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Posts: 18
| I am trying to decide what is best suited for my situation.
1.) Boat will be strictly for fishing northern Wisconsin lakes 80% musky 20% walleye
2.) Will have 2-3 people in the boat fishing
3.) cast 70% of the time and troll the rest
4.) I have a bigger boat already so looking for a smaller boat to get into the smaller lakes, but yet take out on some of the bigger lakes if conditions allow.
Looking for stability and fishability! Don't care about speed!
What's your opinion?
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Posts: 937
| Both are nice boats but personally I would pick the Esox Magnum. I owned 3 of them a 94, 97 and 2001. There is more than enough room to fish 3 guys. Trolls really nice. Sits low to the water and is very stable so its great for handling fish, figure 8's and drifts really slow even in a stiff wind. I fished out of a friends 165 Alumacraft and wind blew it around pretty good.
Tuffy will definitely be easier for boat control. A lot of days I miss having one especially on small lakes.
Good luck,
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
Edited by Jeff Hanson 1/13/2021 10:53 AM
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Another vote for the Tuffy.
My first real "muskie" boat was a Esox Ltd. I also fish out of my buddies Magnum a couple times a year. Awesome boats. Amazingly stable. And like Jeff said, very easy to control. |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | I own a navigator 165 tiller and love it. Very similar layout to the competitor, just a bit wider beam (91 vs 87). I have fished out of a magnum a few times, but prefer the Alumacraft and have not found it to blow around as Jeff said. Maybe it's in who's controlling the boat or which Alumacraft 165 it was too - there's also the classic and escape models at 165 as well.
It fishes 2 excellent and 3 good, trolls fantastic even with the big motor (i use it for walleyes and brown trout on big water), and is a better ride in rougher water. The alumacraft provides the option for more HP and a wider platform.
Either way, I don't think you can go wrong and will be happy your choice.
Edited by scmuskies 1/13/2021 11:06 AM
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| Have spent time fishing with my nephew, casting for musky from his 165 Competitor tiller and found it to be a very nice, stable boat. Good layout. He fishes Green Bay, primarily trolling but also casting and has put a lot of 50" plus fish in the net using that boat. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | In this case I'd look at price and how the seating lays out. Both are quality rides and will treat you well and both have plus and minus to consider. I have owned well over a dozen Esox low profile models, and moved to a Lund 1625. If I had to make the choice today, I'd still be running my Lund overall. |
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