Watertooner from Wisconsin

Hi, all

I've lurked and posted a couple comments since joining, but since this will be my "intro" post to the forum, I'll post some "porn" pics of my pontoon.

I mostly fish medium to small lakes for panfish here in Wisconsin. Since I don't live out on the "best coast" anymore, it'll have to do.

My setup is a Classic Accessories Trout Unlimited Madison pontoon. One fish basket hangs from the seat for small panfish. A larger fish basket tucks under the seat. Both float. The Scotty rod holder mounts in a minute and stays put. The air pump tucks in beside the seat.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I putzed around for a couple months trying to come up with a way to mount my Humminbird Fishin' Buddy 140c so that it doesn't wiggle around while I'm finning or oaring. Version 3 works like a charm - no wiggle at all!. We mounted a shaped piece of plywood on the foot rest with three bolts and then sandwiched Humminbird's "cup" between two pieces of wood so that I can quickly dismount the cup to use on a regular boat. I still have room for my foot to rest and my eyes can still read everything on the screen.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I can move all my stuff from the car to the water with a collapsible wagon. I can fit the wagon, two complete 'toons (4 bladders), and all my gear in the back of my Civic when the back seat is folded down. I usually chain the wagon to a tree while I'm out on the water.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I bought a Scotty anchor rig but couldn't really come up with a quick or inexpensive way to mount it. Welp, necessity is a mother, so they say. One day last week while organizing the garage (to help my fishing gear fit better!), I spied a discarded plastic soda crate and my brain went ! One trip to the hardware store for a 97 cent bag of bolts and 20 minutes later, I had my solution. I liked it so much after a test voyage, I duplicated the system for my daughter's toon. I was never enamored of the "aft deck" for my toon because the fabric sagged into the water and anything I stored back there was always soaked. The plastic soda crate must have been designed by a pontoon lover because it wedges exactly into the space on top of the fabric deck and a bit under the seat frame. I didn't have to modify the crate one bit - not even the holes for the bolts. They were already there. How lucky is that? There is even a handy clip on the back of the seat that locks the crate into place so it can't pop out at an importune moment. Slices of pool noodle fit perfectly into the crate so that I now have a place to store spare rods or a flag pole. Some day I would like to design an umbrella mount for the back deck.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I have a "big water" trip to the Mississippi River planned for Memorial Day weekend. I'll be experimenting with some "bulletbobbers" that arrived yesterday (they work as advertised - very easy to use) and hopefully will be able to use my toon as well. Plan A is to fish from an anchored barge below a lock and dam, but if it is safe, I'll use my toon for a Plan B. I'll post some fish porn if we get into some big ones (catfish, pike, walleye).

Welcome and wow, now thats introduction. you have nice set up there thats all dailed in. look forword to reading you fishing reports.
That lake looks nice and peacefull. It must hold some bass in there

Well done, and welcome..