Lake Ponchartrain, Lake Borgne, Lake Maurepas - The Hull Truth

ellie12dogs · 05-10-2007, 05:59 PM

I am in the market for a bay boat. These are the 3 lakes I do the majority of my fishing in in south Louisiana. I have a 191\2 foot fish and ski now and when these three lakes kick up it is a really rough ride home. Looking for a dry, smoother ride back in or when I am heading to protected waters. Also, is there a significant diff. in a 22 vs. a 24 ft.

twentynine · 05-10-2007, 09:22 PM

They ain't nothing that gonna take you home dry when the wind gets to blowing on those three shallow lakes. A bay boat may actually have less deadrise (less vee) than the fish and ski you are driving now. I'd make the same recommendations regardless of what/where you were fishing, if it is a bay boat you want. Sea Pro, Key West, Cape Horn, I like all three. Personnally I drive a Cape Horn, if it is ruff tuff, plain and simple you want give it a look see.

I have fished L. Pontchatrain and Borgne for years and years. I don't do to much freshwater fishing but I do regularly cross L. Maurepas from Blind River to Pass Manchac. Of the three lakes I respect Maurepas the most, it can be unfriggin real. I promise never again will I ever be on L. Maurepas with any wind over 10 miles an hour.

silver bullet · 05-10-2007, 09:40 PM

I saw a sailfish at a dealer the other day and it would be a boat that I would consider also.

country · 05-10-2007, 09:48 PM

You are in Boat Buyers Heaven

Look at Blazer Bay / Kenner / Sea Pro ( always been partial to these type hulls ) They handle rough water pretty good and are good fishin boats. It all depends on how much $$$ you want to spend. Skeeter and Champion make some nice boats also but I think you will pay a little more for these. Good luck, you are in Speckled Trout Country, gotta love it

mbb · 05-10-2007, 09:58 PM

When they kick up, you stay off them. With a 22-24 mile fetch, Ponchartrain can see real 4' seas in a 20 mph wind. Get whatever you want, cause when its too rough for normal bayboat, its too rough to be on them, period. I was at seabrook a couple yrs ago with a strong northerly wind when a thunderstorm came up, boats waiting to load on trailers were taking water over their transoms. Went from good conditions to pure hell in 10 minutes flat.

cgrand · 05-11-2007, 12:38 AM

i have never seen a nor heard of a boat that stays dry in the lakes when it's churning
the wettest is have ever gotten in my boat was trying to quarter home across lake ponchartrain right after a thunderstorm...i swear i thought i was gonna drown, and i am not kidding

prockvoan · 05-11-2007, 05:30 AM

As everyone posted,there is no bayboat that will keep you dry when any of these lakes kick up.Now boats that can handle a fair kick up,I would buy a 24' over a 22' any day if I were fishing those lakes often.That 2' = to a wider boat which is more stable.Now a champion can handle 2'-4' chop fair as speed,but one will still take a beating and get wet at the same time.Ever seen those guys crossing the sound for the redfish tourney out of Hopedale a couple years ago?Those were true 2'-4' seas out there and those guys made the run across over to Venice in that crap at 40-45mph.One boat had to replace there trolling motor after ripping it off.Oh,both were Champion boats I think.Now it depends on how much money you want to blow!

ellie12dogs · 05-11-2007, 12:39 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I am in Galvez too so I would like to look at your Cape Horn if possible. Sounds like we fish in the same areas. I definitely am not looking to go out in rough conditions but these lakes can turn on you in 10 or 15 minutes. I was at Proctors point in Lake Borgne last week. It was a slick day and in 15 minutes it was all white caps. Obviously, that makes for a tough ride home. I am after the specks and reds pretty hard so I do not mind spending a little extra if its worth it.

Hammer · 05-11-2007, 01:05 PM

I've never got my ass kicked like I've got it kicked in Lake Ponchartain. I've seen it so rough you could see the mud bottom between waves!!

ellie12dogs · 05-11-2007, 02:01 PM

I am with you. I got caught in Ponchartrain with my wife 3 weeks ago and did'nt know if I was going to make it back to the pass.

twentynine · 05-11-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

ellie12dogs - 5/11/2007 11:39 AM Thanks for the suggestion. I am in Galvez too so I would like to look at your Cape Horn if possible. Sounds like we fish in the same areas. I definitely am not looking to go out in rough conditions but these lakes can turn on you in 10 or 15 minutes. I was at Proctors point in Lake Borgne last week. It was a slick day and in 15 minutes it was all white caps. Obviously, that makes for a tough ride home. I am after the specks and reds pretty hard so I do not mind spending a little extra if its worth it.

Drop me a PM and we can set something up. I am more of a laid back fishing type, long as I am on the water, maybe catch supper, I am in the zone.

Mostly I fish the Bayou Beinvenue area, been fishing out of the Bait inc. landing going on ten years now. Proctor's Point depending on wind you could run around the point to Shell Beach or to Martello's Castle then take the MR Go north or south depending on where you needed to go. Also their is a way to get from the point to the MR GO through the interior marsh, haven't done it since the hurricane, but I did it a few times before. No way I can give you directions, heck, my GPS said I was on dry ground about half the time.

jenkinsph · 05-12-2007, 01:31 AM

I want to say long and wide. I remember how rough Lake Borgne could get in a heartbeat too. I would pick a boat that could handle shallow water. I remember places like the mouth of the Tanghipahoa river being very shallow and if you would fall off plane you could run aground. Forty years ago we didn't have any sonar and had to pay close attention to the depths here. I don't know what I would pick today but it would be something that was as safe and well made as an Outrage but had the shallow water characteristics of a Lafitte
skiff with flat bottom. Something wide enough to hold the props up out of the mud and clamshells, fast to get back to the dock, safe in case you didn't make it.

BTW, used to fish Bedico creek in the early 60s' maybe four camps on it then, great fun and fresh water fishing. Also Blackie Campo's at Shell beach on the ship channel down to the rocks. Lots of good memories
and the whole area is great for fishing and boating.

Steve
'

iron banks · 05-12-2007, 09:19 AM

I would not launch that far west to fish in lake borgne. If you want to fish over there trailer your hull. A lot less gas and safer even in a bay boat. People will chime in with all the usual suspects just wet test what you like in a chop before you pull the trigger.

passman · 05-12-2007, 09:37 AM

Those lakes are sneaky. That why I went with a small cat this time. It does a pretty good job for an 18 ft'er. It's not perfect but is an option. Dad taught me how to handle are 13 ft whaler in those waters when I was a kid. Sometimes it was like riding the Zephyr at the beach. It sure turns on ya fast.

Have fun looking.

Passman

pastaman1234 · 05-12-2007, 06:05 PM

Take a look at Skeeter. Nice V-hull on the 22' and 24' bay boats with a shallow draft. I havent been in 4'ers yet but I launch over 2'ers at 60 mph.

ellie12dogs · 05-14-2007, 12:01 PM

Does your Skeeter run pretty dry?

A Few Dollars · 05-14-2007, 12:41 PM

Been reading this post and many of the above poster gave good advice. I have been boating and sailing on Lake Ponchartrain my whole life. My uncle and my old neighbor each have sunk a boat in the Lake. It's unpredictable, especially in the summer, with the sudden thunderstorms. I have seen it numerous times go from dead calm to 4' seas in minutes. To make matters worse there is nowhere to run. That's how many boater get into trouble. The water is nice and calm when they go out and they feel comfortable running to the middle of the lake or far from the launch then when the weather kicks up they have a long way to go to shelter. Where you live I would only fish Maurepas from your local launch. The Twin spans back to the Blind River will be a far run in 3' - 4' seas, rain and lightning.

If you are going to fish these areas and want to make far runs I would be looking at 24' bay boats or 21' + traditional Center Consoles.

pastaman1234 · 05-14-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

ellie12dogs - 5/14/2007 11:01 AM Does your Skeeter run pretty dry?

I got the boat in this pastNovember so i havent had a chance to see anything greater then 2'ers so far but i did stay perfectly dry in them. I have tabs so if i am in a quarting sea with wind i put only that side trimtab up. The boat stands much higher on that side knocking the water down. In combination of that and hitting the throttle, the fasteryou go (without being unsafe) the dryer you stay. Another cool thing about tabs is that i can steer the boat with the tabs alone not touching the steering wheel. This allowsme to stay all the way trimmed up in a turn because the boat stayslevel without any prop cavitation. Without tabs in a turn you would have to trim downto notcavitate. First boat with tabs........I learned that this weekend.

melleauxyella · 12-04-2009, 08:49 AM

I have been using Lake Ponchartrain for over 10 years and all these guys hit the nail on the head. No bay boat is gonna have the proper deadrise to keep you out of harms way should you need to get up and go when it gets rough. I have a 21' Cobia 214 with 20' deadrise and that is the minimum boat I would recommend in the lake. I can still run in 2's and even 3's at 40 mph. I only have a 200 hp yam but thats all this rig needs. I would rec 250+ or duals if your gonna go for a bigger boat. Theres no price on safety if your serious about fishing the lake. You need to be able to move quick. Good luck and happy hunting.

John

daveinthewave · 12-04-2009, 09:05 AM

I have been fishing this area my whole life. I am 44 next week. Anyway I have a 24 Kenner rolled gunnel. This boat handles the open lakes and Breton Sound better than any boat I have owned. I sold a 22 ft deep vee Wellcraft to buy the Kenner and the Kenner is dryer and handles our washing machine type chop better. Now a lot of people don't like rolled gunnels cause that aint as pretty. But maintainance and cleaning are much easier. My buddy has the 21 foot Kenner and he cannot keep up with me in the chop, so the 3 feet do make a difference. Also my boat is wider. We call it the dance floor there is so much open space. I saw one for sale the other day on Craigslist listed in Metairie that seemed like a good deal if you are looking at used. If you are looking for new Check out the Blazer Bay 24, it is the exact same boat as the Kenner and Mako 24. Anyway on another note HOW BOUT DEM SAINTS WHO DAT