INFLATED expectations

Almost any angler who fishes from shore in this region will admit to occasional bouts of envy when a powerboat roars by heading toward the piscatorial Promised Land beyond the reach of roads. But if a powerboat is beyond your means, consider a lighter alternative. The quiet, humble inflatable pontoon boat doesn’t measure up to a powerboat in many ways, but it can get an angler away from the crowds at a price that won’t drain college education funds or bankrupt marriages.

Decent personal pontoons range from roughly $400 to $800.

They’ll fit in the back of a pickup and they can be stored under the deck or in the garage — without forcing your automobile outside. No expensive storage rental unit required.

They’re perfect for fishing small lakes, whether for trout at Amber or perch at Newman, and many of them are light enough to carry into walk-in lakes.

The sturdier models with durable pontoons and stout oar systems can dramatically expand an angler’s fishing range on rivers, too.

Personal pontoons are common sights on the Yakima River in Washington as well as the Clark Fork and Missouri rivers in Montana, where anglers often hire shuttle operators to help them complete daytrips to float stretches of the popular trout fisheries. Shuttle fees are reasonable in this region. Clark Fork Trout and Tackle in St. Regis charges $15-$25 to shuttle vehicles depending on the stretch of river you’re floating.

Thrifty anglers can save shuttle fee and get some exercise by stashing a bicycle in order to fetch the car after the float. Most river roads are fairly flat and easy to pedal, but you must think ahead to deal with lighting, visible clothing and safety if you plant to fish through the evening hatch and into darkness.

Larger inflatable rafts and pontoons allow anglers to carry the gear for luxurious riverside camping and the tents, food items and even heaters and other amenities that ward off the misery a foul fall day might deliver.

However, anglers with the constitution for “backpack” style floating can go light on rivers such as the Grand Ronde, John Day or the Klickitat even when flows are too low for drift boats.

Float trips require forethought and flexibility. For example, a three-day trip on the John Day can easily be forced into a four-day trip by the region’s notorious winds that can make downstream travel difficult or impossible.

Breathable waders that you leave on all day are ideal for this type of boating, but you must have some boating experience on many of these rivers. Repair kits, waist belts and life jackets are necessary, and Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management rules on some rivers require a portable toilet, fire pan and other gear.

Some steelheaders have learned that by simply ferrying across big rivers such as the Snake or Clearwater, they can work runs on the roadless side of the stream where there’s virtually no competition.

Determine how you plan to use the boat before buying a personal pontoon. If you’re interest is limited to fishing lakes, you don’t need the larger heavier-duty models needed for safely floating streams.

Numerous models are available. The Sportsman’s Warehouse, for example, carries models ranging from 7 feet long to 9 feet long at prices from around $290 to $800.

“The main differences are in the warranty and materials, what you can do with them,” said Scott Downs in the Spokane Valley store’s fishing department.

The 12- to 16-foot River King boats, formerly Kingfisher, are made in Sandpoint, Idaho, and take anglers into another league of personal pontooning. River King’s 12-foot model, offers excellent overnight cargo capacity. Optionally, the sturdy frame can be rigged with two seats to accommodate a rower and angler. See the options at www.cataraft.com.

Even in the smaller boats, a stainless steel frame is more durable and maintenance free than a powder-coated frame, Downs said. Some materials are more durable than others for pontoons, and internal bladders are a good feature. Some boats have two chambers in each pontoon for an extra measure of safety to prevent a deflating accident from becoming a tragedy.

The bigger boats have more carrying capacity for larger operators and bigger platforms for hauling gear, he said.

River boaters shouldn’t rely on plastic oar-lock systems. “Most of the good boats are going to open brass oar-locks,” Downs said.

Some of the most versatile new pontoon models coming from various manufacturers are 9-footers complete with mounts for anchors, electric trolling motor and the necessary batteries, Downs said.