I've done some looking around and can't find much info on this debate. We have a lot of shallow rivers and creeks here. Most are rocky, but the further south you go, the more they turn to mud and wood. Also, I'd be tournament bass fishing out of this boat and that would inevitably take me to the TN River or big lakes like Smith and Martin.

I believe the jet shines in the shallow, rocky water, but has the downside of more maintenance, less fuel efficient, and much slower speeds. The prop does better on everything else except the shallow rocky stuff although I've heard about using a good jackplate and using a water pickup on the top of the tunnel and not the foot?

Hoping someone here might have some real world experience on this decision.

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Posted by Bawpaw

Member since May 2021

1627 posts

Posted on 10/15/24 at 10:03 am to Aubie Spr96

Prop with jack plate

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Posted by AwgustaDawg

CSRA

Member since Jan 2023

13702 posts

Posted on 10/15/24 at 11:47 am to Aubie Spr96

Prop with jackplate. Pumps SUCK when ran in ANY vegetation and even thick mud is a problem. They are also not great in sand....it eats them up. They are fantastic in rocks and gravel but if there is a weed around it is going to clog the damned thing up and someone is going to have to go over the side and unclog it (some have a kick plate that is supposed to dislodge weeds, none of them work well in my experience). They are also slower with the same HP, guzzle gas and are almost impossible to handle in tight quarters at low speed....it takes them FOREVER to respond to changes in direction at idle sped so it makes them really hard to put on a trailer or get to a dock. They will flat out eat gravel and rocks though. They are a blast to run up a rocky river and across gravel bars but if there is a single blade of grass in the same county it is going to get sucked into the pump and slow it to idle speed or less.

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Posted by slacker130

Your mom

Member since Jul 2010

8963 posts

Posted on 10/16/24 at 7:41 am to Aubie Spr96

I've been debating the same question. The river I fish, transitions from mud, to sand, to gravel and rocks all in a 10 mile stretch. I have friends with a tunnel prop and a flat bottom jet. Both do pretty well, but neither really get too far into the rocks, where I want to go.

I think if I do the tunnel prop, I'm putting sponsons, a hydro jack plate, & a 4 blade cupped prop. I want the motor set back and high.

I like this kid's tunnel jet he built and would like something similar, minus the boxes. I want to keep mine light as possible. Youtube Link

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Posted by Park duck