Best Boat for River and Lake Fishing

Is there anything better than grabbing your rods and hitting the lake for a relaxing days fishing. There is nothing to complicate about the process. However, when it comes to choosing the best boat for river and lake fishing, things can get a little more complicated.

There are many different types of watercraft with the main purpose of fishing in mind but actually choosing one that suits can be a hard choice. My aim is to help make this process much easier in our buying guide. I’m going to layout the best I feel that suits river and lake fishing. Then I have put together a buying guide to give some ideas about what you may need to consider.

Newport Vessels 8-Feet 10-Inch Dana Inflatable Sport Tender Dinghy Boat

Anyone who wants a boat can have one! Boating used to be an exclusive club restricted to those with money and patience to deal with marinas, maintenance, and fuel costs but now anyone who wants a boat can get one. With advances in modern technologies, boating is becoming more and more accessible. How? Inflatable boats are becoming a more viable way to enjoy the water with each passing year. Newport Vessels has invested a lot of time, money, and energy into designing and creating the perfect inflatable boat for the twenty first century. Introducing the Dana Inflatable Sport Tender Dinghy Boat, your next watercraft.

Not convinced? Don’t worry, the boat comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. Take it out on the water, try it out, and if you don’t like it send it back. But if you decide to keep it Newport Vessels offers a full two year warranty on this craft because they know that it will stand up to hard use and scrutiny.

The key to this amazing boat is the 3x layer .9mm/1100D UV Coated PVC, and heat welded seams which are rated and approved by the US Coast Guard for water use to the highest degree. This tough PVC material means your boat will stay afloat without any issues. The PVC is UV coated and resistant to tears making it the perfect material to hold up in the elements. This material is strong enough to house an two stroke engine (not included) for a traditional boating experience.

No engine? No problem. The Dana Inflatable Sport Tender Dinghy Boat comes with everything you need to have fun without gas powered equipment. It features durable wooden floorboards, included paddles, a pump to inflate it, and a handy dandy carrying back to pack it all up when you’re done. Best of all, the price will shock you. For a mere fraction of the cost of a traditional fiberglass boat, you can have your very own powered watercraft that can fit up to three people.

Intex Mariner 4, 4-Person Inflatable Boat Set

Intex is the name in American inflatable goods that everyone knows and loves. From pool toys to whitewater rafts, to inflatable kayaks and more they have been at the forefront of PVC water toys and boats. Now Intex is back with yet another outstanding creation crafted to enhance your enjoyment and fun outside and on the water. The Intex Mariner 4 is a durable four person inflatable raft that can be used in a variety of water situations.

The big advantages of inflatable boats over their traditional alternatives are that they are far cheaper, they can be broken down and stored and they can be taken along without a trailer to your favorite spots. Intex has mastered this over the years and the Intex Mariner 4 is no different.
This hardy raft is made from a reinforced PVC material that is lined with a rock-proof bottom layer that helps prevents tears and punctures from derailing the fun out on the water. The upper layer is UV coated to resist the sun’s damaging rays creating a comprehensive and durable envelope that won’t fail. This comes from the strong molecular makeup of Intex’s patented inflatable materials.

The Intex Mariner 4 also comes with a nylon grab line to promote swimming or to help people get back in the raft. It comes with a pump, storage bag, and oars for manual steering and paddling. But the ingenious part of this craft is the chambered design. This raft, which can hold an incredible 1,100lbs, gets a lot of its durability from the four separate chambers that make up the whole boat. This makes it easier and faster to inflate and deflate than a single chambered boat. It also helps in the event of a puncture, you will still have three fourths of the floatation power intact. These are the innovations we have come to expect from Intex.

Inflatable Sport Boats Shark 9.8′

Did you know, thanks to advanced and evolving technology, you can now own an inflatable boat capable of taking a traditional two stroke engine? What if I told you this kind of craft was a tiny fraction of the cost of a full sized fiberglass boat with the same engine? If that sounds like an interesting product, you are in luck. The Shark Premium Heat Welded Dinghy is a sturdy modern dinghy boat that can hold a full sized engine giving you the power and performance of a traditional boat at a much lower cost.

Inflatable dinghies are a fast growing way to get around a water filled world or just have some relaxing fun out on the water in the sun. The Shark Premium Heat Welded Dinghy is designed to stand up in freshwater, saltwater, extreme heat, and UV light so you can comfortably take this craft anywhere and get the same high level of performance and longevity out of it.

Better yet, this kit comes with everything you need to get on the water today. Yes, everything. This is a complete kit that includes two aluminum benches ($50 value), a removable seat cushion and bag ($50 value), two aluminum oars with lock-in holders, a carry and storage bag, a foot pump for easy inflation, two repair patches, one way drain plug, one front and four rear exterior heavy duty carrying handles, and finally, two front towing D-rings. Wow! And all of this comes in at a price you will love. Plus, all of this is US Coast Guard rated and approved for on water use so you will not have to worry about the quality or safety of this craft.

Best Boat for River and Lake Fishing Buying Guide

It really isn’t easy picking the best boat for river and lake fishing with so many different boats on the market. Do you go with a kayak or a boat and that’s the easy bit there are many other questions to ask. We will lay out below some of the most important ones I feel you need to answer to get the perfect boat for your needs.

How Many Passengers

The first thing to consider is how many people you want to carry. When it comes to kayaks they are in most cases when designed for fishing are a single occupy. This is perfect for someone who only wants to fish alone. It can also be very relaxing to fish alone on the water however, this may not be right for you.

So we need to look at other options if you are looking to carry more than one person at a time or simple want a little more room than a kayak then a fishing boat will be needed. Boats tend to be able to carry at least two passengers and give you a lot more room to land fish.

So looking only for you and don’t mind less room a kayak is a good choice. Want more room when you are fishing or want to fish with other on the water then you will need to look at a boat.

Weight

Now, considering the weight may sound a little strange but look at this scenario. You go with a kayak and you’re a lone fisher your kayak weights over 50Kg you’re going to need help getting it on and off your motorcar. Then you are going to need help or something like a kayak trolley to get it to and into the water, this is all extra expense that you need to consider also.

The same goes with a boat if you are ever on your own are you able to move it on your own and safely?

Weight is something I see lots of people overlook however; it’s such an important element to think about. Have a think about your different fishing trips and how you will move it safely around weather boat or kayak and see if weight will be an issue to you.

Build Quality

Now, we have considered weight you may want to go with an inflatable watercraft and I would say in most instances this is best. You will want to get one with a top notice build quality for safety reasons. People often think inflatable boats and kayaks can’t be strong and this may have been true 10 years ago. However, with advanced technologies the built quality has come such a long way with multiple inflatable chambers and multiple layers. All these features make inflatable boats and kayaks much more safe and less likely they will puncher and sink.

All our recommendations have great build qualities but if you chose a different model make sure you check the build quality is right.

Storage

Something you need to think of is where you are going to store your boat. If you are not going to be getting an inflatable boat then storage will be much harder as a boat will take up a lot of room. Also you will need to think how you will transport your boat/kayak to and from the water. Will you need a mooring on the water this can add a lot of cost.

If it’s a boat you will need to tow your boat so may need to get a tow bar fitted to your car so there may be a lot more expensive. A non-inflatable kayak will need a roof rack with extra bars so you can transport it to the lake.

With inflatable boats and kayaks they are much easier to store and get to the lake. Most inflatable boats/kayaks will fit in the trunk of your car. This will also make them much easier to store at home taking up very little room in a garage or shed.

Conclusion

I really hope what I consider the best boat for river and lake fishing has pointed you in the direction for your next purchase. Also, hope the buying guide gives you some things to think about when you come to make your choice.

Our buying guide is aimed to help you think of different situations you will find yourself in and what would be best for you.

I don’t have a number one on my list as I feel that there isn’t one. We will all make a different choice based on or fishing needs. If you ask yourself the question in the guide and chose the boat/kayak that best suit each you will have the best vesicle for you.

There is nothing more to say other than enjoy your new boat/kayak and next time you hit the lake keep them lines tight.