There is no doubt that river fishing boats are the most comfortable and effective way to fish any medium to large sized river. In this article I will outline and discuss 3 of the best river boats that are available to fishermen. This type of watercraft can include anything from a kayak to a small flat bottomed boat with a small outboard motor attached, but for the purposes of this article I’m going to discuss watercraft that I have found to be the best options for fishing on rivers; pontoon boats.

When I use the term ‘pontoon boats’ I’m referring specifically to inflatable pontoon boats. Before you get sidetracked by the term inflatable, take a minute to let me explain. Inflatable pontoon watercraft have inflatable pontoons, which keep the boat afloat, with framing and/or seats in between the pontoons for fishermen to sit on. Having inflatable pontoons makes these river fishing boats very lightweight, and much more affordable than many other versions of small fishing boats that are used for river fishing.

The small fishing watercraft listed below all make great choices as far as river fishing boats are concerned, there’s no doubt about it.
The FoldCat Pontoon – The FoldCat Pontoon is the largest of the river fishing boats being outlined in this article. This boat is perfect for medium to large sized rivers, is extremely easy to assemble, and can carry from one to four fishermen comfortably. It is equipped with two 360° swivel seats with plenty of back support and generous cushions to put you in the lap of luxury on every fishing excursion. This small fishing boat is stored and carried in two nylon bags that easily fit in a full sized car trunk. This boat has a platform for fishing, so fishermen are completely out of the water at all times on this unique fishing boat (a feature that some river pontoon boats don’t offer). While this is the largest small watercraft being outlined, it is also the most comfortable. The Paddleski 5 in 1 – In many ways this watercraft is a pontoon hybrid, and is easily the most versatile small fishing boat being outlined in this article. This small fishing boat is fairly small, carrying no more than two anglers, and is absolutely wonderful for a lone fisherman. Although this watercraft looks like an inflatable kayak at first glance, it is actually a unique pontoon boat that can be used for motoring, paddling, rowing, sailing, and of course fishing. If you are looking for a small fishing boat for river fishing the Paddleski 5 in 1 certainly fits the bill perfectly. The Outcast PAC 1000 Pontoon – This “personal watercraft for fishing” is great for the individual angler who fishes small to medium sized rivers. The outcast pontoon boat has been used by fly fishermen for many years and is a great boat for river fishing. This type of small fishing boat requires the anglers feet to be in the water, which some people don’t like, but is nonetheless an option as far as river fishing boats are concerned. The bottom line is that all of the above river boats listed above makes a great small fishing boat for fishing in rivers.

By: Trevor Kugler

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