Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | The boat Paul Klein guides out of is the best I have fished out of. I know it’s a Tuffy with a tiller, and pretty sure it is 19’. Don’t know the model. Perhaps Steve Worrall remembers. Anyway a ton of room in that thing. Much more than Rangers I have been in. Trailers pretty dang nice too. I am also pretty sure he is looking to sell it so you could get a very nice used boat.
Big boats are nice to fish out of, but does the cost of having one really necessary for the water you fish? I know some guides that fish some pretty out of the way water and can’t have a big boat. It really depends on the waters you intend to fish/guide on. Guiding on Mille Lacs vs. a 300 acre lake in WI will require different boats to some degree. Most people will agree fishing out of a huge boat is nice and comfortable, but some of the smaller boats can come pretty close. I guide out of a 17’ Smokercraft Millentia 171, and can tell you I would rather guide out of that than a Ranger. Plenty of boat for three people to fish out of. Just isn’t the greatest when it comes to a dry ride or windy conditions.
Steve Worrall hit it on the head about cost. If you got lots of money to spend and can afford all the other things like gas and such go for the gusto. If you don’t have the money I wouldn’t worry about getting the next best aircraft carrier. Guys have guided out of smaller boats like the Tuffy Esox Mag for years, and will continue to, without problems. The boat doesn’t make the guide!
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