They seem like they would move around a lot if you stood up in them.

Depends on the size of the boat, and the size of you...

I've been in some 90" wide aluminum boats that were like docks.

I was embarked on an LST (USS Fresno) for eight months. An LST is the Navy's version of a gigantic jon boat with a lot of HP. While all the ships were smoothly cutting doughnuts in the Indian Ocean, we were rocking and rolling through water that was as smooth as a baby's butt. In that eight months I don't think I had a single day when we were underway that I wasn't seasick. Absolutely worse time in my life but it was a great weight loss strategy. When I was ordered to another LST for our second deployment, I informed my commanding officer I would voluntarily report to the brig in Pearl.

fished all over the state of Louisiana in boats like this:


A few rules that kept us dry: never stand upright (unless you had to). Keep one hand on the gunnel if you had to move from one seat to the other. If you see whitecaps, don't even bother launching. There's only a few days a year you could fish out of a boat like that on Ray Hubbard or Lewisville or ___________ (your favorite area reservoir).

Other hand, a boat like this:

is another story.

It'll pound you to death in rough water, and soak you with spray, but at least it's a stable platform.

I use a jon boat like the top one in Jtexas's post. I fish Hubbard all the time and my 14'x48" works just fine. I won't go out in white caps though. Just be careful and use common sense and you'll be just fine.

I just got a 16ft flat bottom and have fished Lewisville Lake a lot recently.

You are going to get wet during the ride and it isn't the most stable boat for walking around, but it gets the job done.

We took it out the other day on the main lake when the winds were gusting up to 40mph with no problem. We just took it slow, didn't stand up, and didn't venture far from the shore. The only reason I have the boat is because it was a gift. I would prefer something more like this

my Carolina Skiff doesnt seem to be that rough, and i took it out in some bad winds couple weeks ago. We'll see this weekend i guess when the winds will be constant and blowing the length of the lake.
My boat is 24' x 93" so maybe that is why it doesnt seem bad at all

also is the most stable boat i have owned!

i have a 15' Modified V with a 25 yammie. we bought it for the Brazos and have also used it on Belton. it is not the easiest riding boat but it can get us to our spot. and it can also go places where most boats cannot. if you would be using it for the lake i would reccomend a big modified V (17'-21') or a FG CC. but if you are going to run shallow and skinny water get a small flatbottom or Modified V