee 'dats a big ol' gator 'dere. Do you reckon he caught him with a dry or a wet?

I've never seen a Gheenoe with a go-devil on it. That thing will probably be able to go down the middle of the interstate during a good rain.

derik d-

I guided out west for quite a while and have had a number of different drift boats. In fact, my current boat is sitting behind the garage as we speak. I would be happy to answer any questions you have. PM me if I can help.

JM, please be so kind as to GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

Ive been looking at the Gheenoe's a lot lately.
I live in a neighborhood and I couldnt get a full sized boat into my back yard, but a Gheenoe on a narrow trailer would be the perfect fit. (Im not interested in spending $100 a mo. for storage)

They are also light enough on the trailer to be pushed around by hand.

The 13' model will cruise at 13mph with a 5hp.

Really cool boat. Too bad there are no Texas dealers....

I've seen a couple go through the DFW craigslist site for pretty reasonable prices.

KNOCK IT OFF. JUST STOP.

might be worth a trip to Florida for a good deal

http://www.boattrader.com/browse/small-boats/make/gheenoe

Come on, JM, you know the kids can get student loans to pay for college. That way it will mean more to them in the long run.

looks like what a teen hears when dad sez he can get a canoe

The rivers I would fish with it would be the San Marcos, Colorado, Brazos, Guadalupe, and Brazos. I am thinking more along the lines of one of the smaller ones like this one. My uncle left us a sixteen footer for a while when we lived in Wyoming, during his move from Salt Lake to Texas, and it was great on the rivers and small lakes. This is what I fish from right nowand it was really not designed for Tejas either, but was designed with flyfishing in mind. The drawback of this boat is it's a one seater, and for the price of a larger one I might as well be getting a drift boat thats alot more durable. I am just thinking this might be right up my alley.

Yeah T, thats excatly what I am thinking.

My Gheenoe will run in 3.5 inches of water....9.5hp evinrude moves it out at 20+ mph on a plane. Can also paddle it really well with a Kayak paddle. I have done the drift boat thing when I lived in the Northwest....awesome boats. I like my Gheenoe better for the fishing down here.

Here I was trying to fling a craving on Derek and JackMack and I think I ended up flinging it on myself.

x2

YOu could throw a 10hp on there and be rockin. You guys havent sold me on the canoe boat thing yet. . .

drop a 10 on the Gheenoe and be SCREAMIN !!!!!!

less money too (excluding motor)

Derik,
Right on man, when we head up to YNP next year lets bring back two!

Well I didn't know we were supposed to be actively selling.

Why don't you have a seat in my office sales cubicle here. Now, Derek, I know you're in the market for a small, maneuverable, shallow draft boat that can go anywhere and do anything. AmIright? I think you can agree with me that the Gheenoe has what it takes to get you on fish in the beautiful rivers of central Texas. I think you'll also agree that this little beauty will be equally at home in the flats off the coast chasing reds and specs.

Can't you just see yourself out there making those tight, wind-cutting loops? Dropping casts right on the nose of that new state record red? You see your fly line tighten with a sound like a cracking bullwhip as that huge fish streaks across the flats accompanied by the screaming protest of the drag. You're right there, Derek. The Gheenoe put you in the exact location, at the exact time to work your magic and bring that copper colored beauty to hand. You could quickly and mercifully kill this behemoth and claim that new all tackle state record that is so rightfully yours, but you won't. You'll ease him back into the water, pump life giving oxygen across his gills, and when he's ready, release him back to his habitat to get a little bigger and pass his superior genetics on to the next generation. As you blast back across the flats, the purr of that fuel-sipping engine is the soundtrack to the end credits of your perfect day of fishing.

Now who got you out there on the salt, Derek? What little workhorse did the job and just kept asking for more? The Gheenoe did. It took you out there and brought you back in comfort and style. When the day is done, all it will ask for is to go do it again.

Now, Derek, I've got just one more question for you. What can I do to put you in this Gheenoe today?

You sit right there, look at this brochure, and decide what color you want. I'm going to go talk to my manager about getting you a very special deal. He owes me one just like you owe yourself this purpose-built fishing machine.

I'll be right back with the paperwork so you can get out on the water this afternoon and start living like you need to live.




Always
Be
Closing

Derik's name misspelled on purpose in the above example to throw him off guard just enough to get the kill I mean new satisfied customer.

Man Tx, you got another one of those you could sell me? Seriously you are scary!

Well, that was my last Gheenoe, but, because I know you like the water, I've got a couple of properties you might be interested in owning.

If you like the salt, there is a very unique estate in Arizona that a well known country singer is looking to get out of in the near future.

If you're more of a river fisherman, there is an interesting property in New York State that includes a bridge over the Hudson River. There are a couple of small title issues at the moment, but I'm sure a new owner could get them figured out in no time.

Last, but not least, I've got several great tracts of coastal swamp land wetlands that would be just great for almost any kind of activity. One very motivated seller was making a very good income doing something he called "square grouper fishing" before his recent unfortunate incarceration by the authorities.

I have several parties interested in these properties, so you'll have to act fast to scoop up these deals.

I also buy timeshares for CASH.

got any more of them Rolox Watches with the extra second hand ?

Well I did, but it was a limited time opportunity...

Derik I really am curious about what a drift boat would do on most of our Texas rivers that some of the more commonly available craft wouldn't. I'm not asking that to change your mind, just trying to learn.

Also, I'm not sure of the maker, but I have seen some older aluminum boats with a flat bottom and a pointed bow that might also work on a budget.

Gheenoes are awesome, it aint a canoe, it is an awesome little boat that is perfect for Texas as far as I can tell, I dont know where the water in Texas runs fast enough or even often enough for a drift boat to be much good & that thing has got to be a pain to row when it won't drift.