Black Friday trip

[Susky River Rat]

I decided to put the bait monkey behind me on Black Friday and go fishing instead. I sadly left my dog with my wife because of the weather I knew would be to cold for him.  The susky went from around 3.8’ to 5.1’.  Water temps were 43-44.8. Winds 13mph sustained 20mph gusts. The bite was extremely tough. Lots of floating grass and leaves. Some of the other anglers were complaining of their jet intakes clogging up. I had no issues thankfully.  
 

All the floating weeds and leaves made it extremely hard to keep any presentation clean. I did manage to get one 2pounder  on a white hair jig. Which, from what I gathered was better than most people. That will probably be my last time out till mid March unless we get some warmer days scattered in. I am happy I did not end the year on a goose egg.

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

Some of the other anglers were complaining of their jet intakes clogging up.

 

Please explain to this old primitive. What boats have jet intakes?

[Susky River Rat]

A lot of the river boats here run jet motors either in board or outboard. They are either custom made or production flat bottom or tunnel hull  aluminum boats.  The grate is basically a vaccum and will suck up anything. Mine is an outboard style. When you suck stuff up on the grate you do not get enough water and it’s almost like hitting neutral. Revs go sky high  but you go no where. 

[RipzLipz]

27 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Please explain to this old primitive. What boats have jet intakes?

@ol'crickety

Boats intended for mostly river fishing. They can go much more shallow, I believe, and therefore less likely to run aground. Outlet on a jet drive outboard is often only as deep as the boat hull compared to a prop driven outboard. Also no prop to damage. Probably other advantages of which I’m not aware. Saw Ott Defoe had one & he discussed it on an episode of The Hunt For Monster Bass a couple of years back.

 

EDIT: @Susky River Rat sorry - must have posted around same time. 😉

[Susky River Rat]

@RipzLipz running shallow is the only advantage. Everything else about jets suck. They don’t handle well. You lose a lot of HP compared to a prop. Wake sucks reverse is a joke and ends up kicking debris up into the jet impeller. 3-4” of water is standard for a jet to be able to run in on plane. My boat drafts at 6-8” while I fish. If you want to go play in the shallow rocks of the susky it’s pretty much what you need. 

I know there are some recreational style jet boats. I believe they make those more for safety of people climbing in and out o tthe back swim deck. That what you don’t have an outboard and no one can suffer a traumatic prop injury.  I am unaware how they handle. 
 

also a busted jet intake is about $500. It does happen.

[RipzLipz]

@Susky River Rat

I knew they wouldn’t be cheap. Then again, what is these days? 🤣

[Susky River Rat]

@RipzLipz the UHMW ones I think are about 1,000. I forget who makes them.  As far as I know there is only one company in the USA that makes the aluminum bowl and intake casting. When I broke mine last year on my old boat I was apperently lucky to get one. I hope that changes.

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks, guys, for the great explanations, photos, and diagram. I got a good bead on this now. 

 

Apropos of nothing, hey, @A-Jay!