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Blog on P2: We all tend to forget our past and so have I. We have a shop boat at BCB, which is a Pantera II model with a 200 Opti, TR-82 and a pair of 787c Humminbirds. Presently being in a boatless and borrowing position I have been shuttling around in a Pantera II model. I had planned on using a Bobcat, though we are still researching set ups on that one. Thus the P2 is the option. We all get trapped in the bigger is better scenario and of course I had several P2 models in the 80s & 90s till the Eyra and then the Jaguar were the favorites for use. It has been a while since we just sat our tails in and used a Pantera II model. Of course it is also fairly new in this present design. Those we used were back in the days of competing in those models on the BASS Top 100 and Invitational draw circuits. Dragging P2 and Sabre models from Havasu, Powell and Lake Mead to the Potomac, Saint Lawrence seaway and Lake Ontario in joint seasons. No doubt they performed well there from coast to coast. P2s managed to carry me across the USA and experience more fishing than most will ever have in their lifetimes as a whole. Having been there and done that with a P2 in trail! After spending several hours in one, the memory comes back. Lately it has been a time of strong winds, fronts and waves. Slick water in the creeks and fishing that offered everything from bouncing points in 2ers to fishing schoolers in slick coves. My youngest (Dylan 16) and I managed to really get the pulse on this one this weekend. First The height of these rigs is just perfect for reaching over, the ride was great, the deck fishes just right and the room is all we needed. This boat fishes just great! And we have fished in about everything up to the more recent models of many manufacturers. He started the ride driving and I finished. He is a fundamental novice with little time, though managing 2 and sub 3ers was not a problem for him. He only got close one time to tipping one wave, and was pretty edgy on the nerve side. Though he was not real experienced in these type situations. The graphs were far superior to what we had back when, and the troller was more than we need for holding on the points in really windy conditions with small craft advisories in place. The deck was the perfect width and height for everything from stick baits on down. It never compromised the rod on tipping the rail when popping a stick bait, or cranking a bait and holding the rod. One did not have to stoop over to reach the water or lean to miss the deck. Wider boats offer that massive deck, though it does take more work to miss the deck with the rod on the beam. The fuel was enough in the 33 gallon tank to more than handle our use, though we did have the 10 gallon kicker as support. All while we ranged from the 30 mph range up to the 70 plus range in those creeks and on flat water. Norfork is not large, though one can definitely range out there some. The hull is a great riding rig on these waters and very forgiving. And the console was great and the aesthetics were good. This weekend brought back a lot of memories, and it made me realize that this is probably the ideal boat for most people uses and fishing. It doesnt offer the full creature comforts and room of a Puma FTD or a Cougar FTD, though it more than does its job efficiently. So pardon my blog, though we dont sell as many Pantera II models as we thought we would. It is a forgotten size as folks tend to sprint over these for other boats. Now that I myself have spent some quality time in it, I really think it is all I need myself for most of my uses here on Bull Shoals and Norfork. In summary, we really enjoyed the day, and this was a premium boat and the most popular model and size we ever built for a reason. The 19 Pantera II Model really does everything that many of us will ever need and does it all quite well. Would I buy a Pantera II model? Man that is a tough question though this rig is all that most any will ever need, if they check their egos at the price and pay line. If I only fished Arkansas waters, and wanted the most efficient and comfortable rig we build, yes definitely is the answer. Fast enough, dry, fuel efficient, long enough, enough equipment, storage, fuel capacity, seating, shallow draft, and more, So Yes! I appreciated the memories and the thoughts that came back, and the feel we had once again in an old friend that I just got comfortable with again. And it offered more memories as we caught a few fish, saw a pair of eagles and had a great time together. Not to mention some quality time with a son who is always too busy with baseball this time of year. Thats what its all about! Thanks for letting me share. Rick Pierce PS: and yes we are still working on that Bobcat and the ratings. We know a 25 is fine, and we are working to make a 40 work like we want. I dont know if we will have it running by the OI or not, as we are a bit tied up and short on staff.Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on April 20th, 2009, 1:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Anytime Rick, Nice reading. Memories ARE what its all about.
Great read. My first Cat was a P2 and I agree with everything you said. It was a great boat. It would have been better if it had todays bucket seats though. Glad you and your son had some quality time togther, it doesnt get any better than that.
All the above, plus these new hulls ride alot better than the old P2s did ! Not to mention the P2 will run with the best of them, and will still embarrass most other 225 rated rigs. D.
Rick, I have a 07 Classic and would love to have the PII, but the price was determining factor, plus I bought mine with a year of use on it and there werent many used PIIs on the market when I was on the hunt for a boat. You hit the nail on the head, I cant image ever needing anything bigger than a 19 Basscat here in Arkansas. When I was in the market for a boat, everyone said buy the biggest boat you can afford. It is a good thing I couldnt afford a bigger rig, because it would have been a waste. I am not a big tournament guy, but if I wanted to fish tournaments, I certainly could and wouldnt get left in the dust by the big boys. Your post was a very good read and hit close to home. You are truly blessed to have a son to share your passion of bass boats. Hope all is well at BCB. -Lee Reddmann
I remember bass fishing (and catfish with jugs) on Pickwick in the 50s. Our boat of choice back then was a 14 alum. v-bottom with a 7.5horse Elgin outboard on the back. (still got the motor, still runs, but hardly ever gets a chance to do so nowadays.) Those are days that will never return. But then you grow up and have kids of your own, and make a set of memories for _them_. I can still remember my 10 year old son driving our first bass boat down Lay Lake. His main goal was to make the rooster tail as tall as humanly possible. I remember his first five-pound bass pulled out of a stick-up around Cedar Creek. I remember a very calm day with a rain storm that moved very slowly. So slowly I kept the back of the boat in a downpour, while the front was just a sprinkle. And he was looking at me with that “what in the hell are you doing?” type look but with a big grin. I can also remember him at the same age, on Lake Mitchell, where I saw a nice arch on the finder and told him to cast behind us (we were in a narrow creek channel). He hooked a _big_ fish, on a pretty nice day in November. Got him up to the boat and as he was trying to get him in (he wanted to do it all by himself as young kids do) the fish somehow slipped the lure and floated on the surface for a minute. In the water he went. 55 degree water. Didnt get the fish, but got a good memory. Hope he does the same for his kids one day.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Rick, thanks for the great read…you talked with my son and I when we dropped the Eyra off at the factory for upgrading, about several things, life/fishing/and baseball. As parents, we are in the same boat(baseball/sports), so I can understand where youre coming from. We thought we had too much going on that we could not get much use out of our 97 PII, so we had sold it, thinking…someday, someday. Well, after running around occasionally in a War Eagle 1642/ 25 hp Mariner for a year, we realized we had to come back. For us, that was BassCat. Unfortunately, a friend of mine had passed away and his family put his Cat up for sale. We were able to buy the Eyra, and while it is not new, WE knew how it was built and were honored to be able to update and upgrade this boat. Last year at the OI, Aaron(my 16 y/o) and I were idling out during take off. He thought it was the greatest when our number was called the first day and after announcing the number you looked over and called him by name and told us to have a good day. Then the social that evening when you kidded with him about the fishing…it is times like these that make an impression on our youth. Now, given the chance, I would look at another PII. The Pantera series has withstood the test of time and PII the most well rounded of the group, IMHO. Sorry we could not make the OI this year, something about Catholic High mandating being in school on school days. Aaron actually asked me if I had “talked to Rick lately.” Told him that he was very busy like us with baseball (and “other” things). Nothing like watching youth enjoy the experience of the outdoors, a deer swimming across a cove or eagles nesting. Turkey at the edge of the water. A lot of times we have seen this at the OI and also other areas. Now my daughter does some fishing with us as well. Probably not appropriate to post this on your topic…but most of those things were done in a PII, so it is a special boat for us as well.Last edited by jignpig on April 21st, 2009, 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Thanks for the great read Rick.Jason Desertdweller.com Get Your Bass in the Boat!
Great read, and exactly one of the reasons I have always ran a 18 or 19 foot boat in the South. Time on the water with family is simply priceless!!!! See ya next week
I just happened to luck into my PII.,but I have loved every minute Ive been in it. I wish I could make it to the IO this year ,but wife had surgery so my time is better spent here. I have an amazing boat with a hard to believe story. But none the less these are good times and a good group of guys to deal with. I look forward to taking my 3 year old duaghter and 9 month old son on some of the best trips they can image. All on a basscat PII.
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