Fly Fishing: Pontoon Boat Tweaking

At the end of last year’s stillwater season my old (18 years? I think) Buck’s Bags, South Fork pontoon boat wore out (valves and fabric on the pontoons). I could have fixed this stuff, and I still may, but that old pontoon boat was heavy. When I was younger I could move it around with ease. Now, years later with shoulder/neck/hand surgeries, and a fully fused right wrist the old South Fork was too heavy.

 That was hard to admit. It suggests the obvious. I don’t like to dwell in the house of “Damn, I’m getting old” for more than a few seconds. So, I researched the new pontoons out there and sprung for the new version of the South Fork. It came in the mail, boxed and I put it together last Fall….then anticipated all Winter taking out the newer, lighter version.

So, the lesson here is probably obvious, but in all my anticipation of fishing, I looked past some subtle differences that only come out in the actual use of the new toy. The pontoon boat is lighter and much easier for me to lift up onto and off the truck. If I went with the oars it came with rather than the heavier, longer ones I use, it would be even lighter.

But, a few things became apparent as I deployed the craft: I had attached the gear bags or cargo pouches on the pontoon that are not standard issue. I bought these years ago because the standard issue pouches were too small for all I like to carry out on the water: water bottle, too many fly boxes, extra clothing, food, whatever I feel the need to stash in my non-minimalist mode. Those cargo pouches when affixed toward the front of the pontoon were in the way of the oars. So, I moved them to the rear. And, in doing so, I moved them into a position that, after awhile, is annoyingly too far back causing one to twist, turn and reach in an uncomfortable position while the rod/reel are left in an always dangerous position on (or ideally behind) the apron. Very uncomfortable and not functional in rough waters and while trussed up in all the heavy clothing of a ‘shit, its freezing out here’ day. 

So, the prospect of using the lower profile cargo pouches presents itself and the limitations that go with that. I will have to weigh the awkwardness/large capacity  vs. the closer to the front, minimalist (little room for all the gear I carry) equation. The change needs to be made though.

More annoying and more problematic is the apron (the black mesh that stretches across ones lap). It is taut at the front, but at the rear it is sagging and too low. This is critical for me because when I set the rod down it must be anchored in some fashion. Do not set your rod down with the reel on top of the apron. It will go over the front, especially if you are actively fishing. I anchor the rod by setting the reel down in behind the apron. The rear edge of the apron fits up in between the bottom of the rod and the front of the reel. Now, there is no tension at the rear of the apron and the rod sets there too lose for my tastes. So, I need to figure out how to tighten up the rear of the apron given the configuration of the frame, cargo pouches and straps. Doable? I think so, I’m just not happy with the set up. I could resort to some tether I suppose.

So, I raise this as a reminder to not assume the newer will work like the older. Adjustments of the gear and the mind need to happen. I imagine it is like today with a new  computer or cell phone, initially it is like ‘what the hell?’ and a month later you have adapted and can’t quite remember how the old one worked. What was all the fuss about? Right? Yes. One just gets use to that fishing station out on the lakes and comes to feel quite efficient in it, even after long breaks in between it is comfortable and does not intrude in the experience.