What size boat

[cspot]

do you need for fishing on the Ohio River. Been thinking about getting one as our camp is only 3 miles from the Ohio. Don't want to put a ton of money, but I want something that would be safe out there. I will admit when it comes to boats I am a major novice.

 

["J"]

18’ with a minimum of a 50hp motor with an electric trolling motor 24v 70lb minimum will allow you to fish in any condition on the river....
You can get by with less but I like to be completely ready for any conditions....

 

[Quantum673]

Great advice J. You could get by with smaller but like J I like to be ready for all conditions.

 

[jagermeister]

18’ with a minimum of a 50hp motor with an electric trolling motor 24v 70lb minimum will allow you to fish in any condition on the river....
You can get by with less but I like to be completely ready for any conditions....

Great boat to fish literally anywhere in Ohio, including lake Erie.

 

["J"]

Great boat to fish literally anywhere in Ohio, including lake Erie.

I’ve fished both the river as well as Lake Erie and every lake in between and that setup I would fish in most weather conditions.... Well except Lake Erie with a 20 knot north wind lol

 

[jagermeister]

Great boat to fish literally anywhere in Ohio, including lake Erie.

I’ve fished both the river as well as Lake Erie and every lake in between and that setup I would fish in most weather conditions.... Well except Lake Erie with a 20 knot north wind lol

I don't care what size boat you're in, fishing the lake in a stiff north wind isn't fun at all. It can be done. And I've done it my fair share of times. But it's just not worth the beating. Plenty of other nice days in a summer.

 

["J"]

I don't care what size boat you're in, fishing the lake in a stiff north wind isn't fun at all. It can be done. And I've done it my fair share of times. But it's just not worth the beating. Plenty of other nice days in a summer.

Exactly, and the older I get the less I like those conditions lol

 

[bowhunter1023]

I agree with J. No way I haul my family on the water in anything smaller than 18' and you better have a 50hp at a minimum, plus the higher thrust trolling motor to bail you out.

 

[jagermeister]

I agree with J. No way I haul my family on the water in anything smaller than 18' and you better have a 50hp at a minimum, plus the higher thrust trolling motor to bail you out.

Ahhhhhh come on... Where's your sense of adventure?!?! [emoji23] Cinch up the lifejacket straps and call 'er good.

 

[Jackalope]

Ahhhhhh come on... Where's your sense of adventure?!?! [emoji23] Cinch up the lifejacket straps and call 'er good.

Done it. Lol. 12 foot aluminum jon boat with a 9 horse Evinrude running trotlines in the Mississippi river south of Vicksburg. This should give you an idea of scale of that river section.

We would hug the edge and haul ass hoping there wasn't a barge coming. If the rivers up and there's a barge pushing upstream they can create a 6-foot wake with whitecaps.

 

["J"]

Done it. Lol. 12 foot aluminum jon boat with a 9 horse Evinrude running trotlines in the Mississippi river south of Vicksburg. This should give you an idea of scale of that river section. View attachment 61489

We would hug the edge and haul ass hoping there wasn't a barge coming. If the rivers up and there's a barge pushing upstream they can create a 6-foot wake with whitecaps.

I had a broken wrist due to a “rogue” barge wave during a tournament on the river....

 

[Jackalope]

I had a broken wrist due to a “rogue” barge wave during a tournament on the river....

Damn J. I didn't know barge waves turned you on so much. Everybody's got their thing I guess.

In all seriousness though that river hates you.

 

["J"]

Damn J. I didn't know barge waves turned you on so much. Everybody's got their thing I guess.

In all seriousness though that river hates you.

It’ll definitely keep you on your toes....

I wasn’t the driver on that one just a dumbass in a seat
Mid 60’s on speed and a freak wave that showed up with no barge sightings. We figured it came across the river from the side.
You’d think I’d hate that place and not fish it

 

[Buckmaster]

Nice Joe.

My greatest moment was taking a 12 foot aluminum jon boat with a 4hp Merc. a mile outside the break wall during the fall salmon run on Lake Ontario.

I had a few wave tops crest over the edge of the boat. We did have some liquid courage on board. I wouldn't do that now with a family.

 

[cspot]

What about pontoon boats? Seems they would be nice for the family.

 

[Jackalope]

Nice Joe.

My greatest moment was taking a 12 foot aluminum jon boat with a 4hp Merc. a mile outside the break wall during the fall salmon run on Lake Ontario.

I had a few wave tops crest over the edge of the boat. We did have some liquid courage on board. I wouldn't do that now with a family.

Nothing a couple appropriately cut out milk jugs can't handle. Lol.

 

[giles]

What about pontoon boats? Seems they would be nice for the family.

That’ll be the route I go if I get one. I’d stick to inland lakes with it and the occasional trip to Erie. I wouldn’t hit open water in Erie with it, still plenty of places to have a good time.

A wood boat is a dream of mine...nothing else like them. Old Chris Craft with minnow scales...

 

[cspot]

That’ll be the route I go if I get one. I’d stick to inland lakes with it and the occasional trip to Erie. I wouldn’t hit open water in Erie with it, still plenty of places to have a good time.

A wood boat is a dream of mine...nothing else like them. Old Chris Craft with minnow scales...

I wonder how they would be on the river. Honestly I wouldn't be out boating in bad conditions anyway.

 

[Quantum673]

Seen a ton of them on the river. Most were 20-24ft that I saw.

 

[giles]

I wonder how they would be on the river. Honestly I wouldn't be out boating in bad conditions anyway.

The Ohio river is unforgiving and isn’t a great place to start boating. Lots of added dangers when flowing water is involved. Pontoon boats don’t drive or ride like normal boats, is what I’ve heard. I know I seen plenty of pontoon boats in the river, not sure how much HP you have to have to do it, but it has to be a fair amount. And with those you add price.

Sorry for the hard read, in between places right now and trying to be quick.