Dargel Boats
n the “early days,”South Texas Fisherman had a problem. The problem was the miles and miles of shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. In order to get to the fish, there was a need for a better boat - a boat designed to run in very shallow water. Anglers were restricted to staying on the deeper waters of the bay or wading to where the fish were feeding on the flats. Changing conditions and the opening of the Mansfield Cut in Padre Island allowed more reds and speckled trout into the bays. The larger specs and reds were many times found miles from deep water where conventional water craft had to either stop and the anglers walk in or wait for a flood tide. By the time the tide was right, the fish had moved to other shallow areas to feed.
Several fisherman in the the Rio Grande Valley had been experimenting with flat-bottom plywood boats with a slightly turned up bow and small outboard motor. The “scooter” was steered by the operator shifting his weight. These little boats worked very well, and some of the more adventurous anglers even took these little crafts a short distance out into the Gulf. Quality and pride in its workmanship has been the way Dargel has operated since the beginning. It is something that has helped the company through hard business times as well as through the good years. Through the years the business grew and Russell was joined by his son Rusty, recently the reins have been handed over to Cleve and Miriam Ford. Miriam is the Great Niece of Russell.
For more information, please visit http://www.dargel.com