About My Flats Boat
When I have to fish traditional flats fishing charters either fly fishing or spin fishing I chose my Lake and Bay 20' Boca Grand flats boat.
My current Lake and Bay boat is a 2003 model that I have kept in mothballs for the last 5 years. I tournament fished this boat in 04 and 05 and fell in love with the shallow draft, ride and pole ability. This boat is dear to my heart and coming out of a complete re-fit in July of 2012.
Comfort
The ride is impressive as any flats fishing boat on the market. My back cannot take the pounding anymore and the Lake and Bay offers me and my clients a smooth ride. The custom cushion I have made for seating accross the back is 9 inches thick. The forward seat over the cooler is padded as well makeing my clients very comfortable for our fast runs to the fishing grounds.
Speed
Most flats fishing boats are not all that fast. This boat breaks the mold when it comes ot speed for a traditional flats boat. I cruise about 44 mph and have top speeds into the 70's. This makes for more fishing time for my anglers and can smooth out a choppy day. Tournament anglers that fish with me love the speed because they know they will be to the fishing grounds first. Powered currently by a Mercury 175 Pro XS optimax but i may go back to a 300 XS if this boat seems to not mind the extra 40lbs of weight.
Draft
How shallow does it go? Well its as shallow as any 17 ft flats boat on the market today. An honest 9 - 10 inches deep if loaded right. I can get my anglers into tailing bonefish all day i this boat with no issues..
Weight
My Lake and Bay flats fishing boat is very light. It is the last of the Lake and Bay flats fishing boats that I will ever own (unless the company gets bought by a better manufacturer). and was built in a Carbon Kevlar lay up. I did some physical adjustments to the boat to make it lighter. Its truly an amazing boat. |
