What is a Jon Boat: Pros and Cons for Bass Fishing

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Written By Donny Karr

Donny Karr is a Tournament Angler with more than 20 years of fishing experience and a writer whose work has been featured in magazines for over a decade. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He enjoys bass and crappie fishing in the lakes around the south-eastern United States. He also fishes for trout in the streams and rivers of the Appalachian mountains. Donny has written for Georgia Outdoor News, Paddling Space, Man Can Outdoors, Alabama Outdoor News, and Bassmaster.

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A Jon boat is a flat-bottomed utility boat with a simple bench or pedestal seating, often made of aluminum or fiberglass. Known for their stability, shallow draft, and ease of use, Jon boats are popular for fishing and hunting in calm waters, like lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers.

Kayak fishing is wildly popular in many parts of the world, but there has long been a way of fishing out of a small vessel that has allowed anglers many of the same advantages for decades. We are, of course, referring to the aluminum jon boat. 

If you’re unfamiliar with these handy, functional little boats, we’ve compiled this article to explain everything you need to know about jon boats.

Why are Jon Boats Good for Bass Angling?

A jon boat is a term used to refer to an aluminum boat that usually has a flat, or nearly flat hull and bottom. Nobody knows why these boats were given the name “Jon” yet there is ample evidence that they were first pioneered toward the end of the 19th century by Bill Barnes. A native of Galena, Missouri, Barnes was an avid outdoorsman and was very much at home on the famous James River, where the town of Galena was situated. 

According to a newspaper clipping from 1904, the term “Jon boat” is first mentioned and credited to Barnes, who was known to spend quite a bit of time floating and guiding on the James River. With the James River being what Barnes would have considered home to Barnes, the name “Jon” could, perhaps, be a Biblical reference to James and John, two brothers who were fisherman and later left life on the water to follow after Christ. However, this is mere speculation. 

A Jon boat is typically a smaller vessel that’s often less than 18’ long and fully made of aluminum. This aluminum material makes the boat nearly indestructible and virtually eliminates the common concerns most boaters have regarding a boat’s hull being in a river where countless dangers might punch a hole in the vessel. 

The following are some of the most common characteristics of a Jon boat, explaining why these points separate this aluminum vessel from almost every other kind of boat. 

jon boat
An example of a Jon Boat, Source: LoweBoats

Flat Bottom 

In most cases, a Jon boat will have a flat bottom, or one very close to being flat with a low V-shaped hull design. This is meant to help these boats pass over logs, rocks, and shallow sections of waterways where they are used. 

In North America’s lakes and rivers, seemingly endless dangers lurking just beneath the water’s surface, waiting to permanently damage the hull of any boat that ventures too far into rugged sections of such waterways. 

Anyone with a bass boat would likely not consider taking their boat on most major rivers where the water is unpredictably shallow and filled with debris as many obstacles can severely damage their hull. However, a Jon boat can confidently allow anglers to travel over any water they choose without risk of sustaining damage thanks to the durable aluminum hull and it’s flat design, which is capable of ‘skipping’ over such debris. 

Squared Transom and Bow Shape 

Another hallmark of a Jon boat is the squared transom and bow instead of other boats which usually have a pointed bow. The squared transom stern makes it possible to mount your choice of gas or electric powered motor on the rear portion to power the boat. For most anglers, myself included, I choose to have a gas-powered outboard motor attached to the transom along with the gas tank and battery in the stern tank well. 

Some job boats have a squared bow with a small ‘shelf’ on the bow. This is made so that users can easily step on and off the Jon boat’s bow without positioning the boat at a certain angle. It also makes it extremely easy to hop out of the boat when you run into significantly shallow water, grab hold of the center of the bow and drag the boat over the shallow section of water until you once again reach a suitable depth where you can re-enter the boat by stepping on the squared bow. 

For anglers like myself who commonly use their Jon boat to fish large lakes and reservoirs, I have a Jon boat with a V-shaped bow and hull design. This subtle, but noticeable difference helps the boat cut through the water when a gas-engine outboard motor powers it. With these type of Jon boats, it’s often essential to have a casting deck on the bow to offset the heavy weight of the engine, gas tank and battery in the stern section. Read more about how to outfit a jon boat for bass fishing here

Lightweight and Tough

The two most important aspects of a Jon boat are that they will always be lightweight and tougher than the average “bass boat” you might find other anglers using on large lakes and reservoirs. The more expensive bass boats used by professional anglers are cumbersome and have very little durability regarding their hulls and what might happen if you run into logs, rocks or other debris. 

Jon boats can be used for a wide variety of different purposes, not just fishing. In times of emergency, it’s common to see everyone from fishermen, emergency response teams and even the National Guard using aluminum Jon boats to navigate flooded areas and rescue those who might be trapped in dangerous areas. 

The great thing about the Jon boat’s lightweight build is that a few users can easily carry it until they find a suitable launch point. This is why I find a short, lightweight Jon boat to be the perfect vessel to fish in most rivers. I have a 14’ Jon boat that’s not outfitted with any motor—only paddles and an anchor—which I use to fish along the rivers around the southeast.

These rivers are areas where a bass boat can’t traverse, but a lightweight Jon boat is right at home and makes it possible to find those hard-to-reach spots where nobody else fishes

Customizable 

Another thing that makes Jon boats so popular among anglers is the ability to customize them so that they have just the right gear and equipment you need. There are several ways you can outfit a Jon boat for bass fishing or targeting any other species, and it’s straightforward. Jon boats feature bench seating, which can be used as a platform to place a wooden casting deck upon or rig a high-backed seat for more comfortable fishing. 

You can also place an electric or gas-powered motor on your Jon boat to fish in freshwater or saltwater environments. There is virtually no limit of things you can do with an aluminum Jon boat and it’s just as customizable as any kayak while also allowing you more room to move around. 

Disadvantages

While it is true that a Jon boat allows you to have plenty of advantages on rivers and small lakes, there are some obvious drawbacks to these vessels that should be considered. The flat hull design and shape is not very conducive to navigating through choppy waters, such as in coastal areas or on large lakes.

In fact, a Jon boat might be more at risk of capsizing in these conditions, especially when loaded with gear. 

A Jon boat’s aluminum design is also much louder than other materials that bass boats are made out of. This means a small tool, such as a pair of fishing pliers, hitting the deck of a Jon boat will undoubtedly make a loud sound and alert any nearby fish to your presence and position. 

The larger, wider hull of a bass boat will also offer much greater stability than any Jon boat could have. Even if you customize your Jon boat to have evenly-dispersed weight and a casting deck, it won’t be as stable as a quality bass boat. 

Conclusion

If you’re an angler who mainly fishes around large lakes and reservoirs with little chance of running over debris or shallow water, it’s probably better to have a bass boat.

However, if you want a more lightweight, versatile option that will allow you to fish nearly anywhere, it’s tough to find a more suitable option than a Jon boat. 

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