The conditions couldn't have been much worse for bass fishing.

Lake Weatherford was in the grips of a typical Texas summer. It was unbearably hot; the lake was more than 4 feet below normal, and the aquatic vegetation was in full bloom.

Most local fishermen believed the bass had to be holding around the shade of the lake's numerous boat docks. But there was one major problem.

Getting to the docks was almost impossible. In addition to standing in shallow water, the docks were uniformly guarded well by a massive line of moss that seemed impenetrable. While the water beneath and adjacent to the docks was clear of grass, anglers hoping to work these docks were faced with having to stay out in deeper water, make long casts to the front of the wooden structures and then somehow winch the fish through the aquatic jungle.

On this weekend (like other summer weekends), many bass fishermen gave up in frustration and sought other less dependable summer patterns. But Gary Rasbury wasn't one of them.

The Fort Worth, Texas, angler had a solution. He left his 17-foot fiberglass boat at home and loaded his lightweight 8-foot miniboat onto his truck. Arriving at Lake Weatherford, he ignored the line at the public ramp and simply slid his miniboat down the bank adjacent to the row of boat docks.

He then went to work. While a number of fishermen in bigger boats watched in envy from across the bright green aquatic carpet that separated them from the dock, Rasbury made a short pitch toward the first dock and caught a keeper. After a few more casts, he lowered the seat on his miniboat, squatted down on the floor and trolled directly under the dock to the other side. There he worked that side of the dock, caught another small bass and continued to the next dock.

And continued to catch fish.

Rasbury's favorite story is a good illustration of the value of miniboats, which should be called compact bass boats. While the conditions on Lake Weatherford were extreme in that the surface of the water was 4 feet below the dock, enabling Rasbury to slide underneath, the fact is that miniboats simply enable you to get to fishing spots that the bigger boats can't penetrate.

That maneuverability is the major reason for the popularity of miniboats, which were first built in 1977. Today, the compact freshwater boats, which average 8 feet in length and 100 pounds in weight, enjoy as much popularity as ever. A prime example of that are several miniboat clubs in Texas, such as Rasbury's Fort Worth Mini-Boat Club, which has 75 members and stages monthly tournaments.

But fish-producing applications for miniboats are in no way limited to Texas. The little boats are perfect for Florida's extensive network of canals, farm ponds in Georgia, floating a Tennessee smallmouth creek and fishing shallow-water tidal conditions all along the marshy coastal areas.

"The lakes in east Texas are real heavily timbered with both standing timber and submerged wood," said Jim Haynes, a member of the 60-man Longhorn Mini-Boat Club. "In those lakes, I can fish so many places with my miniboat that I just can't get into with my Ranger. I can get closer to the bank. I can get off into little creeks, even creeks that have openings that are silted-in. I can take a miniboat and go anywhere there's a foot of water. I can find things that you never would even know was there with a big boat."

Haynes, an electrical contractor in Mesquite, Texas, is such a miniboat diehard that he often straps his little boat on the back of his Ranger. He fishes from the big boat until he comes to a good-looking spot that would be inaccessible to his 17-foot fiberglass boat and then anchors the Ranger and starts fishing from his compact bass boat.

"I can't tell you how many times that has paid off for me," Haynes said.

Jim Griffin knows well the value of miniboat maneuverability. Last year, the Fort Worth club member located a a number of bass holding in a hidden spot in Lake Palestine. Using his little boat, he caught seven bass that weighed 20 pounds to win a miniboat club tournament on Saturday. On Sunday, Griffin decided to leave his fiberglass boat at home and fish a lucrative one-day tournament in his miniboat. The result was eight bass that weighed 21 pounds and his second tournament victory in two days.

There are other obvious benefits of owning a miniboat.

A trailer isn't needed. Most miniboat owners simply slide their boats into the back of a truck (a camper top offers a secure place for boat, motor and gear) or tie the boat on top of their car.

And there's no more waiting in line at the public boat ramp, since these boats can easily be launched almost anywhere along the bank.

With no large outboard to feed, compact bass boats are extremely cost-effective. The recent decline in gas prices have made that benefit less important than it was during the introduction of the small boats in the late 1970s.

Getting started in miniboat bassin' isn't a costly affair, either. Depending on the size of the boat, compact bass boats begin at less than $200 for a bare 6-foot, one-man boat to $1,200 for a deluxe two-man, 10-foot craft with trailer.

With a bare miniboat, an outboard isn't necessarily standard equipment. Many miniboat owners fish waters near their home where a trolling motor provides enough power. With a good trolling motor and battery in hand, a miniboat is ready to fish, although veteran compact bass boat anglers advise installing marine carpeting to help deaden noise in the boat. Many have also installed the pro-style bicycle seat on a high pedestal (like the bass pros use in the big boats) to give them a more efficient position for fishing.

The disadvantages associated with fishing from a miniboat can't be ignored.

Without a large outboard for power, compact boat anglers are limited to relatively small areas. You simply cannot cover much water looking for fish and expect to have much time left to catch them. But Gary Rasbury doesn't see this as much of a problem.

"I think one of the most common problems with fishermen is that they fish an area too fast and run off to another spot," Rasbury explained. "Guys fishing out of big boats always seem to be in a hurry and they tend to run more than fish.

"On the other hand, miniboats allow you to fish an area more thoroughly than you tend to with a big boat. You don't have the ability to run off and check a spot 20 miles down the lake. So you concentrate on fishing certain areas and you have a better chance at catching fish in those areas because of that."

A definite disadvantage involved in miniboat ownership is a lack of space and storage. Serious compact bass boat fishermen limit themselves to a couple of rods and condense several tackle boxes into one.

Jim Haynes admits the most significant difference in fishing from a large fiberglass boat and a miniboat is most evident in the actual handling of it. Wind often plays havoc with the lightweight plastic boats, particularly when the angler is attempting to hold his fishing position. Because of that vulnerability to the influence of the wind, Haynes recommends using a trolling motor with a minimum of 24 pounds of thrust and a deep-cycle 105-amp marine battery.

Although miniboats get the most use in small, protected lakes, streams and ponds, veteran small boat fishermen say they can be used in larger waters — as long as plenty of common sense is used. That means wearing a quality personal flotation device and paying close attention to the weather conditions.

"It's somewhat of a misconception that miniboats can't be used in big water," Rasbury said. "You'll be surprised how well they can handle rough water if you use your head and take some precautions.

"Last January on Lake Welch I ran down the lake in the morning when everything was calm, but the wind had really gotten up by that afternoon. There was at least a 30-mile-an-hour wind and the lake had whitecaps on it. I just slid my seat back to the rear of my boat (an 8-foot Water Spider), started my (2-horsepower) motor and the front end of the boat raised right up. I never got wet and the boat never took on any water. I was impressed. I didn't know how well a little boat would handle those kind of conditions.

I've been in my big boat in that kind of conditions and had the waves just soak me."

Today's small boat anglers have an impressive array of choices when buying a miniboat. Here's a sampling of what is available.

Buster Mini-Boats of Weatherford, Texas, are designed by the R.J. (Buster) Letcher, considered by many to be the father of compact bass boat design. The 8-foot Buster Mini-Boat has a unique "speed-lift" hull design and is made of high impact and weather resistant Rovel plastic, which was developed by engineers of the Dow Chemical Co.

Bass Pro Shops' Bass Tracker Bantam series is one of the most popular miniboats on the market. The Bantam I is a one-man boat that is 6 feet in length and weighs 74 pounds. Bantam II and III are two-man models that are 9 feet in length and weigh 109 and 120 pounds, respectively. Features include padded wivel seats, carpeting, built-in rod well and drink holders.

Bass Hunter of Valdosta, Georgia, offers four models of compact bass boats. The top of the line is the 9 1/2-foot Deluxe Bass Hunter, which has a deep pontoon hull for extra stability, weighs 112 pounds and can handle a two-man load of 550 pounds. It is rated for a 5-horsepower outboard.

Water Spider Boats of Arlington, Texas, bills its two-man model as the "Cadillac of mini bass boats." The high-riding compact boat features a pump-operated livewell, a carrying capacity of 420 pounds and plastic/polyurethane construction.

Paddleboat Co., Inc., of Miami, Florida, manufactures what has to be the smallest miniboat on the market. The Bass Bug is a one-man boat made of a styrofoam-like material and weighs just 9 pounds. Yet it can support 325 pounds. The tiny craft, which costs $60, must be propelled by swim fins or a paddle, since a trolling motor cannot be used on the Bass Bug. The Bass Bug, obviously, was made with the smallest of waters in mind.

With the popularity of compact bass boats, it is obvious that, today, there is a bass boat that fits almost every angler's budget.