if they are big rollers they will be to far apart to try and stay on top.with each hit you get more out of shape.better off to find a speed that keeps you in control and good position on the wave...rick

I've done best by running paralell. If unable I try to get land masses (islands or points to block the wide open water and also I will tack (to use a sailing term) whichmeans run at a manageable angle then cut back at a 90 degree angle and work youself across the ruff water AT A MANAGEABLE SPPEED.

Running wide open"across the wave tops" is foolish. You are risking life and equiptment. A 21 - 22 foot boat is helpful as it reaches from wave to wave (sometimes) without nosing down into the troughs.

The bigger the water, the bigger the boat. Go with a big boat. 22ft Champ. You can jump some big waves.

Wouldn't try that, you may get bounced out. You probably speared the first wave because you were a little fast, and speared the second because your boat was full of water and the bow wouldn't lift. I go a lot faster into the waves than when I run with them, i just coast over them.

On the flip side, I've done some pretty dumb things in rough water in my 19' BassCat and never really came close to taking one over the bow. I have been close to being bounced out, though.

Ride and Decide!





(All my advice is real and you got a lot from me in this thread)!

Correction: The bigger the water, the bigger the boat. Go with a 2200 Gambler You can fly over waves like batman.

well if thats the case why dont we all just go buy 36' contenders.

ithought i knew how to drive big water until i started spending my weekends on rayburn. I have heard to trim down but if i do in my boat i get soaking wet!

The best sdvice I ever got on this matter is, "Practice, practice, practice." That came from the pilot of a 16' Carolina Skiff CC. While much larger boats were being tossed around between the jetties at Port Aransas, this guy was cruising around with a cup of coffee in one hand. When he docked, I was waiting there for him with more questions than the poor guy expected.
In a nutshell, his advice was to take advantage of wind and rough water conditions at every opportunity. Practice running parallel, with, and against waves when the wind is 15mph. Once you're confident of yourself and the boat in that water, look for 20mph conditions and practice some again. From there, look for worse conditions and practice some more.
Never assume that different boats handle the same way. I've got a 19' Mako CC that's the best boat I've ever been around. I've also got an 18' flatbottom that makes more headway in rough water than 20' bass rigs. Each of these boats has entirely different handling characteristics. Both are very safe when handled properly; both can be very dangerous when mishandled.
The flatbottom handles rough water so well because it is tiller steered. Therefore, most of the weight is aft, the bow rides a bit up, and the front of the boat takes the shock of oncoming waves so I don't get beat up like a guy who is riding midships or forward. That's difficult to duplicate in a boat that's carrying 300+ pounds if fuel on the bow, but I always get my passengers (weight) rearward in rough conditions.
Personally, I believe that running downwind (waves to your stern) is the most dangerous of all conditions. Run over the top of a wave, head down bow first into the trough, and there's a chance you'll pitchpole the boat. Better have a good life jacket because you'll be in the water until someone pulls you out.
Enough, already. Hope that helps.

Time on the water with your boat is the only true answer,you will learn what your boat and you can and cant do,as with anything in life there are limits to everything you can do,sometimes it is better to be safe then sorry.Time in a boat with someone who knows how to drive one can help tremendously,you learn by watching and listening to how they handle the situation at hand.But the best advice i can give is to actually go out and drive in it,you will learn very quickly and you will know what you feel safe tackling..Thers is no shame in calling a friend and having them meet you to bring your trailer to you either.....its always better to be safe...good luck

Chickenfried, here's my best advice on big waves:


Slow down.



Just trying to imagine what speed you were running in order to break your windshield and can only assume you were going well over 20mph.

I love fishing in high winds & rough water because that's usually when the hybrids are going gangbusters. My boat is an 18.5' center console, so 'hopping' over troughs is out of the question. My normal approach is to take the waves nearly straight on at about 15-20mph with throttle adjustment as needed; no point in slamming through big waves when you can roll over them.

Biggest water I have ever been was Rayburn. I am not sure how big the waves were, but there was at least a 30 mph north wind howling down the lake. I wasn't driving, but my partner did a fine job handling the boat. We basically just surfed the waves, we didn't get pounded, and other than a little spray, we didn't get wet. When the waves are big like that and there is a lot of distance between the troughs, I think just throttling up and down and taking your time is the best approach.

Now, if you want a real experience in learning how to drive in some wicked rough water, pick a nice calm day and go venture south of the 1097 Bridge on Conroe. There is no option of picking which direction you want to attack the waves, you just have to drive and react to them, because they come from all directions. It will literally beat you to death. At the end of March we had a tournament out there and there was a steady NW wind sustained near 30 mph. It was ROUGH out there, but at least you had some idea of how to attack them. The next weekend there was NO wind, but due to the recreational crowd, it was just as rough if not worse than the weekend before. I am sure it is not the worst lake to drive on, but it has to be one of the worst lakes in Texas.

the faster you go, the more likely you are to hurt yourself and your boat... i dont ever go fast when going with the waves.. a rogue one will lift your transom and push you into the next one if you cant control your speed(too fast to slow down)... i will run hard going into them if I am not gettng bounced too much.

I have been on Sam Rayburn in some tough stuff. I have a 17' Procraft. I use the land masses and tack, surf the boat. (scream like a little girl) Just joking, but when nerves get the best of you and you got a ways to go just slow down and get out of it for a few minutes gather your thoughs and go at it again. We all get nervous in big water just keep your head know your equipment and your limits. Always wear PFD and hookup kill switch!!!

I am getting a 24ft Centrury Inshore. It has trim tabs and would like to hear how trim tabs can be used in rough water?