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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Ok guys and gals...
I know this one has been discussed before, but please humor me one more time, your opinions are appreciated.
I would like to hear from those of you who prefer bass boats over the v-hulls and why... also curious about your experiences on the water when it gets a little "lumpy"... 3 footers or so.
One of my friends has a 20 foot bass boat and I fished from it again last evening, and once again was reminded how much I enjoy being close to the water, it was like fishing from my old Tuffy Magnums only even more stable and more deck since his front deck is like 12 feet long. He also uses one of his storage compartments for his tackle storage, as opposed to the large lakewoods boxes that I use now in my Ranger 690, very clean set up.
Obviously you compramise floor space for deck space, and trolling must be a bit difficult but I can count on less than one hand the times I troll during the season.
I guess my concern is how they handle the larger bodies of water when they blow up 3+ footers, much depends on how their driven I know, but I'm thinking from a safety standpoint and as far as a dry/smooth ride.
I know a few guys who really enjoy Muskie fishing from bass boats, Greg M. was one of them, and I think Treats is running one now, also my old buddy Mike Hoen loved his 519.
Curious on your thoughts....?
Considerations running through my little head... 618-Tiller, Champion 194 Fish hunter, New model 18' Tuffy (not on market yet), Bass boat, keep running my 690 which for the most part serves me fairly well.
Ok...fire away, am I nutso even considering a bass boat style over my deep v or not..?
Thanks | |
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Posts: 479
Location: Eden Prairie & Pine Island | I had/have an 18 1/2 foot Triton bass boat with a pretty good V to the hull for bass boats, and I loved muskie fishing from it dearly. Then came the cabin and my wife wanting a dryer ride and the ability to transport guests to the island cabin, etc. Sadly, the Triton is for sale, and all I can say is life is full of compromises...at least I got the cabin.
(Anything over 3 foot would not be good in an 18.5 foot bass boat for any sustained peroid of time.) | |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The totally new 1890 Tuffy Esox Deep V will be out by the first of the year. Just under 19', 94" wide, same interior as the 2060 EDV except you have neve seen this fit and finish; takes 12- 9' rods, new electronic command center, more storage and much more. It's not a Bass Boat by any means, but will be lower to the water than the 2060. Rates at 100 tiller, 200 console, comes in a walk through, tiller, dual sport, and single console model.
I fished a 18' Skeeter Bass for a year. On some waters it was OK, but I missed my V Hull badly. The biggest issue for me was the deck design in a Bass rig, no freeboard and no where to get on a knee and work with the fish in the net comfortably as a result. The net was another issue, which is solved by putting it over the motor, a 'One' trick. All in all, the tradeoffs had me back in an 1850 Skeeter the next season, and on to an Esox Deep V next.
If I was to buy a Bass Boat, it'd be a Cat. Small builder, but really innovative and they are runners, too. | |
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| Steve,
what else is coming out next year? I am looking at a Tuffy,but won't buy until next spring. I would love to have another model to mull over all winter long. | |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | New Walkthrough Windshield models based on the 1760 and 2060. | |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Thanks guys...appreciate the feedback... Steve, I'm looking forward to seeing the new 1800 series, sounds like it'll be a nice one. As we talked last spring, that's size should round out the Tuffy lineup quite nicely.
I'm also considering replacing my truck with a used Chev with Duramax diesel, for towability and economy. That would mean no new boat until at least spring or early summer.
Gas prices keep going crazy and I'll be fishing from my 15' welded hull Alumacraft semi-v jon boat with the 25hp four stroke Yamaha on it. I can run that rig forever on 2 gallons... But she's a bit small for most Musky applications  
On the up-side, I have a great boat and a good life and am not in the path of a darn nasty hurricane... Gotta keep things in perspective. | |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Mark, also check out the new Triton TR 21 XD the XD is for Extra Deep. The folks at Triton have put their Walleye V hul under a "Bass" cap. Bass boat looks and styling with a Walleye hull. This boat will fish like crazy and smooth out some of the big waves. I can arrange for a test drive with one of our pro staffers if you would like.
Quit being a stranger and stop by one of these days.........or do I have to come down there to say hello?
Catch you later, Mike. | |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mike,
I'm not up that way all that often, gas prices have kept me from running to MN at the drop of a hat. That Triton sounds very interesting... I'll catch up with ya one of these days soon...now walk across the office and give "Lil" Mike a wack on the hat and tell him it's from me... | |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | I had a 19ft TR19 Triton for 3 seasons that I miss a lot. It was an awesome boat to fish from and very fast....on small water. There were several times on Vermilion where I just couldn't get out at all, not even skirting the leeward side. I'm in a 620 now mostly because we have a little boy that my wife likes to bring with periodically and I've grown to like trolling.
Something you may not have considered, the bass boat is very light on the bow and bounces quite a bit in big water when you are trying to hold a spot and cast. It can be like doing more than the mombo up there at times. There were days I would come home with calf cramps. The 620 is much heavier up front and doesn't bounce as much when trying to cast big water.
You mentioned, storage. I can't stand the idea of my baits in those big Lakewoods. They are pain to find a place for and just scream steal me. I have 1/2 a flambeau maximizer guts in one of my front boxes for my bucktails. I keep all my other baits in the clear plano boxes and tupperware containers also in my front boxes and some in the rear boxes just like I did in the Trition and don't find a need for Lakewoods in spite of of having more than 300 baits in the boat. | |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Earl Bentz really designs a clean dry hull for a bass boat. As I recall he designed most of the Stratos hulls which were very dry by bass boat standards. My uncle had a 201 pro back in the early 90's with a 200 Merc. Dryer than any Ranger I was in back then. 21 feet and plenty of horsepower is the best bass boat setup for rough water in my opinion. Love fishing out of them. What do I have? A big, wide 19ft deep-vee with a 125. Wouldn't go back to a bass boat for muskie fishing for anything. My uncle about got pulled out of my boat on a short strike by a 42in. pike in late October. I immediately asked him after the release if he'd have preferred catching that fish from a bass boat. "NO WAY!" he said. Of course he had sore knees from striking the gunwale on the hit but that beats hypothermia any day! I've heard lots of stories about diving under waves in rough water while in bass boats. St Claire and Erie can eat up a bass boat from what I've heard. Ultimately the boater has to use their head. I say, "Go fish!" | |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I love my bassboat, but I will admit it's wet in the big stuff. We had 5'ers out on Leech a couple weeks ago at the Frank Schnider MI Tournament. I won't say that it was the most comfortable experience, but it's still better then riding in most aluminum boats. When I fish, I have everything except the rods I'm going to use and the net under the hatches. It fishes 3 very nicely and gets pretty good gas milage (over 5mpg when I'm cruising). I threw hand rails on it this year and mounted a couple down east rod holders and that's worked all right for trolling. Anything over 2 lines gets a little tricky though.
If you want to run them in big water, you've got to go at least 20' with each additional foot adding comfort and safty. Look at the V in the bow of the boat. Some are flat (Skeeters and Nitro's for example) and some are pretty good (Champion, Procraft, Triton XD). The deeper the V the slower the boat will be. Most people can give-up 75mph and settle for 70mph. Check out www.bassboatcentral.com and look at their classifieds for a huge selection if your willing to drive a little bit.
I like the idea of the Triton 21 XD, but there's 2 problems for me.
1. They're about $40,000-$45,000
2. You can only get Triton's with Merc's now. | |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Treats,
Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Saturday I had the opportunity to get my wife out in my friends 21' Cobra Coosa bass boat. She liked it, actually quite a bit, but said that she would be scared sh##less if we were in the kind of stuff we've had our 690 in on Mille Lacs. Now granted, that's only once or maybe twice per season but I would rather be able to fish in 3's+ than be sitting on shore wishing I'de have my v-hull back.
Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, if anything. As said earlier, my 690 is 95% to the way of my interpritation of a perfect boat. I may just keep what I've got, it's in great shape and the motors are super dependable, while the economy of the EFI isn't as good as the direct injects, if it came down to it I could repower my rig if I decided to keep it another 5-7 years and wanted a little better economy.
Thanks again guys, I appreciate your feedback. | |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Treats I have two 21 XDs that just arrived that are scheduled for 225 Evinrude E Tec HOs. We can still order the boat with a Suzuki, Evinrude or Merc "pre rig" (controls, cables gauges etc.) in them. That is for now anyway. Triton does not mount engines at the factory, your dealer does that, even Mercs. At this time we can still order just the boat and obtain the engine elswhere. No Yamaha "pre rigs" however. So that combo is virtually out. | |
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Bass Boats, Muskies, and Big Water...?