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Posts: 104
| I pulled the trigger yesterday on a new Ranger bass boat. I got a screamin' deal on a left over 2018 that I couldn't pass.
Since starting my search several months ago, I heard over and over, "Why would you want a bass boat?" I guess I'm an oddball in the musky world, but my response is, "Why wouldn't I want a bass boat?" I spend all of my time on the front deck, working the trolling motor, leaning on the butt seat and casting. I fish for muskies and bass, do not troll and don't fish waters where low sides on a boat is a concern.
I love the deck space and the storage.
Any other guys either switched to or from a bass boat?
Edited by madmurph 10/17/2018 11:02 AM
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | My last 2 boats have been bass boats and they are simply the best casting boat made. Easy figure 8s, they drift the slowest of ALL fishing boats, easy to work on fish in the net, HUGE front deck. They run well in rough water (as least Rangers do) but in big water you do get wet. I got a new Ranger this year as well and my only major differences from this boat to the last one was a four stroke motor and ultrex trolling motor. The option of trolling is really nice and the Ultrex is a game changer to put people up front and run the trolling motor of the remote. Most guys are just used to high sides and tin. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | If you are not running big water, I see no reason why a bass boat would not be nice. It seems they are specifically designed to cast. |
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Posts: 1209
| They can handle the rough stuff to, I love my bass boat. Your going to love it |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | They'll do fine given you don't do this kind of driving...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWfohG5FCEA |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA |
Holy cripe! My kidneys hurt just watching this. Nope, no bass boat for me! |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Had a 620 Tiller and have fished out of all the big Rangers. I have had a Ranger 520 Bass boat for 4 years. If you don’t troll there’s no need to worry. Awesome to cast out of and storage is every where. Easier towing also than a 620. |
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Posts: 1209
| Haha that video is in a 18' boat and almost every other video stuffing a bass boat is in the 18' or less group. Or they are much older than a current boat, they have learned how to build the bow/keel/deadrise/setback together in a way you can keep leveraging and on top. Those guys deserved that. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il |
The is why i call them CoD boats. Great casting platform, somtimes that ego gets the best of them. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | You will come to enjoy the ability to figure 8 right at your feet. m
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/94rdgtzQ/2011-10-21-Salt-Fork-0009.jpg[/img]
Edited by mikie 10/20/2018 7:41 AM
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Location: Northern Illinois | Can't beat a deep v Fisherman series. Would never own a bass boat. I've seen guys waiting at the launch in green bay saying we can't get out waves are to much. As I launch my fisherman series in front of them. |
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Posts: 104
| Good thing I don't fish Green Bay. |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | What kind of rod storage do you get in those Ranger Fisherman’s? |
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Posts: 2015
| Former bass boat owner, I really like fishing out of bass boats since I cast 95% of the time..but made the switch to a 621 and will probably never go back to a bass boat...why? I like having a kicker to get home if I’m 10 miles from camp and main engine fails (yep I’ve had that happen in a bass boat) and for the times I do want to troll. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | the rough water argument doesn't hold water ... that all depends on which one you buy, unless you believe the wind doesn't blow south of the Mason-Dixon. it's all the other pieces and one of those to each his or her own arguments. truth be told, we should all own 3 boats, two motorcycles, 2 tractors, 2 trucks, 10 guns and a big shed to hold it all. those who think they can't handle the water should make a drive to the BassCat factory and have someone take you for a ride on a Texas Reservoir. |
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| Had a look at the Lund ProV bass boat and that sure looked like it could handle some rough water to me. But, that is all it was, a look at one on a trailer. Have no idea how they perform. Sure looks nice though.
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Posts: 227
| Even a 14.5 foot aluminum with a 15 hp will be able to run any Texas lake so I am not sure what the Texas lake comment means. A bass boat hull is a good fishing platform, no better or worse than a deep vee hull similar to a Ranger 690. The Natives on LOTW run all over in every type of weather in rather small, moderately powered aluminum boats, and do just fine. If one knows how to run the boat they are in, comfort becomes the primary concern. One speaks of the big Texas lakes, but few have fished them. Small tin boats with high sides made those lakes famous, and they are still out there. All that being said, comfort and safety are the bottom lines. All this being said, I want a deep vee. |
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Posts: 1209
| I wish 2 years ago at a leach lake tournament I had cameras in my bass boat. Was pretty fun and surprisingly comfortable, seats farther back is like the front of a bus, suspension seats built in. Bass boats are great, but I would still like a second boat being a deep V. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Switched away...would never consider going back. Fishing platform was great, as was the fact they don’t catch wind. Getting splashed in the face under moderate power, not great. There never seemed to be the right solution either for passenger rod placement. Musky baits left on rods were a potential magnet to meet the bench seats and cause rips and tears. Getting up and down on those bench seats all day are tough on the body too, especially for older guys I’d have in. Was a great starting boat/s for me to work my way into Ranger ownership and start building equity but beyond that ...pass
Edited by Musky Brian 10/31/2018 10:55 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Abu7000 - 10/30/2018 7:39 PM
The Natives on LOTW run all over in every type of weather in rather small, moderately powered aluminum boats, and do just fine
Well, yeah..other than the 3 dead bodies that had to be searched for in Morson a few weeks back :-/
Edited by Musky Brian 11/1/2018 11:29 AM
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Posts: 267
| Howdy,
I'm glad to have the best of both worlds in a 522D, which is basically a deep v bass boat. It's a dream to cast out of and a pleasure to ride in.
Sadly the stereotypes that exist amongst bass fisherman who think deep v boats can't float in shallow water, and amongst muskie guys who allow trolling to dictate their boating needs, makes models like this obsolete in the marketplace.
Case in point, the 522D was discontinued after only three years.
Take care,
Ruddiger
Edited by Ruddiger 11/1/2018 9:15 AM
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Musky Brian - 10/31/2018 11:51 AM
Abu7000 - 10/30/2018 7:39 PM
The Natives on LOTW run all over in every type of weather in rather small, moderately powered aluminum boats, and do just fine
Well, yeah..other than the 3 dead bodies that had to be searched for Morson in a few weeks back :-/
True and may they all rest in peace....but...what was the mistake they made? It wasn't because of the boat....
Most any boat can handle the water you take it to given the conditions are safe enough... The key is what one considers safe or unsafe. I've been out in and captained boats from the basic 14 footer with a 15hp motor on Canadian waters bigger than lake of the woods and on Lake superior, to a commercial river multi-level paddleboat, and you can get into trouble with each with no wind at all...but being in a 14 foot boat on waters where you disappear in the trough of a wave (losing sight of landmarks)and reappear as you come over the wave itself is not a safe situation, let alone waves that are close together and cresting often. The choice is to not be on the water there..and in situations like that, my humble opinion would be to get off the water and wait it out, regardless of where you are at. If this would happen with a 21 footer even, I'd be hesitant as the right wave could topple you sideways, or in many cases, swamp you from the rear if you have to move with following seas.
The real question for me on a switch to bass from deep vee/multispecies or vice versa is fishability in adverse conditions and the METHOD to which I plan on fishing...
I don't think anyone would feel very comfortable standing (or even leaning/sitting on a pedestal seat) on a front or rear deck of a boat in 4 footers trying to cast whether bass or multispecies... It's just not conducive to casting in those situations... But...one could troll in it....
All a matter of perspective...
Steve
Edited by VMS 11/1/2018 11:21 AM
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Posts: 556
| I fish small lakes and also the Great Lakes--- BASS BOAT--not a Chance !!!.. Low sided is fine for casting small waters... Give me the deeper V any day…. I don't fish Bass--and Have never had a Problem casting or figure 8's out of the deeper hull boats on smaller waters … and .... When I want my Walleye-Musky-Pike and Salmon from the great lakes--SUPERIOR-MICHIGAN-GREEN BAY--I need the boat to handle it. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | Bass boat = way too much money for a way too one dimensional boat! |
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Posts: 427
| I've had both in the last 40 years I've fished, Both have pros and cons but for me I'd rather have a boat that can be used for any type of fishing. It may not be the perfect boat for what I'm fishing for but it will work. With that in mind I made the choice for the deep V multi species style boat. I can fish about any waters I want to for any type of fish. I am basically a Musky guy but if the freezer is empty I can fill it with Perch or Walleye on the Great Lakes just as easily or cast for Bass on an inland lake. My two cents.
Edited by 7ovr50 11/4/2018 5:18 AM
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Posts: 1036
| I owned the Ranger 188VS. Bass boat setup for musky fishing. I loved that boat. 150 Optimax. Terrova up front. Caught a ton of muskies and walleyes out of that boat. It handled big water great...for a bass boat. Yup. Got wet... And as I aged...I really grew to dislike the seating.
I got a 619VS. Got the deck extension. Decks are just as good. Love having the seating and the open cockpit to walk around in. Much better storage. Handles Green Bay really, really well. It is faster than the 188VS too...but it has a bigger engine. The ride is a lot different too.
I'd say the deep V handles like an SUV...the 188VS handled like a sports car.
After owning both? I'd do a bass boat again, but if I had to choose one? I'd do the deep V, easily. Just a much more versatile boat. But, it does come down to choice, where you fish and how you fish. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | Rudd, that 522D is a badazz fishing machine. I took a very serious look at it when they first came out but ultimately wasn’t willing to part with the full walk thru windshield (comfort) and kicker motor (safety) of my 621. Having had two bass boats prior to the 621, I too could never go back after fishing out of a 600 series Ranger. The speed and fishability of a bass boat can’t be denied though. Like anything, a boat choice is a series of pros and cons that each angler has to weigh. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | To MadMurph..
Most definitely, enjoy your new ride!!
Steve |
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Posts: 104
| VMS - 11/7/2018 10:33 AM
To MadMurph..
Most definitely, enjoy your new ride!!
Steve
Thank you Steve. |
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Posts: 74
| I switched from a bass boat. Ranger 461 vs Comanche 150 Johnson fast strike to 165 Alumacraft competitor 165 tiller Etec 60ho. Ran the Ranger for 10 seasons, great boat, incredibly stable and fast. Many big fish casting and trolling. Low to the water not great on BIG water but good enough and excellent overall. FAST and scary boats Ranger. 60 with no seat belt haha good times. Now I go 35-40 and have less fancy storage and such but the deep V rides different on chop and has high sides my daughter won’t fall out. Hated the console always felt it was in the way. I would buy Ranger again. Congratulations and enjoy I’m sure you will love that boat.
Edited by Muskies247 11/13/2018 5:09 PM
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Get yourself a Hamby hull protector and fiqure out a good place to store your net. I use to drape it over the big motor but now use rod straps to drape it over my console. I know there are better places. |
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Posts: 1636
| Anyone own a true Bass boat with a tiller/spare motor?
Could be a big deal on larger lakes, rivers, or remote locations... whether you troll or not. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Reelwise - 12/9/2018 6:20 AM
Anyone own a true Bass boat with a tiller/spare motor?
Could be a big deal on larger lakes, rivers, or remote locations... whether you troll or not.
Yep, one of my main fishing partners has a stratos with a 225 yammy. He also has a mid 60's 6hp evenrude that purrs like a kitten. He made a bracket and steering rod in the Fab shop where he works. We have salmon and musky trolled with it. He uses the setup on lotw as a backup just in case. |
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Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | Reelwise - 12/9/2018 6:20 AM
Anyone own a true Bass boat with a tiller/spare motor?
Could be a big deal on larger lakes, rivers, or remote locations... whether you troll or not.
I know some guys put a trolling bracket on a Talon bracket. Talked to a fella this fall in the parking lot that had the setup. He said it was rock solid. |
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Posts: 1209
| 50# talon, 100# kicker... wouldn't go bombing around in rough waters but in a bass boat you can literally put the kicker in the 3rd rod locker till you blow up the main motor. |
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Made the Switch to a Bass Boat