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I will be purchasing a new boat in the next couple of months and would like some help from the veteran crappie anglers. What is the best length of boat, alum. or fiberglass, flatbottom or v-hull, engine size, trolling motor size and any rod rig set-up I need to put on once I buy the boat. Any and all help very appreciated.
Thanks,
Slabseeker@wheelerlake
Anything. That. Floats.
I like Fiberglass bass boats. They're roomy, stable, and have decent sized live wells. You may want to go bigger or smaller depending on how many you fish with. I'm normally fish by myself, or with one other person. I have a 90 hp Mercury on my 17 ft Stratos and a 55 thrust Minnkota trolling motor. I have as few as 3, but as many as 8 rods w/ me when I go...ranging in length from 5 to 12 ft.
I have 3 Black Widow rod holders mounted on my boat (2 on the back and 1 up front by me). I have 2 15 lb river anchors each w/ a chain and 150 ft of rope (anchor bags are worth the investment to keep the anchor out of the way) and another 100 ft rope for tying off or towing.
I keep my throwable pfd in one of the compartments along w/ the fire extinguisher and a spare life jacket. My bait pump is always nearby, and I bought one of those square frabill minnow buckets w/ the built in aerator, because I average losing 4 minnow buckets a year.
Crappie World had an article on just that question a month or two ago. Everyone has their preference and no one type boat is perfect for everyone. Many of the large aluminum boats with all the frills may be all any fisherman would want, however some like myself prefer a heavier fiberglass boat with a large motor. I have an 18 ft. fish n' ski that was a compromise with the wife as she wanted a runabout with an I/O while I had my eye on bass boat with a larger OB. I guess what I'm saying is its up to your own preferences or situation.
if i could afford it, then i'd go fiberglass for my primary rig. the stability in the wind would make it worth the money to me. the only disadvantage is fishing out of the way spots during the drawdown stage of the lake. you can easily fix that with about a 500 dollar aluminum rig to pair it up with. just fix them up where you can move your rod holders from boat to boat depending on where you're going to fish.
It depends a lot on where you like to fish, but I'm nuts over big
deep V boats - alum. or glass. I like fishing big, open water, ran
about 4 or 5 miles each way on Pickwick Sunday in a pretty heavy
chop - whitecapping in the main river. Ran near wide open, slow as
that is, only got a little shower on the way back, but that is because
I'm sitting in the back with no windshield - tiller steer - RAINSUIT! :D
It sits down in the wind to fish, even a howling gale will only blow it
a little over 1 mph... drawback for some would be that it draws probably 2' of water, couldn't get in shallow places, but to me it's worth it!
You might want to take a look at the Lowe Stinger. I just purchased one and should be picking it up in a couple of days. Wide boat 60" bottom.
Slabseeker
I would go with the biggest fiberglass bass boat that I could afford. Its better to have to much room than not enough. If you look you can find some deals on some used but in great shape 20 and 21 foot bass boats out there, they make the perfect crappie fishing rig and will handle the big water and the wind. Trolling motor 80 to 100 thrust lbs varible speed on a 24 volt system with on board charger. On rod holders Driftmaster are the best that I have found for long line trolling and or spider rigging. Get what you really want the first time around because there's nothing worse than not having enough boat for the conditions your are fishing...
Hope this helps...
I'm on my second boat now. I started off with a Ranger R72 with a 90hp merc. This was a great boat for me, but I did upsize to a Triton TR20 with 200HP and have never once regretted the decision. Different brands, hull designs, ect. will have different features and performance characteristics. I would recommend to you to the largest boat matched with the adequate motor size, that you can afford. Storage, room, stability, ect. go hand in hand with your boat size and it's always better to have more capability than you need instead of always regretting not getting what you wanted in the first place. Also motor size is important to match with your boat to maximize the effieciency, not just speed and performance. You do need to consider budget vs. use as well. I don't even want to tell you how much a fishing trip cost me if I break down the cost of the boat by how much I actually get to use it. With all this said, there is no one answer to your question, but probably more questions to add to your list of questions. Write a list out that includes the features, performance, and price range that you want. From there you can begin to shop and decide what is best for you.
carolina skiff all the way center console all kinds of room
If the funds are available get the new Triton Crappie Boat. Check out their website for more details.
I have been in these boats and they are set up exclusively for crappie.
http://www.tritonboats.com/frames.asp?cat=4
Go here to check out the new Triton Crappie Boats.
yes, the new triton is absolutely what I want. My buddy has one and it is really the best I have seen so far. I also really like the ranger fisherman series walley boats as well.
It all depends on what you want. I needed something I felt safe to run long distances, or in bad weather. I chose an older 21 foot Stratos bass boat. It drinks gas, but nothing handles liek this boat. I have been in the roughest conditions on Grenada lake, and still felt safe in that boat. It handles well trying to tightline in the wind because it is so heavy.
I am, however, tired on being on the bow of a boat. I am ready to be inside a boat again, much like the Triton boat. My next boat will not have a casting deck, that is for sure. It iwll also have a livewell in the front and hopefully a bait well.
For crappie fishing the areas here with stumps, there is noway I would risk a glass boat. War Eagle's 861 is specifically set up for crappie, unlike some of the other that are tagged as crappie boats. Any boat will do, but some have better features than others. http://www.wareagleboats.com/more-information/promo.asp
In the process of rigging a 20' ranger cc w/200 merc now. Just bought the boat and sure hope it does well. Lots of room to move around and aereated bait well and aerated live well along with lots of storage for rods and gear, We'll see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkalger
My fishing buddy use to have 2000 TR20 w/ a Johnson 225 HO on it. The craftmenship and service that Earl Bentz strives for is unreal. The Triton bass boats are fast and solid as a rock. We had a full load of gear one day, and I looked down to see the spedo reading 72 mph. I currently have a 85 Ranger that is 16' 6" and the different between it and the 20ft Triton ride is unbelievable. Running 55 mph in my small Ranger can get a little hairy, but it is a walk in the park for a 20+ ft boat.
Do the Crappie TA-196s have any problem with chine walk?
For night stalking and trolling, I would have to say a pontoon would be the best option.
This is my current setup. There are three rod holders on each side, and down rigger mounts on the back for trolling. For night stalking, the seats come out, and a light pole goes in the bow seat hole. You have to use your imagination when it comes to rigging a boat.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/ranger_1.jpg
Well Has anyone looked at the the G3's Thay are built by Yamaha and they come with the Yamaha Motor as well. I have the 17 footer and for a all around fishing boat it suites me fine the casting decks are nice and big live well it doesn't have the bells a frills on it. But the best thing is its all Alum. I have it on some windy days out in greers ferry with whites caps was worried a bit to start with didn't know how it was going to act but it done a fine job. The big plus is it doesn't draft very much. And for the money you get a good boat. Just another opinion though I am well please with it and I looked at alot of boats before I bought this one.
Here is my set up, a 20 footer with a 200 also. As for stumps and not running a fiberglass boat? Couldn't be further from the truth!!!!
If you know HOW to run your boat and do your homework on each lake shallow stumps are NO PROBLEM.
that was a lot of no info on the subjecr
When I get too old for a kayak (may happen sooner, rather than later) I'll move to a small aluminum boat with stick steering and a jet foot on the outboard. I'll keeping fishing the rivers and skinny water that I like.
If you decide to go aluminum, recommend you find one with a wide beam to dampen any roll while you and others move around in the boat. Glass doesn't seem to have this challenge.
The roll is the only negative about my aluminum. Why in the world does my partner have to pee off the back of the boat on my side when we are fishing tandem I'll never know. But it will definitely wake you up. If you're going to travel distances chasing fish move up to 18' + with a higher hp class 2nd draw back to my boat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob D
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Question, a pontoon has been mention once here . What’s the thoughts about a 17 or 18 ft pontoon with a 50 hp , for those shallow spots and tree stumps with a 80 lb trolling motor. If you get tired you can take a nap on the couch for about an hour then go back at it [emoji849]
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My Aluma Craft 17.5 boat only takes on a foot of water, Very deep and stable. Very roomy. My 2cts.
Have had 2-3 john boats, a 16 ft pontoon with 30 hp mercury, Lowes Deep V 16 ft with 35 hp engine, Crestliner 14 ft Deep V w/50 hp Mercury and now a 2001 18 ft Bass Buggy pontoon with a 2002 70 hp 4 stroke Johnson(Suzuki). Out of all of them I like the 18 ft pontoon the best, easy to load, easy to fish from and good up to about 15 mph wind with Xi5 trolling motor..
Pontoons cant be beat for fish ability only down side would be towing long distances but not really that bad, great for trolling, spider rigging or sitting on a tree casting jigs.
My Dad always said the best boat for fishing is “ one you don’t have to pour money into or bail water out of” :)
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That's a good one.