Can a Toon handle rough water going fast? Just asking!

when it comes to fishing there is idiots in all makes and models of boats it is not the boat it is the operator

Check out that video in my earlier post.

There is a question that goes to your question. Are you wanting a pontoon so you can do some fishing AND take the family out on the water? I ask because when someone buys a boat they are usually thinking about how that boat will accomodate the entire family. This is tough because if you have a better half, her choice may influence your buying decision. Here is my take if this is the case. Ask yourself how many times you will fish in a given year and then ask yourself how mnay times you will take the family out with you. If it is split closely down the middle, then perhaps the pontoon would be a better choice. But, if you want to do in depth fishing and be able to get to the fish no matter the conditions and you may take the family out 20% of the overall trips, you should probably look for a big center console. Of course money comes into play here, so the before mentioned may not be an option, depending on your budget. Center consoles are very versatile and in my opinion much better suited to fish for striper/hibbies/sandbass than pontoons. My wife loves to be on the water but if it is too hot or too cold she doesn't want to go and since I fish all year long she may go out with me about 4-5 times a year. Since i fish anywhere from 30-40 times a year, it made more sense to buy a boat that allowed me to fish how i wanted. Another thing to keep in mind is that wind will push a pontoon much faster than a CC or bass boat because of it's design. If you don't have a trolling motor that is big enough to hold your spot, it will become frustrating. I do see pontoons on the water and for the most part they are out to do the same thing I am and that is to catch fish. Basically, if you want to hardcore fish you should probably get a CC, but if you want to just enjoy a beautiful day on the water and catching fish is secondary, than it doesn't matter. Good luck to you and I hope you find the boat that you want!!

Amen!! Like the time a 40' cruiser trolled through a group of boats while fish were surfacing. When everyone looked at this guy and yelled out what are you doing, he threw up his hands and yelled back "What?" It was so ridiculous all you could do is laugh. Or the CC on texoma who trolled throw a group of boats that were catching surfacing fish....in 6' of water! And then there was this time at band camp........

Have a toon we keep in a slip at Texoma, best thing I have ever bought, love my bass boat but the toon is just more fun for striper, sand bass, crappie fishing.
Put a trolling motor on it made it better as well.
Winter and hot summer it is great to troll out of as well.
Tie up under a bridge and fish/sleep all night is a lot of fun.

Lots of room, handles rough water great, runs 30-35 on the GPS, and if the family wants to come they enjoy it as well.

During the hot times of the year you cant beat the top either.

Get you a toon with a center console like I have! Oh yes
you will need a trolling motor, if you are going to fish.

Thanks for the replies. I am still about a year away from buying a boat. I am at the 50-50 spot. I will probably move to Lake LBJ. I had almost decided that I would move to canyon, but have changed my mind. Housing in my price range, constant water level, lots of boat ramps/dockage, and fishing piers make it more desirable. Although it dosen't have lots of stripers, it dose have good whites along with cats and crappie. It's also close to Buchanon and inks, which are full of stripers and hybrids. That will be about as far as I will trailer one. I will be retired, so if its too windy, I won't go. My main fishing will be for stripers/hybrids/whites, but I'll fish for cats and crappie, if they are not biting.
I will not buy a boat, pontoon or other that doesn't have a center console. It will be 18-20' long. I will by a powerful enough trolling mptor and two electric downriggers.
I am pretty good using a drag stock, and fighting the wind. I do live in port isabel. The stability of a pontoon appeals to me. I am not one that has ever been a person that has to get there as fast as possible, so a max engine is not important to me. If I get a 18-20' CC, a 115hp would be my choice, in a pontoon I'd probably go with a 70hp or so. These are my thoughts for now. capt david

I have a 21 foot Avalon Pontoon with a 75 Hp 4 stroke honda and a trolling motor....well did have, my TM quit on me!!!!
That being said, I fish for everything on it. It is not uncommon to fish for white fish/hybrid, Big mouth bass, Crappie, then when the bite turns off, chase blue catfish. Whether with friends or alone, many fish have boarded my boat. I usually find people way too interested in watching birds, and top water action, and leave the magna sandies and hybrid for me to catch.

And big water...large waves...I can cut across large waves and still ride in comfort, just keep the nose up.

Additionally before the water got low, was not uncommon to hit the Trinity in my toon and max out on magna sandies, as well as a nice collection of catfish.

The biggest advantage I see in fishing from my toon, is that you are on top of the water, and can see topwater action fairly quickly. Granted my top speed is about 22-24 mph, and takes me a bit longer to get there, but once I hit my spots it is on like donkey kong!! As already stated, alot of success depends on the fisherman. Oh did I forget to mention the large bimini top? Yup great shade in the 100+ degree days this summer. I got my toon in 2009, and caught catfish, bass, and hybrid, not much, but I did catch some. I learned by talking to fellow TFF'ers, reading posts, and once I figured out LL, locations, etc, this year was my most successful, especially since I easily maxed out on most species of fish.

I do have a 16 foot tracker, love to fish out of it too, but man you just can't beat a pontoon, especially you get to fish with your bestest fishing buddies, and have plenty of room

Oh another advantage... I have a gas grill that mounts to the square rail, which makes it nice to eat warm good grub, while taking a break in the shade of the Bimini.

My most rewarding fishing trip was at Ray Bob, I was given the privlege to take some Hero's fishing. We stayed on it till we found Sand Bass, and the bite was on. These guys were disabled, and most had never ever caught a fish, much been on a boat. Needless to say, hot as it was, we found sandies, and these Hero's had the time of their life. Fellow TFF'ers and my family donated fishing gear, and $$ for tackle.

Yea the toon had the best hosting trip ever, and is ready to assist again.

Sound like you may have it figured it out. I’m now on my second pontoon and I will share with you my experience. It has been some years ago now that I decided I wanted to trade my day cruiser for a pontoon. I gathered up the wife, kid and all the grand kids that didn’t have something better to do and we went to the boat show. I found one that I thought would be the ultimate boat for us. It was a center console, 8 ½’ x 24’ with a 90hp. Turns out I didn’t care for the center console after all. A pontoon is after all a sociable boat and with the center console I always had my back to half of my passengers. My present pontoon is a bit smaller, 8’ x 21’ with only a 50 hp. It will move almost as fast but way better on fuel economy. I much prefer my present pontoon. Good luck with what ever you choose.

Poontoon loaded with bikinis.. a couch, tv, and a barbq ready to fish all day..I say if it floats..it fishes...but Im not too worried about what other people think about me as long as I catch the biggest and second biggest fish.

Ditto on fuel economy.....2009 75 hp 4 stroke Honda is a mega gas miser...
Indeed!!!!!

I will do a lot of trolling. A leaning post or tall seat, behind the center console will make it much easier to tend to them. capt david