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Posts: 17
| Hello,
I am trying to get back into muskie fishing. Did a lot as a child, and realized how much I missed it. I now live in north central Wisconsin. I am looking for a boat and have a few questions. I will mostly be fishing the Wisconsin River, mainly between Merrill and Wausau, so pretty shallow waters. However, I would like to be able to fish bigger waters as well. Tomahawk, Mohawksin and others. Fiberglass or aluminum? Relatively flat bottom? Size? Just looking for some tips. Also, any tips on what works well in these areas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. |
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Posts: 67
| If money is no object, tough to beat a Ranger of any kind.
I fish a lot of WI river (point stretch) and sold my 2013 Ranger 1760 and went with a 1875 Lund Impact.
I think the ultimate would be a nice glass boat (ranger/tuffy/etc) that you didn't have to be carful with (used boat with good motor). I buy a new Ranger and I am all freaked out about dock rash and rocks. In my Impact, for some reason, I don't get that way (or not as bad at least....lol).
I was thinking a nice Exos Mag till you said "bigger water".......
Whats your budget??
Edited by materospizza 7/21/2014 2:17 PM
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Posts: 206
| I would say Esox Magnum or X-170. X-170 might do better in bigger waters, tracking in current or trolling but that's just my opinion. A couple good ones for sale in the boat ads. |
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Posts: 1168
| Something you can use for trolling |
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Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | If you're fishing the stretch between Merrill and Brokaw you'll need a smaller aluminum boat or 16' - 18' Jon boat with a jet drive motor. There's a lot of skinny water in that stretch. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I'm not familiar with the stretch of river you're fishing, and that will probably be the most determining factor in your purchase. If it's the type of river that you'll be bouncing the boat off rocks and logs, and dragging it over bottom, I think you'd almost need a smaller 14 to maybe 16' flatbottom. That same boat will take you just about anywhere, but you wouldn't want to be on a several thousand acre lake if the wind picks up to 15-20+. If that river is deep enough for a true V hull and you just have to watch where you are going, then a 16-17' V or semi V hull in most any name brand aluminum, or fiberglass, Ranger, Tuffy, etc. that you like would be fine.
If you want a river puddle jumper, and something to fish bigger water, I think you'll have to compromise somewhere. |
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Posts: 17
| Thanks for the input. I have a $5,000 budget or so, (wife pending). I was looking at a few used Tuffy esox in that range. I would like to try the river, but have never river fished. When I say "bigger water", I'm talking more about Alexander, Mohawksin, Tomahawk and others in the area. Is the jet drive worth it? |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Tuffy esox magnum/ LTD would get my vote. You can get into some pretty skinny water with it, but it still fishes the lakes you mentioned well...most of the time. Get a used one with scrapes and dings and you won't care about putting a few more into it. You could always get a car topper as well,for when you want to hit that real rocky section of the river. The Tuffy is tailor made for N. Wisconsin IMO. |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | Merrill/Brokaw is maybe the worst stretch of the WI river for shallow water and rocks. If most of your fishing is there I would buy a 16' mod-v jon boat with a jet drive. Seriously, that is a sketchy part of the river. If you are mostly on flowages an Esox Mag would be great, not a great big water boat but what you're fishing isn't really big water, just use discretion if its windy. Esox Mags are spacious and very stable. |
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Posts: 337
Location: Watersmeet, Michigan | I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Flat bottomed boats are nice for rivers, but on bigger lakes, a deep V hull is the only way to go. (Ask yourself: if the winds kick up 2-3 foot waves, do I really want to be in a flat bottom boat?) If I fished both types of water regularly, I'd look for an inexpensive jon boat with a 15-20 hp engine for the river, then put my money into the deep V.
Fr. K |
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Posts: 1039
| If fishing a river, get a flat bottom aluminum boat. Or just look on the roadside for any old aluminum boat to use as a float boat. Shouldn't cost much at all. They key is that the boat should be light enough to carry and if it fits in the bed of a truck, so much the better.
If on the lakes, I'd look long and hard at a tri-hull. Tuffy is a great choice. Lakeland has some old tri-hulls out there too. Find one that you like. And think about the trailer. I personally like the glide on bunks, but I know that you can get into shallower water and crappier launches with roller trailers.
And if you are fishing up north, some of the best fishing I've found is on lakes with the worst launches. Just something to consider. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | as stated above you simply can't beat an esox ltd or esox mag for what you are describing sans the possibility of extreme shallow water, but with a cable trolling motor if you are careful you may be able to do it all. it's surprisingly good in bigger water. i took my esox mag to eagle lake and within reason handled it. they have more capability than some might think and they fish HUGE. enormous fishing platform ... |
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Posts: 134
| I would argue boat is important but a roller trailer will help on so,e of the northern shallow landings |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | Yooper Padre - 7/22/2014 6:53 AM
I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Fr. K
Been proven many times that statement is false, and in some cases fiberglass actually stands up better than aluminum. If you hit rocks hard enough to cause damage to fiberglass, there will be comparable damage to the aluminum. Now if you will fish rivers mostly I vote aluminum otherwise find a tuffy emag and love it! |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 1:19 PM
Yooper Padre - 7/22/2014 6:53 AM
I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Fr. K
Been proven many times that statement is false, and in some cases fiberglass actually stands up better than aluminum. If you hit rocks hard enough to cause damage to fiberglass, there will be comparable damage to the aluminum. Now if you will fish rivers mostly I vote aluminum otherwise find a tuffy emag and love it!
I'm curious as to why the suggestion to fish aluminum in rivers if not for the impact resistance. |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | Flambeauski - 7/22/2014 2:10 PM
danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 1:19 PM
Yooper Padre - 7/22/2014 6:53 AM
I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Fr. K
Been proven many times that statement is false, and in some cases fiberglass actually stands up better than aluminum. If you hit rocks hard enough to cause damage to fiberglass, there will be comparable damage to the aluminum. Now if you will fish rivers mostly I vote aluminum otherwise find a tuffy emag and love it!
I'm curious as to why the suggestion to fish aluminum in rivers if not for the impact resistance.
Far easier to maneuver in skinny water |
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Posts: 20254
Location: oswego, il | Go with a good aluminum mod v and a roller trailer. At 5k your options will be limited. You don't need a big boat for northern Wisconsin. The smaller boat keeps all you river and launch options open. You may not find the roller trailer with the boat and a jet drive for 5k would be a rare thing to find. Look at a 17ft mod v Jon boat with a 25-40hp motor. |
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Posts: 111
| danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 8:51 PM
Flambeauski - 7/22/2014 2:10 PM
danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 1:19 PM
Yooper Padre - 7/22/2014 6:53 AM
I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Fr. K
Been proven many times that statement is false, and in some cases fiberglass actually stands up better than aluminum. If you hit rocks hard enough to cause damage to fiberglass, there will be comparable damage to the aluminum. Now if you will fish rivers mostly I vote aluminum otherwise find a tuffy emag and love it!
I'm curious as to why the suggestion to fish aluminum in rivers if not for the impact resistance.
Far easier to maneuver in skinny water
Add lighter and more durable !!!! Man remember Glass canoes 
Edited by WINDKNOT 7/24/2014 1:53 PM
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | And louder... |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | I have an alumacraft 175 tourney pro that I think is about perfect for northern Wisconsin. Big enough to fish just about anywhere with 3 people. Casts well, trolls well. Stable bit relatively light. Mine has a 135 2 stroke. There is bigger and better out there but I love my boats versatility.
For 5 k though I think toddm is right with a mod v. I would strongly consider one if I only fished northern wi.
Edited by Trophyseeker50 7/24/2014 6:21 PM
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | WINDKNOT - 7/24/2014 1:51 PM
danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 8:51 PM
Flambeauski - 7/22/2014 2:10 PM
danmuskyman - 7/22/2014 1:19 PM
Yooper Padre - 7/22/2014 6:53 AM
I see guys from down south using mostly glass boats, but there's a reason most of us up north and into Canada use aluminum: rocks. When you hit one with aluminum the result is usually a scratch or dent. Hitting those same rocks in a fiberglass boat can mean disaster.
Fr. K
Been proven many times that statement is false, and in some cases fiberglass actually stands up better than aluminum. If you hit rocks hard enough to cause damage to fiberglass, there will be comparable damage to the aluminum. Now if you will fish rivers mostly I vote aluminum otherwise find a tuffy emag and love it!
I'm curious as to why the suggestion to fish aluminum in rivers if not for the impact resistance.
Far easier to maneuver in skinny water
Add lighter and more durable !!!! Man remember Glass canoes : (
Aluminum and glass are very close if you stay apples to apples in features, with glass sometimes weighing less....not more.
If you hit a glass boat hard enough to do more than gel coat damage ( the 'paint') and hit the same thing the same way with aluminum, the damage is going to comparable or worse due to difficulty of repair.
Aluminum boats are now painted to look really cool for the most part, so they now 'scratch' too. More durable? No, not at all. Both are great boat building materials.
Yes, I remember glass canoes. This is one we own. Made by Goldenhawk here in Wisconsin, it's a 2014, tough as nails, stable, and a blast to fish out of. Weighs 45 pounds.
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Posts: 20254
Location: oswego, il | I hear the aluminum equivalent to that canoe weighs 43.62lbs.;-) |
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Posts: 377
Location: On the River | I live on that section of the Wisconsin River and have been fishing it for over 20 years I have a aluminum MV tunnel jon boat with a jet outboard. If you are just floating down river a small outboard is ok if you want to put in at Brokaw and motor up you need a jet unless the water is high. Be prepared to hit rock because you will, cant tell you how many times I have had to get my boat welded after hitting rocks during years of low water. I would suggest buy a cheap jon boat for the river and an older Tuffy Esox for lake fishing |
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