You DON’T Need an Expensive Boat to Catch BIG Fish!
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
GET OFF THE BANK & ON THE FISH—FOR UNDER $1K!
Hey Salt Strong! Greyson here.
Bank fishing is great—it’s simple, cheap, and hassle-free. Honestly, there’s something extra satisfying about catching fish from shore. But let’s be real… nothing beats hopping on the water, hitting untouched spots, and filling the cooler in record time.
I’m not a big kayaker. Sure, I enjoy my motorized kayak, but at the time, I didn’t have one. The affordable ones? Too tippy, too frustrating, and straight-up not worth the hassle. I needed a rock-solid, dirt-cheap way to get out on the bay without blowing a grand.
That’s when I found plastic pond boats. And everything changed.
THE BOAT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
I hit Facebook Marketplace and snagged a used 10’ Pond Prowler mini pontoon boat for just $300—and let me tell you, this thing was sweet. It came with a trolling motor, a battery, and enough stability to fish standing up.
This little tank is built from high-grade polyurethane, meaning it’s insanely durable and can take a beating. The pontoon design? Stable. Plus, it’s loaded with features:
- 2 built-in rod holders
- 2 bow cleats & 2 stern cleats
- Stern-mounted carrying handles
- 2 full 360-degree swivel seats
- 8 cup holders (because priorities!)
- 3.5HP-rated transom
- Bow mount for a 40lb thrust trolling motor
- Pre-wired bow trolling motor plug
With this setup, my wife and I could finally hit every boat ramp within an hour’s drive. We could explore every flat, every bridge, every marshy backwater—and suddenly, we were catching consistent redfish, trout, and flounder on almost every trip.
NO TRAILER, NO INSURANCE, NO MAINTENANCE
The best part? This boat costs nothing to own. No trailer, no fuel, no maintenance. Just throw it on its side in the garage, against the shed, or next to the house. I’ve since decked mine out with more rod holders, EVA foam flooring, fish finders, and even a Bimini top for shade.
Even brand new, these Pond Prowlers are just $799 at Bass Pro or Cabela’s. Want to supercharge it? Grab a 100Ah lithium battery and a 46lb thrust trolling motor—you’ll be set for any inshore conditions.
LEVELING UP: THE $599 JON BOAT
After falling in love with tiny boats, I took it a step further and grabbed a 12’ Sun Dolphin American jon boat from Tractor Supply for just $599.
This one’s different:
- Larger and faster than the Prowler
- 4 built-in rod holders
- 2 benches with extra storage
- 6HP-rated transom (twice the power capacity!)
- Bow mount for a trolling motor
- Durable, high-grade plastic that bounces off obstacles
This jon boat moves faster through the water and can handle more gear. It’s not as stable as the Pond Prowler, but it’s perfect for standing up and sight-fishing the flats.
WHICH ONE IS BETTER?
Honestly, I use both. The Pond Prowler is my go-to for bottom fishing and bridge fishing, while the Sun Dolphin jon boat is better for sight-fishing and running slightly faster water.
Either way, both fit in the bed of a truck, require no storage fees, and cost next to nothing to operate.
WHAT ABOUT REGISTRATION?
If you’re buying one of these boats, don’t skip this step.
- Used boats: Make sure you get the title (if required in your state) and a bill of sale. These boats must be registered if they have a trolling motor, just like any other vessel.
- New boats: These don’t come with a title but require an MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin) to register. If the store employees don’t know what that is, don’t panic—it’s available online for free.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For as little as $300, these boats got me off the bank and onto the fish—without the headaches of a full-sized boat. They’re faster, bigger, more stable, and more capable than any kayak in the same price range.
If you fish inshore and want an easy, affordable way to hit more spots and catch more fish, do yourself a favor and check out these plastic fishing boats.
What’s your go-to setup for getting off the bank without breaking the bank? Drop your thoughts below!
-Greyson
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
That will be the 12-footer, which bridges. Again, thank you.
Great information, I have a 2-person Kayak that me and my wife use. Loos like this be a bit more comfortable and can handle a bit more gear, just curious which bridges have you taken that baby. Skyway bridge, Fort De Soto. again, good inside, new to Salt Strong.
Oh yea while I never owned one i have talked to alot of guys that have with minimul complaints the only thing being unlike aluminum and fiberglass plastic has a tendency to warp and get punctured easily just like kayaks can I know I puclnctured my yak once and trying to repair it was kind of a hassel even while using the kits that one can buy online that heats up with handheld propane torch you need to make sure the surface area is roughed up so the plastic that will cover the hole or tear will adhere to the damaged area otherwise when using the kayak after repairing if the area was not roughed before applying the plastic the plastic will in most cases start getting loose because the weight a person puts on it the kayak does flex slightly and the patched area will eventually begin to leak again and if the kayak is not stored right and left on a cement floor like a garage without support the plastic has a tendency to warp because of the constant heating and cooling the cement will do when day changes to night and summer goes to eventually winter so yea they are convenient but one still needs to take care of them because nothing manmade is perfect everything has flaws to some extent take it from a 61 year old baby boomer thats been an angler since he was 5 I have seen it all but like my very wise father used to say if you take care of what you own it will take care of you if not then it will breakdown and cost you more then what it’s worth thanks for the info and all you do😉👍
Great informative video! And an encouragement to those of us who either don’t have the money to purchase a high dollar boat, or can’t justify spending the money because we don’t get to fish that often. Thanks so much!
Solid good information and thought booster. My first was a $600 kayak (Ascend 128T) to which I added a cheap $100 20# trolling motor (Watersnake) and a 50ah battery (another $100). Those were “new” prices17 years ago, and they have hardly changed. Eventually I added two more of those #20 trolling motors (one center stern, and others on sides behind seated position), upgraded to 3x 50ah LiPO4 batteries, and made a PWM controller that controls the speed of all three motors in synchronous harmony. That’s how Yakity Yak was born. Using the side motors and manually operating them by bypassing the controller allows it to turn 360 degrees in place with one motor going forward and the other in reverse. Total $ out-layed on Yakity Yak is still under $1,500. It doesn’t go fast (close to 4.7mph) but can handle current very well. Now I have a newer 133x with an MG Xi3 salt trolling motor up front, and a Newport NK300 electric outboard on the back. That’s Doolittle and cost there is considerably more at about $4,900 for motors, batteries, and Kayak (really a mini-micro skiff), I have a small SUV so needed a trailer for the heavy 133x (Continental for under $1,000). Point is, it really only takes a bit of money, a little ingenuity, and some dirty hand work — to get on the water, so you are sooooo right. Heck, Yakity Yak was fine with just one trolling motor.
Thanks for making time to post the helpful insights!