Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | I am in the market for a new or slightly used boat next spring/summer and would like to hear your opinions. Current rig is a '98 Crestliner 1750 Fishhawk w/ a 115 on her. Purchased new and just feel like exploring the market for a new boat.
Fish primarly muskie, casting and do soak suckers. No trolling as I live near Rhinelander WI off the water. We own land on a small lake but it's perfect for a 14 footer. Family is the wife, 7 year old son who tags along a lot casting and our one year old daughter. Early summer will find the whole family panfishing when the bite is hot. Again primarly this will be a casting rig for two or rarely three. I do own a 14' small boat for the real small hot puddles.
Lakes fished are your typical WI waters, shallow, under 800 acre lakes. The larger lakes I fish occansionally are Pelican, Tomahawk and LVD.
Trips to LOTW have been more walleye related and in someone elses boat. Musky trips back are in the future plans, but I can't ever see more than two trips a year. More like once a year for now if not every other year. I like fishing here in WI.
Boats that have caught my eye are; Ranger 618vs, Tuffy Esox Mag and the new Tuffy 190x.
The Tuffy x190 was the front runner but cant see where 4 people would sit panfishing comfortable. The esox mag looks good but seems a little to low to the water with the young daughter coming up. I like the layout of the Ranger 618vs w/the option of removing the casting decks for panfishing. I can see where 4 could bobber fish in this boat removing the casting decks, add the decks and it looks like a great casting boat.
Never been in a 618vs, how does it handle mild/rough water? Rare for me to fish once the water hits the 3' wave mark. My concern with the 618vs is, while it may be longer than my current boat the width is less and I don't want to fish a smaller boat. The Ranger 619 and Tuffy 1890 are/were an option but I'm afraid of launching in some of the smaller lakes I fish around here. The water is low here on some lakes and launching/loading the Crestliner isn't a cake walk at some landings. I mainly power load but with the low water I have had to hand winch at three lakes I fish.
Thanks in advance for the tips and replys.
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