River boat

I'm what size boat you guys use on the Missouri? I have always had about a 16 ft, and am finally gonna pull the trigger on a new boat this year, and I have it narrowed down to a 17 ft and 19 ft boat. I really like both boats, I'm just wondering if anyone runs a 19 or close on the river? Do you struggle with sand bars before you have the river mapped out for the year? Any pros or cons you could share with me would be much appreciated.

I just bought a used 16ft tiller for fishing the river. Could you imagine trying to get a 19ft boat off a sand bar?

 I run a 18.6 Stratos on the river. In three years I have only been on sandbars 2 times once needed help getting off once. I start south and map north, go slow and if you do get onto a sand bar rock the boat and let the current push you off. If you are really nice and I am in a good mood, I might let you borrow my chip so you have the basic trail. The trail I have is 10 years old and it does fluctuate some but it has always kept me from getting in a bad mess.

My boat is a fiberglass 08 model and I can run 47-51 on the river and have been in less than a foot of water and you barely feel the sand under your puckered butt.
You will be fine with a 18-21 foot boat.

I was thinking, and really I only fish the "river" now for about a month or two in the spring and don't get out that often then anyway, schools still going on so I'm working. But i rarely ever go North of Bismarck and last year the rifle range was pretty high, so I'm not to worried about that. It is almunium so it can't be as bad fiberglass to get off. I think the bigger might be better

For strictly fishing the river, I really like a smaller boat in the 17' class.  My preference would be a single side console boat with a layout like this:

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/specs.cfm?boat=3330

The boat is large enough to fish 3 anglers comfortably and store a lot of gear, yet small enough to be easy to launch and push off the sand when you get really stuck.  A 17' class boat will also be less expensive to  purchase.

You can see this boat in action on the river in next week's episode of the NextBite TV.  Show promo here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub07xnPBC-w&feature=uploademail

Jim Carroll NPAA#13

 I think bigger is always better! My brother is one of the big cabin crusiers you might see out on the river and they cruz from Marina Bay to Peierre every year without any sandbar issues. I think his boat is 42 footer. I have a trail from the mouth of the Cannon Ball to Double Ditch. The more you fish the more spots you will want to get to and the more river you will want to cover. This fishery is the best around. From the Bisman area in the spring to Cattail and ft Yates in the summer. I am usually on the water from the middle of March through November. and 4-6 days a week.

 Hey Jim, I remember riding with you the last time the PWT Championship was in Bismarck and we got stuck on that Sandbar down by the barrels or Eckroths. Then on the way back we were haulen a** to get back and I was pumping the primer ball so we could get back to weigh ins on time. Good times!! 

Dad has a  1984 18 ft Lund Pro Angler... 50 hp merc tiller.... doesnt get much better than that for the River..... plenty of room for 3 guys and tons of storage for gear.... personally I like the "openness" of the tillers on the river for fishing.

There sure are a lot of big fiberglass boats on the river in the spring and you don't notice too many guys getting hung up.  Just gotta take it slow the first few times out...I usually try to follow the guys who are hauling tail, but it's a learning process.  Bet this spring will be a whole new river with all the water that's been coming through the last 8 months.

Pretty much right on. It is much easier to learn the run of the river on calm days. After you hit a few sandbars you will learn to slow down and pay attention. The gps is the only way to go in the long run. The river always changes some. Lots of big boats on the river. I feel much safer in a bigger boat.  

simmsjs Said:
 I run a 18.6 Stratos on the river. In three years I have only been on sandbars 2 times once needed help getting off once. I start south and map north, go slow and if you do get onto a sand bar rock the boat and let the current push you off. If you are really nice and I am in a good mood, I might let you borrow my chip so you have the basic trail. The trail I have is 10 years old and it does fluctuate some but it has always kept me from getting in a bad mess.

My boat is a fiberglass 08 model and I can run 47-51 on the river and have been in less than a foot of water and you barely feel the sand under your puckered butt.
You will be fine with a 18-21 foot boat.

I use a 2100 lund baron magnum on the river all the time no probs at all,except for the 1 time we got stuck on a sand bar took 4 of us 2 hrs to get it free,just have to watch what you are doing take it slow till you know the river alittle more.