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| Wondering what the best boats you have fished muskies out of? My favorites are a 620 ranger, 681 ranger, 1850, fishhawk and a late 90s Alumicraft Dominator (great memories in the dominator)
I think I would like to try fishing out of a Tuffy x-190, Javelin MXS, and a tuffy esox tiller
What are your favorites? |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I like the Alumacraft dominators and navigators as well for a aluminum boat they by far are the best for the money. I also like rangers both bass and deep v boats. Stability when fishing in waves is what I like and look for. I have fished out of a couple of champion and legend bass boats both were nice boats but not usually as stable as a similar ranger. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | i have fished out of many Ranger models and love them. I have also fished out the 1850 fish hawk and Alumacraft Dominator. Lots of room in the 1850 Hawk for muskie fishing but not a big fan of Crestliner's ride. Like the Ride of the Alumacraft better than the Crestliner but thought it lacked some room, they seem to have a smaller front deck and sit high out of the water. Like the Rangers the best. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I am sure there will be a few responses that will say "the one I own" or "any boat that puts me on the water" or "the one that is paid for" etc. If I interpret this correctly it to be about fishability and characteristics of the boat as well.
I, personally like the alumacraft navigator series since the side gunnels are not 9 inches wide which puts me really close to the edge, making figure 8's very nice and easy to do. Whomever holds down the back of the boat has an awesome platform!! If anything a little wider platform would be ideal, but man...talk about being at a great level and being able to put your rod directly down. The front deck is nice sized...you could fish two people off the front deck, but it would be a little tight...doable, though...
iI have not fished out of glass, but I do think I would enjoy it tremendously, just for what I understand to be a lack of blowing around due to lower sides....and with the bigger ones, I think I'd like the speed as well.
Steve |
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Location: Des Moines IA | As far as fish ability, Tuffy Esox Magnum Tiller. All around boat, Tuffy X-190. If I won the lottery, Ranger 620 .................. |
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| Fished all the well known names in glass boats...for me 2060 Tuffy hands down for 3 in the boat on big water |
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Posts: 774
Location: South East Wisconsin | We run a Starcraft Super fisherman. With the rear deck I added it makes life a lot easier for those back there. Its a little on the high side but nothing a longer rod can’t handle. Makes a great trolling boat as well. All around best boat I fished out of was a Ranger 681.
Edited by Esox-Hunter 1/16/2010 2:37 PM
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Posts: 38
Location: Twin Cities Metro | Mirrocraft Aggressor EXP. The best alum. Deep v in my book. They have big casting decks front and back, and the side console set up gives you tons of room for all your equipment. Its a great boat for tourney fishing and guiding. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Ranger 620
Tuffy X-190
Both very nice rides, Tuffy is faster ,.....620 is better for 3 people.... imho
I run a Skeeter, but will up grade to one of these for sure.
Jerome
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Posts: 743
| A nice simple boat: 20 ft alaskan or pro guide |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | I looked over a lot of boats before I bought my Tuffy X-190. They all had some good points and some bad points but for the type of fishing I do most, bigger water with semi-protected areas, this is the best boat I've been in.
It's just OK in the rough stuff like when you have 40mph+ winds and honest three to four footers with big white caps as it has lower sides than my older Alumacraft deep V and doesn't really plane very well under 25 mph. It launches OK in the mediocre landings. It isn't quite as stable as a wider boat in wakes when you get hit sideways while fishing as it's 90" wide. It more than makes up for it in using just a little more than 1/2 the gas my old rig did. It loafs along at 40 to 50 mph with a full load so I never think twice about running back to a good spot even if it is ten miles away and if the weather looks like it is going to get bad I can push it a lot hader than that to get back to camp. It is a lot easier to control in the wind with the electric and trolls good with the kicker. It rides great in normal conditions. It has a big livewell with accessable plumbing so when it wears out in ten years it will be easier to fix. It has more room on the front deck than any other boat I've fished in. Since that's where I fish I like that. The sides are lower so I can easlily work on hooked fish. It has ample storage for rods. The removeable rear deck is handy, so when I'm trolling boards I can have more room for people to sit in the back or with the deck in it is good for bass or musky casting. The dry storage is dry and that means a lot. That's pretty much why I enjoy this boat more than any other I've had.
I've fished out of Alumacrafts, Rangers, Crestliners, Lunds, Champions, a Warrior and a couple others I can't remember now and they all were decent boats. Each one had something that set it apart from the others. You just need to really define what your exact needs are and then find the compromise that satisfies most of them. Getting someone else's ideal boat doesn't mean you will be happy with it. |
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Posts: 32
Location: Moses Lake, Wa | I am a big fan of the skeeters and champions. they are comfortable to fish out of all day and are smooth, nice riding boat. |
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Posts: 8849
| Ranger: 619VS, 690VS, 681VS, 1860 Angler. Like them all. Fit and finish is superior to any other boat I've fished out of. I wouldn't want to try to dump the 619 into some of the crappy launches in Vilas, but if I was made of money I'd own one of those three, probably a 690.
Tuffy: 1760 GC, 1700 GC, Esox Magnum, Rampage. It depends on what you are looking for... I like the Exox Magnum for sheer fishability, space, and being able to launch it anywhere. If I was trillong on Green Bay or fishign Vermilion or something? I'd go with the 1760. The 1700 is nice, but a bit small for fishing 3 guys. The rampage magnum? That thing was a Yacht. You could probably fish 4 out of it. To big for most of the fishing I do.
Lund: 18' Alaskan, 16' Alaskan... If all you want is a fishing boat, these are hard to beat. It takes a while to get used to the high sides, but the 18' is a boat you can fish pretty much anywhere. Plenty of space, fish friendly layout. It's no Ranger, but it's certainly plenty of boat for muskie fishing.
Alumicraft NAvagator 175CS: This is the boat I would choose if I were to go with aluminum. I like the layout, it's got plenty of room, a 90 4 stroke is plenty of motor for it, and you don;t blow around too much. Comparing it to the 165, the 165 feels a bit cramped.
I've also fished out of a handful of bass boats, Crestliners, a G3, pretty much everything from a rental boat on up... I think you have to ask yourself where you do most of your fishing, and when and how. Glass or aluminum? Are you a rock banger? Do you want speed? How important is stability? Are you making long runs, are you trolling, are you fishing in big waves? Do you want a tiller, single console? There is no "best boat" for everyone. I'd love the big G3 late in the fall, live bait fishing in stupid cold weather -- a bimini top, a big cooler, 3 friends and a Mr Heater. That same boat would be useless in a lot of the places I fish. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | under normal conditions i liked my esox magnum ...
bigger water with a rough ride home ... looking forward to fishing out of my new 690 ...
otherwise a great boat and among my favorite is the 98 champion fish-hunter 19' boat = great layout! |
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Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | I agree with Jon, The Esox Magnum in my opinion is a awesome boat to fish out of in Ideal conditions, Especially in the Northwoods.
For me my favorite Boats to fish out of on big water were my 619 Ranger and the 1880 Skeeter i have now.
The problem is trying to find the right boat once my Skeeter sells this spring that will handle big water such as Winnebago and still be able to get me afloat on some of the smaller lakes i like to fish up north.
I've had 10 boats since i've been 18 yrs old. My wife thinks i need Therapy
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Posts: 32
Location: Moses Lake, Wa | HAHA, Im right there with you bridgeman, i have had 7 boats since i was 18 and im only 25. The little lady thinks im nuts but i tell her its an investment in a comfortable and relaxing day on the water when she wants to go. |
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | My favorite muskie battle station is the back deck of a Ranger 620 VS. |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Everybody has their own preferences, mine happens to be a Tuffy 1890. It suits the bigger WI waters well that I fish better than the smaller boats. It is also very well suited for LOTW, Mille Lacs or any big body of water you want to throw it on.
It can handle almost any wind conditions (have had it out in 4+ footers) but is still able to launch into the small N WI lakes, many of which I guide on. If I didn't run the big lakes I would love to fish out of a Tuffy Esox Magnum. Those things are simply awesome. |
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Posts: 253
Location: Birchwood, WI. | SKEETER ZX BLENTY OF STOREGE HOLDS 9 FOOT RODS!! FAST< & HANDELS BIG WATER & WAVES!!! HAD A RANGER< SKEETER RIDES MUCH SMOTHER !!!!!!!!!  PLAINS OUT FASTER AT LOWER SPEEDS ALSO! |
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Posts: 677
Location: Twin Cities, MN | I have only had a couple boats, but the used Ranger 617 I found about three years ago has great for me. Fits in my garage, is easy to tow, and does great muskie or walleye fishing for me here in the TC.
Pal |
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | My Bell Northstar canoe. Kevlar layup with ash and walnut trim. I have fished out of it from the everglades, to the Ozarks, the boundary waters, and Algonquin PP in Ontario. It is one sweet boat solo or tandem. It weighs just 44 lbs. I have carried it on my back for over a mile in a single portage. It has seen everything from snook and redfish to bass, walleye, pike, and oh yes Musky. |
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Posts: 17
Location: Minnetonka | Easily the best boats I've fished out of were a Young's 24' and a Yellowfin 24' bay boat. If I would buy a new boat again, it would be an Everglades 243 or a Gause .
I keep hoping Tuffy builds a 23 or 24' CC, but not enough interest here in the Midwest for a boat like those.
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Posts: 32945
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tuffy 180 C, one of the best Muskie boats I have owned. Bass Cat Panterra, nice ride. Champion Fish Hunter, was a nice ride the Ranger 690 freaks need to discover when looking at older model rides that are muskie friendly and truly big water comfortable. Hydrostream Hooker, a Madman's idea of a Muskie Boat. Tuffy Esox LTD and Magnum, perfect for lakes to 4000 acres or waves under 3'. 18' Center Console Tuffy...yes, they did build one for a couple years. My 1690 Patriot, outstanding little Muskie boat and 1 of only 2 built; built by a true crook up in Canada, but a truly nice boat, Tuffy will build this boat eventually when they have some time to retool it from my rig. X190 DS Esox Deep V, my idea of the nearly perfect Muskie/Multi-specie rig for most all conditions and waters. New Lund Predator, a REALLY nice aluminum multi specie ride. Been in most all brands and styles, and all are great boats. This year I'm fishing a 1700 Tuffy powered by a 115 4 stroke. Back to my all time favorite Muskie boat, the 17' Deep V hull Tuffy, Skeeter, Yar Craft, and a half dozen other companies have built. |
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Posts: 5
| My 96 Yarcraft 1785 Millacs tiller! It busted loose from the dock in Canada Last year $5300 to fix! worth every penny! The only one I liked as well is new 21ft Yarcraft tiller. Maybe when I retire this one in another twenty years! Wish I could run more than a 75 tiller on it. Check out Yarcraft then your done buying them!
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| Any of you fished from a 19' Stratos? |
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Posts: 344
Location: Musky Country | Hammskie - 1/21/2010 9:56 AM
My favorite muskie battle station is the back deck of a Ranger 620 VS.
Same here Its hard to beat!!!!!!!!! |
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| ^^^^^^^Agreed!!!!!!!!!^^^^^^ |
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Posts: 162
Location: Bemidji, MN | mine! I just love fishing, you could put me in an innertube and I would be happy |
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| lund 2010 explorer |
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| for fishing 2 guys, considering price...hard to look past the 1750 fishhawk. Boatloads of front and rear casting deck space, and the Lund hull without the price. |
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