Major Dillema

[David]

Just got into fishing this year. What can i say. More addicted right now than deer hunting.

Have a bryant runabout boat, but now seriously conteplating trading it in for bass boat. Wife says no, keep the boat we have its perfect for US.

Guess ill have to find a good cove up on the hill to chill with the family with a pole stuck out the back! Maybe I can buy the extended swim platform to sit and cast from!

 

[trealtree]

Just get a kayak pull behind your boat... let the family relax in the sun... then you can slip off and fish.

 

[spitndrum]

x2

 

[mossyhorns300]

Get a new wife! J/K

 

[catman529]

Dont get a bass boat.... but what do I know, I've never even been on one.

For me, fishing does not need all the high tech stuff and storage compartments and 70mph capabilities of a bass boat. Give me a rod or three, a tackle box, net, and a bank or small boat to fish off of, and I am happy. I bank fish 95% of the time anyway. Otherwise it's from some small boat like a canoe, kayak, even inflatable. Just get in there and fish... Tight lines

 

[kdxdude]

Dont get a bass boat.... but what do I know, I've never even been on one.

For me, fishing does not need all the high tech stuff and storage compartments and 70mph capabilities of a bass boat. Give me a rod or three, a tackle box, net, and a bank or small boat to fish off of, and I am happy. I bank fish 95% of the time anyway. Otherwise it's from some small boat like a canoe, kayak, even inflatable. Just get in there and fish... Tight lines

Yeah, all the above mentioned stuff is great. However, once you get into tournament bass fishing, it is extremely addictive. Bass fishing for fun? I could take it or leave it. Fishing in a tournament? it's on!!!! Absolutely love the competition, culling, zippin around the lake to find that cooperative school of fish. Nothing more rewarding than goin from 0 fish to a 5-fish limit of 21 lbs in about 15 minutes time. Good times, Good times.

 

[stik]

Yeah, all the above mentioned stuff is great. However, once you get into tournament bass fishing, it is extremely addictive. Bass fishing for fun? I could take it or leave it. Fishing in a tournament? it's on!!!! Absolutely love the competition,

i feel just the opposite. the pressure of " i gotta catch fish" took all the fun out of fishing. i quit bass fishing completely in the mid 80's.

as to the original post, get a fish-n-ski boat.

 

[arctic_cat]

Let me know if you really want to sell the Bryant give me the info on it and some pics, I have a buddy at work that is looking for an open bow and is driving us crazy.

 

[catman529]

Dont get a bass boat.... but what do I know, I've never even been on one.

For me, fishing does not need all the high tech stuff and storage compartments and 70mph capabilities of a bass boat. Give me a rod or three, a tackle box, net, and a bank or small boat to fish off of, and I am happy. I bank fish 95% of the time anyway. Otherwise it's from some small boat like a canoe, kayak, even inflatable. Just get in there and fish... Tight lines

Yeah, all the above mentioned stuff is great. However, once you get into tournament bass fishing, it is extremely addictive. Bass fishing for fun? I could take it or leave it. Fishing in a tournament? it's on!!!! Absolutely love the competition, culling, zippin around the lake to find that cooperative school of fish. Nothing more rewarding than goin from 0 fish to a 5-fish limit of 21 lbs in about 15 minutes time. Good times, Good times.

I guess everyone has their own way... I haven't tourney fished before, but I enjoy fishing for the laid back time on the water enjoying the outdoors. I wouldn't want to run around a lake to catch the 5 biggest fish as fast as I could while competing against other fishermen. don't get me wrong, I love some competition. But when it comes to fishing I like it more laid back, and it's still addictive.

 

[stik]

Dont get a bass boat.... but what do I know, I've never even been on one.

For me, fishing does not need all the high tech stuff and storage compartments and 70mph capabilities of a bass boat. Give me a rod or three, a tackle box, net, and a bank or small boat to fish off of, and I am happy. I bank fish 95% of the time anyway. Otherwise it's from some small boat like a canoe, kayak, even inflatable. Just get in there and fish... Tight lines

Yeah, all the above mentioned stuff is great. However, once you get into tournament bass fishing, it is extremely addictive. Bass fishing for fun? I could take it or leave it. Fishing in a tournament? it's on!!!! Absolutely love the competition, culling, zippin around the lake to find that cooperative school of fish. Nothing more rewarding than goin from 0 fish to a 5-fish limit of 21 lbs in about 15 minutes time. Good times, Good times.

I guess everyone has their own way... I haven't tourney fished before, but I enjoy fishing for the laid back time on the water enjoying the outdoors. I wouldn't want to run around a lake to catch the 5 biggest fish as fast as I could while competing against other fishermen. don't get me wrong, I love some competition. But when it comes to fishing I like it more laid back, and it's still addictive.

i agree. fishing is much more fun since i quit tourney fishing.

 

[Football Hunter]

Nothing as good as fishing from a bass boat,IMO.At 43,I dont wanna get muddy,walk in the water,scale hills,I love fishing from my Skeeter.

Plus,you'll never outfish me from a bank.I dont fish tourneys but maybe once a year at most.You may not like the "high tech stuff",but when your 500 or more yards off the bank,fishing a specific ledge or drop off,and catching one after the other big smallie,monitoring your GPS,its pretty good.

 

[SilverFox]

You can do the same thing from an aluminum boat... for a lot less money and a lot less gas.

While they may out run me down the lake, I'll get there. I've seen guys fishing tourneys in jon boats with tiller steer.

I tourney fish out of a 17 foot aluminum with 50 Mercury. The only thing I am missing is a large livewell... and I can add that if I need to. I have a 12 gallon tank and can fish several days off that 12 gallons.

 

[bowriter]

tried it. Was successfull at it, placed second at the last tournament I fished. Hated it. Never went again and hate it even more now that it is mostly run by the same folks who run WWE.

Re the boat deal. Look around for a good, used aluminum boat and something like a 25 horse kicker. Add a trolling motor and you have all the boat you need to go fishing. Sixteen years ago, when Astro wanted to build me a boat. I had them build a real simple boat with a 95-Merc that never gave a minute's problem in all the time I had it. Fifteen feet, rod locker, live well, cooler, dry box and trolling motor. Two seater that went 55 mph with just me in it. All I needed. Sold itlast year way too cheap.

 

[Spike]

I used to tourney fish was ok at it. Woke up in a hotel one morning getting thigs ready. Walked outside and saw two old guys in with a bass tracker loading up to go crappie fishing. I was sun burned and wore out and broke. Those guys were rested and having a good time. It was the last tourney I fished.

 

[Football Hunter]

You can do the same thing from an aluminum boat... for a lot less money and a lot less gas.

While they may out run me down the lake, I'll get there. I've seen guys fishing tourneys in jon boats with tiller steer.

I tourney fish out of a 17 foot aluminum with 50 Mercury. The only thing I am missing is a large livewell... and I can add that if I need to. I have a 12 gallon tank and can fish several days off that 12 gallons.

Sure you can,guess you can do it from a kayak,but when the wind starts blowing,and the waves start rolling,Ill take my heavier glass boat.Course,I look for crappy weather days to fish.

BTW,because its a "bass boat",doesnt mean it will go 70 mph,mine will go about 48.

 

[fishboy1]

Questions you should ask.

1. Primary use.... fishing, cruising, water skiing...
2. Future use...do you have kids who will want to take over the boat and ski/fish/hunt with it?
3. Where do you use the boat? Large bodies of water or small?
4. What conditions are you likely to encounter? Large wakes from shipping traffic? Large waves/chop ? Heavy current ? Or mostly calm lake conditions?
5. How far do you trailer the boat? What do you tow it with?

I have had 22' offshore boats down to canoes.

Buy the biggest small boat that will do what you want it to do.
If you don't plan to pull skiers or fish tournaments, look for a boat requiring a smaller engine. Less money, maintenance, and fuel costs. The smaller and lighter the boat, the easier it is to trailer, less fuel you will burn, and wont need a massive truck to tow.

I mostly fish the area lakes Priest/Old Hickory/cordell hull. That means its usually calm to light chop but I can encounter some nasty choppy conditions with large rollers. A 12-14' jon boat would cover 90% of my use... BUT I like to take 1-2 buddies fishing with me, don't like taking a lot of spray over the side, and hate a hard ride with tiller steering.

Decided on a high sided 17' wide bottom Jon with a V bow and center console. Has a front casting platform and trolling motor. Boat is very stable, is acceptable in a chop, only needs a 50hp motor, is light for towing, good on gas. Can fish 2 guys easy and 3 if they know what they are doing and watch their back cast.

I don't ski anymore so I didn't need a bigger motor. Don't cruise much so I don't need the softer ride of a heavy fiberglass boat. Don't fish tournaments so 34-37mph is plenty of speed.

Don't want the added maintainence of a fancy bass boat with all the gizmos that are going to short out and need repair.

 

[David]

Think i have decided to keep mine for at least another year. Then if im still into the fishing, ill either by me a small one just to fish from or sell the one i got and get a fish and ski.

Only two lakes i would frequent are percy priest and center hill. Just dont care for old hickory

 

[Football Hunter]

Think i have decided to keep mine for at least another year. Then if im still into the fishing, ill either by me a small one just to fish from or sell the one i got and get a fish and ski.

Only two lakes i would frequent are percy priest and center hill. Just dont care for old hickory

The Old "Mud Hole" aint my favorite either.

 

[David]

yeah, first time i had ever been there to old hickory, its ok i guess if you live close to there, or have a house on it but its only a matter of time before you do some boat damage with the way things were floating there yesterday. Some guys were zooming buy, and i was just waiting to hear a big "pop".