Looking at getting off the shore and onto the water.   I'll most likely get a 10' Jon Boat, and while Buying one isn't the issue, learning what local regulations, rules etc is....

 

 

I know I should start here: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2686&q=322292

 

But what differences in regulations might I find since this is such a small vessel? 

Since your from Danbury I assume you will be fishing lakes and ponds and not in Long Island sound. The DEP book covers everything you will need to know. If you put a gas or electric motor on your Jon boat you will have to register it thru the DMV. You may also want yo consider a canoe or better yet a Kayak. Just a thought. Good luck. Todd

Yea, just local stuff.  Looking at something like that and not a Kayak since i'd like to take another person along with me.

Tugmaster summed it up. the only extra thing that initially confused me in Pa is that some lakes require their own permit.  it's usually only $5-10. can check online, stop in the park office or ask other boats at the launch.

 

i have to go to the township office for one pond and show my drivers license and fishing license in order to buy the permit (b/c there is no office/boat house facility on the pond.

 

if ur boat is fully registered and you have all ur licenses you should be fine.

i've also had a ranger sell me a $25 permit on the spot. i had no idea there was a permit for that lake b/c its such a weird off the beat and path place.

10' jon boats are like corks and not all that stable, in my opinion.  Try standing up in one and see for yourself.  If you are focused on the 10' length, look at a Pelican or some similar  pond boat.  If you got to have a jon boat, look at 16 footers or at a minimum a 14 footer.

I would get a basstender 10.2 or even better the 11.3 is an awesome boat

A 10' foot jon boat with two people would be a nightmare in my opinion.  I am thinking hard about getting a twin troller myself as many of the lakes around here are electric only.

I had a 12' Jonboat for years and loved it, I took a buddy with me many times before and never had a problem.  I'm actually getting ready to buy 2 more Jonboats, a 12' that I'll use for smaller tournaments, and a 8' that I use to fish ponds and such.  I personally believe a Jonboat is the most stable boat I've ever been in, other then a $20,000+ boat. 

 

 

In Virginia, the local Game Warden explained to me about registering a boat, his words were, if you chop down a tree and literally nail a trolling motor to it, it has to be registered, but if you bought a aircraft carrier and wanted to row it around, it wouldn't have to be registered.

I fished lake zoar when a micro burst snuck up on us. We had 3' to 4' rollers in no time. All I thought about was losing my stuffed tackle boxes. We chose to head for the boat ramp but we should of beached the 16' boat first. I thinking a deep vee row boat. We been seeing weird weather lately. You have access to zoar, candlewood, Bantum and Lilly from where you are plus ball pond too. It's not fun when the boat is too small. You can fish both twin lakes. We can rent boats at Lakeville too if you have an outboard under 10hp. We have 5hp b&s outboard. We have some of the best bass fishing close by us.

Bill