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Posts: 4
| I am seriously considering this boat to replace my current Alumacraft tiller.
I don't fish Muskies, but it seems to me it would make a great multi-species platform.
I own land on an 850 acre lake and that's where it will spend 95% of its time.
Never that much rough water, so the lower height doesn't bother me. I fish pike with suckers quite a bit and I like the baitwell. I have read about porpoising problems occasionally. I will rig it with an Evinrude Etec either the I-2 or possibly the I-3 HO, undecided thus far. So I'd like to hear from those who have fished out of, or owned one.
Advantaged/disadvantages, taking into consideration it will be a multi-species boat as well.
Thanks.
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Posts: 32890
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Mag will not porpoise if it's correctly propped and you do not over-trim the engine.
Best Muskie platform out there, just not a 'big water' boat. Great for crappies, walleyes, any other fish as well, again, as long as you don't intend to fish Bay of Green Bay. Runs very well with an Evinrude, no issues there. Exrtremely stable at rest, can run all over the boat, too. |
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Posts: 251
| For the Lake you have stated, this rig would be perfect. I sold mine for an 1890 and wish I could have kept them both. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I have an Esox LTD which is the same length just 10" narrower. I've had it on ~1000 acre lakes in Vilas no issues as long as it's not blowing 25 mph. I've fished in Mags before as well...great rigs.. stable, roomy, and can handle most waters just fine...for the lake you fish you should like it. |
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Posts: 4
| Thanks for the replies. I know I probably won't win too many drag races with this rig, but my Alumacraft only does 33 mph now, so I'll be ok! The dealer told me with a Merc 60 speeds of 37 mph are possible (rigged/propped optimally) this sounds very optimistic to me, but I don't have much experience with glass boats. Thoughts? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | he was right. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Sounds a little fast to me. Maybe that is without trolling motor or batteries.
I have an Esox Ltd. I primarily fish a 4,000 acre lake. I can't say I have ever felt nervous on it.
Agree with others about the stability of the platform. Extremely stable. |
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Posts: 4
| BNelson - 6/30/2017 2:29 PM
he was right.
Cool, that's not too shabby... |
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Posts: 265
Location: Manitowish Waters WI | I have been running an esox mag for the last 4 years. I multi species guide out of it and it has great versatility as both a muskie and everything else boat. One thing I love is I can walleye fish 4 people (including myself) comfortable sitting inline. That's hard to find with gas tank and seating options in new boats at any length. I think enough has been said about the boat as a muskie platform. Another thing is the amount of sail and wind drag when running a bow mount. I put a new Terrova on it this year and the spot lock feature can hold the boat in substantial winds with little effort or sailing. I live on a smaller chain of lakes and it's prefect for Vilas county lakes but like stated don't plan on pushing it to a big water boat. Smooth ride, little sluggish out of the hole with 4 people and gear. Can get 28mph with full boat and gear with my 60 4 stoke merc. Biggest disadvantage I have identified is the boat can take water over the nose with series of rouge wakeboard or surf waves. If you can catch them and turn sideways it's fine but if they catch you off guard and the hit head on the second wave always comes over the front. Also if docked 3-4 inch rainfalls can easily flood the boat over floor boards. Wish I had an auto bilge. Once rod lockers and storage areas get wet the boat is very difficult to get dry. It really is a joy to fish out of. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | had an Esox Magnum ... for what you are talking you will love it. for the purpose it's designed for there are none other that compare. Absolutely loved mine!!! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | surprised yours only goes 28. My Esox LTD with 50 hp goes 32 w 2 guys and gear... would think a Mag with 60 Etech would go 35 with 2 guys and avg load.. you must have lots of baits in it! 
Edited by BNelson 7/3/2017 8:15 AM
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Posts: 265
Location: Manitowish Waters WI | I used to get 36 with 2 guys and gears but I was forced to pitch down in prop after the first group of 3 "grown" men booked me for Muskie. Was unable to break plane. Sacrificed the top end for hole shot power. The mercury 4 strike is really a dog out of the hole. My buddies 50 etec on his marauder blows me away.
Edited by esox1980 7/3/2017 1:06 PM
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Posts: 4
| Thanks for the additional comments!
I weigh 180 and my main partner is 170, 60 percent of the time I fish solo. So she won't really see any heavy loads. And yes even though the Merc and the Evinrude both say 60hp on the side the way they get there is very different. The Evinrude provides excellent grunt out of the hole, should be a good match for the Mag. My lake is in SE Wisconsin, so although the wind isn't a huge wave maker, the boat traffic sure is! I would have to keep an eye on the wake boarders all the time! We do have strict
"no wake" til 10:00am on weekends and quite often that's around when I pull the plug anyhow. By the looks of the profile vs. my deep V I am anticipating the Terrova having a much easier time holding spot lock and tracking in general!! |
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