Thread: If you were going to start again from scratch...

My best crappie fishing was in a 17' aluminum tiller steer boat. Small enough to put it where you want it, heavy enough to be stable.
I wouldn't buy a new boat, lots of good, lightly used models out there. Some decent rods and reels (which can be relatively inexpensive for Crappie)
I bought a bigger boat and miss my first one. The best size and type boat depends on your preferred style of fishing. I'm a single pole jigger for the most part.

The folks I talk to say Livescope is a game changer. Get it if you can spend the $$ on it. I'm strongly considering it.

As Gone Fishin’ said, buy used, this time of year there are some good deals out there. I’ll guess 18’ is about as big as you can get in 22’, maybe 19’ with a folding tongue. Also I’d go glass and never look back.

Interesting questions about buying used. Will most folks let you get it to the dealer, and have it checked out at your expense if you can make a deal? Secondly, will a good dealership really check everything over? I can run a basic compression test myself. I would want someone that knew the common failure modes and how to find them ahead of time. I'm not looking for anything beyond 18' for storage concerns. I've never owned a big purpose-built aluminum, so I'm a bit in the dark about them other than what people say about them blowing around in the wind more than glass. My main concern with glass would be transom failure in hulls that are out of warranty.

First off you don't need a 100k boat to catch crappie. Livescope has changed the game & will continue to do so. Livescope can be mounted on about any boat. My trolling motor runs more than my big motor. I spent money last year on a new trolling motor & new electronics. It did not make me catch any more fish as I am still learning this livescope thing. What you will find is you can see them but it doesn't make them bite. Really wish I would have just saved my money & kept the original setup. What they want for these boats these days is down right stupid in my mind. You ask & this is my opinion!!!


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I thought about that a lot over the last year . When I retire I may get another boat. My lake has been livescoped to death so I would have to learn that, but not wanting to. The two boats I miss the most I’ve owned weee a 2013 ranger 520 Comanche and a 2021 skeeter sx210. Both set low in the front when stopped and fishing off front. I thought about a used skeeter bay sx 210 being they have no carpet and limited vinyl to replace. Plus I’m a Yamaha fan and most of these have the 150. A reliable motor. As a 67 yo plus when I retire I’ll need purpose and a boat would provide that with an expensive hobby. Lol . Not sure what time will bring in the coming years. I frequent the gym 3-5 days a week so that’s some activity. We live on a 200 acre farm so there’s plenty of bushhogging in warmer months. I’m a stroke survivor which has greatly affected my balance and eye to hand and eye to foot coordination which will limit my boat control to livescope. So a boat may be a bad choice. But imma thinking about options of a boat if the fisheries continue to flourish with the pressure of ffs. A lot of the old timers that don’t have livescope are complaining about there ability to catch fish now. Good luck with your venture and tight lines.

Originally Posted by claytonsdad

Interesting questions about buying used. Will most folks let you get it to the dealer, and have it checked out at your expense if you can make a deal? Secondly, will a good dealership really check everything over? I can run a basic compression test myself. I would want someone that knew the common failure modes and how to find them ahead of time. I'm not looking for anything beyond 18' for storage concerns. I've never owned a big purpose-built aluminum, so I'm a bit in the dark about them other than what people say about them blowing around in the wind more than glass. My main concern with glass would be transom failure in hulls that are out of warranty.

Most top tier bass boats don't have transom problems, even older models.

I think that most fiberglass boats after 2000 shouldn't have wood core transoms, stringers, or floors, and if you have ever been caught up in a storm or even had the wind pick up on Ross Barnett, I'd definitely want about an 18-20' fiberglass boat. My dad had a smaller fiberglass and aluminum boats when I grew up fishing on Ross Barnett, and when his older brother was ready to get rid of his '18 bass boat, I bought it and have been fishing with it for nearly 20 years. Of course, being a 1985, I'm in the middle of a transom repair project, which is why I haven't been on The Rez since November. I have about 24' of depth in my garage; without the jack plate (which I'm installing after I get done with the transom repair), I'm probably taking up only 22' of depth since I have about 1' on each end to walk around the boat. My trailer does not have a swing away tongue, so keep that in mind.

Electronics-wise, take your pick if you want them all to match or not. If you don't think that you will spot lock or run routes, a Minn Kota Fortrex will be fine. The main reason for getting a Minn Kota Ultrex, Ultrex Quest, Lowrance Ghost, or Garmin Force is because you do plan to spot lock, run routes, and probably have a FFS transducer mounted to the trolling motor shaft. There are plenty of people who favor Lowrance fish finders and AT2 FFS, others who prefer Garmin fish finders and Livescope LVS32 and LVS34, and others who use Humminbird MEGA Live and Live 2 for FFS. I run a combo of older Humminbird 1199s and a 360 to work with my Ultrex and a Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv and LVS32 for dock shooting, spider rigger, livescope jigging, and long line trolling with jigs or crankbaits. I also like having my fishfinders raised up with a Millennium Double Monitor Mount that I got for stupidly cheap because I can set the fish finders at a more ergonomic level to read and still lay them down to keep from blocking my view when I run at speed. Then again, if you if don't want to spend a ton of money at once, you can still get some nice older fish finders to at least get some maps and 2D, down image, or side image and slowly add FFS if you desire.

Because I spider rig and long line, I have Millennium Spyderlok rod holders in the bow and stern. I also sit on Millennium seats during the spring and summer, although I learned that I need to put the old high back vinyl seats back into the boat in the winter because the Millennium mesh seat breath too much and let the wind get to my back side too much.

Basic, a 1648 Jon without the middle seat. I’m about to take mine out. Tiller opens up the floor space a lot. An 1860 would be another good option. Richard gene the fishin machine on YouTube has an 18’ like I speak of. Motor needs to be what the boat can legally stand and definitely power tilt and trim. If ya don’t get carried away with interior they’re nothing to maintain. New would be best but ya can’t beat the “Deal” when it pops up. Mine was 199 years old with about 40 hrs on it, a garage queen. 1648 Jon with 25hp electric start but no tilt n trim. Terrova on the front and working on electronics now. 1 battery runs the entire boat but I’ll add one for the electronics at some point. Simple keeps the snafu’s to a minimum.