Broad bill on Saginaw Bay or Lake St. Clair

S

smithsc1

Member
OK, I'm just going to "get 'er done." I have a set of Broadbill Plans on the way. After much research and an attempt with the "Gator Boats" plans, I'm going "all in" and building something I know will fit my parameters with a proven design. BTW, I do like the gator boats and the guys over there are very cool.

Question of the day: Anyone have an opinion on the Broadbill on Saginaw Bay or on Lake St. Clair. The plan is to build one and use a 10 hp outboard on the local impoundments and lakes. I'd also like to try Sag Bay and LSC in the Broadbill layout style in a close shore setting. The one area I know I'd like to try is the bay Tawas Point S.P. is on, near shore.

I'm wondering if this is a viable option as I really enjoy layout-style shooting.

Thanks in advance,
Scott Smith
 
Scott:
I've been dreaming of building a Devlin boat for years, but then I'm a realist.....I don't have the "build it" DNA!

From all of the info that I have been able to gather, I (IMHO) would think that the Broadbill is a wee bit small for some of the waters you plan on hunting. You might/probably would be better off with the Bluebill. I hunt all over the "Flats" (occasionally Saginaw Bay) and would feel comfortable with the Broadbill, but to venture to the far reaches of the channels or the open lake, I wouldn't. When the wind gets all turned around in Lake St. Clair, it's hard to feel confident in anything short of a lifeboat!

Good luck!
 
Thanks Terry, I figured as much. I've been out on Green Bay/Little Bay de Noc when the weather kicks up, Yikes!

I'll save my pennies and keep a sharp eye out for a proper big water rig. The Broadbill will be deadly and cozy on some of the
impoundments near our home.

Thanks again,
 
Hi Scott,

Let me know when you get going on that build, I would love to come check it out. I work nights in lansing, so I'm not too far away. My buddy and I are planning to start a couple layout boats in Jan '09. We are going to build two 2-man boats, use one and sell the other to pay for ours.....Hope it works out the way we plan!!

I personally would like to be starting on a Scaup or one of Devlin's other designs but we hunt big lakes in da U.P. too much NOT to have a layout, so I'll have to wait on the Scaup for now.

Where do you hunt? I've been out to the Pine River Marsh North of St. John's on US 127 a few times but to tell you the truth, the boys did better during the youth hunt than we have during regular season out there.

Donivan
 
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I'll let you know. To tell the truth, I spent 7 years in 'da UP 'eh. We hunted the bay out of Menominee and Cedar River, some lakes up towards Barage, Indian Lake over near Manistique, and Big Bay de Noc over near Manistique. Where do you go in the UP? Lots of great memorys from up north.

These post bachalor days I am hunting Jackson and Washtnaw counties. I actually live in Leslie, but I'd like to check out your build. I've been thinking obout putting together a couple of one man boats. Some of my chums would like to try layout hunting and hunting layouts is a good time. If I were building a layout boat I would denfiately use Oakhume (for weight and durability) and put some airtight chambers in a layout boat (for floatation when a bass boat swamps you.) Just a couple of thoughts.

I do make a point of heading to St. Charles to make sure I'm seeing birds in numbers. The competition up there will make you a much better wildfowler. I'm putting a 14' canoe type of thing together, but the cold weather has but a damper on my build. I'm planning on getting much of the cutting done this winter for the broadbill and doing the expoxy in the spring.

BTW: Let me know when you're ready to set up the Layout rig. I used to hunt layouts up north with a crew from the mouth of the Detroit River. I learned some killer tricks for running a tender rig.

FYI: I work at Lake Ovid. LOL

Thanks for the reply and good luck with the layout boats.
 
Hey Scott,

I think your absolutely right about the Okume, a little more $$ but worth it to save on wt. In 'da UP, we hunt La Chanaeu Islands right by Cedarville (east of the bridge on the 'coast' of Lake Huron).

I will let you know when we get going on the layouts. Won't be until January....at least that's the plan. Will definately get with you about setting up the rig. My buddy's dad has an 18ft mod. V jon boat that we'll use for the tender boat. Plan to tow the layout to the destination. We are going with the two-man version because my friend and I both have 11/12yr old boys. That way the kids won't be alone in a layout [& if the boys are home, we will only need 1 thermos of coffee :) ]

??? Lake Ovid ??? I'm pretty close to Ovid (I'm in Chesaning), but not sure 'bout Lake Ovid...I'm sure it's a big lake though... LOL

Thanks, hope you enjoy the last few days of the season.


Donivan
 
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