Bass vs. Walleye Boat

[coombia21]

I will be getting a boat this summer. I am looking for it to be able to do bass tournaments first and foremost. Then will be pleasure bass and walleye fishing, then laying out and leisure. I am able to get a 2005 skeeter tzx 200 with a yami 200 for a darn good deal, (my girlfriends dad), otherwise I will end up getting a 2000-2002 lund pro v 1800 for about the same money. I am in a dilemma, if I get the bass boat I know who has ran it, know that it has been taken care of, and that it will be great for tournament bass fishing. But I lose out on any and all walleye fishing. But if I get a pro-v the boat will be older, I wont know anything about who has been running it or taking care of it, but I will be able to walleye fish and decently bass fish. What do you think I should do.

Thanks for your opinions.

[delcecchi]

Why do you say you can't walleye fish from a bass boat? It might be a little awkward, depending on technique, but it would work. Rigging, no problem. Jigging, no problem. Casting cranks, no problem. Trolling, could be a problem but you can do some with the bow mount.

Big waves in the middle of big lakes could be somewhat an issue, so don't do that, although I have seen musky guys in bass boats out in some stuff that was nasty enough for me.

[fish_eat_sleep]

For bass tournaments you probably will want a bass boat for speed and stability. you can always fish for walleye or any species of fish out of any boat really. but for laying out and leisure probably the lund. it has a deeper hull and cockpit for family, friends, and tow sports. you can get bow cushions and all kinds of nice things for it. again though if bass tournaments are the first priority get a bass boat. its all about priorities i guess. theres plenty of used pontoons and smaller less expensive "family" style of boats for that kind of boating too if you do end up with a tournament bass rig.

[suncruiser234]

Go with the bass boat. An aluminum boat with high sides is impossible to control in the wind with a bow mount.

[thatoneguy]

If tournaments are important to you, go with the bass boat. The only reason I haven't fished in a bass tournament yet is that the walleye boat I have just isn't suitable for bass tourney fishing (too slow, too hard to control in the wind, not great in shallow water etc).

[coombia21]

I fished out of a zx2050 deep v for all my tournaments last year. It was okay, it was just a little harder to fish from, and I dont like the layout of all the storage for what I am using it for.

[Wayne Ek]

I fish a lot of bass tournaments and have since the early 80's (no wise-cracks D.D.) My first tournament boat was a Ranger 690, then I went to a Ranger 619 both muti-species rigs. They both worked fine for most tournament situations and I've never lost a tournament because someone beat me to my first spot in the morning. The muti-species boats are prone to catch more wind, but with the 36-volt systems available today that really isn't a problem. They do draw more water so some extremely shallow fish maybe hard to get to. My next two boats were Rangers, but I went to bass rigs a Ranger 520 and now a Ranger Z-20. They handle the big water just fine, but it's not going to be as dry of a ride as you can get in a muti-species rig. But that being said my next rig will probably be a muti-species again. Family outings seem easier in a muti-species and it's a little safer with small kids. But if you can pick-up a bass rig at a good price and from someone you know who has taken care of it... that would be my first choice.

[BrandonN]

If I was you I would go with the bass boat. Im a walleye fan and love prov but if your doing bass tournaments get something better for that

[RoldGold]

Buy them both

[Shawn Kellett]

I've been running a 21' bass boat for muti-species for about 8 years now. It's fine for about 90%+ of the weather conditions you're going to encounter and quite frankly I hate fishing in that last 10% anyway. If you're primarily a caster, you'll LOVE it! Plus there's WAY more under deck storage then any other style of boat. Go big and find one that sits off the water and you'll be ok. Rule of thumb is to get an extra 2' then you would with a deep v.

Downside:

-Fishing with little kids. You've really got to watch them.

-Hanging out with more then 3 people. Lots of deck space and built in coolers make them a floating party deck, just not much room to get out and motor around.

-Trolling. Most bass boats turn at slow speeds from the rear, not the bow. Plus getting slow can be a challenge with the main motor.

-They can be wet. All boats can, but do yourself a favor and get some 100mph gear from BPS (Enter debate here). They've got neoprene cuffs to keep you dry on those 10% days.

[coombia21]

I am leaning towards the bass boat. I am in college so I don't have kids. The only person that will be laying out is my girlfriend while I am fishing. Most of my buddys have boats so I am not too worried about carrying more than 3 people. Plus I really like the piece of mind that I know the owner of the boat and how it was taken care of.

[BartmanMN]

Knowing who owned it and how it was taken care of is huge. Skeeter for you. Enjoy

[Down Deep]

If it were me I'd go with a boat designed to accomodate the the type of fishing that are my primary target. One thing about using a bass boat to chase walleyes is that walleyes seem to get spooked by all those sparkles.

[TruthWalleyes]

How many bass tournaments are won in water deeper than 4'

I'm betting more than tournaments won in less than 1'.

You can learn how to handle a deep v in any situation, it won't come on the first day, but neither will the bass boat.

Whatever you do, put a HUMMINBIRD on that thing! (No need to debate lowrance over Hbird, we all know the birds are better )

[coombia21]

I know how to handle the deep-v but I am not going to be able to use the deep v anymore, so now is my chance to get away from a deep v. Also I already have 2 hds units that I will be bringing into the new boat so no bird for me.

[TR21HP]

Get the Skeeter especially if you're going to fish tourneys. I have a ZX200 and routinely fish Mille Lacs for Smallies. Been in some big winds before out there and the only difference than in my Triton 205 was I got a little wetter going in. Besides the bug runs real nice and you will definitely notice the difference on windy days as the Pro V rides quite a bit higher and catches a lot of wind. Never have had any problem fishing for walleyes either in the Skeeter for all the reasons listed by a previous poster.

[katoguy]

How many bass tournaments are won in water deeper than 4'

I'm betting more than tournaments won in less than 1'.

I'll take that bet!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I too will take that bet all day every day..

as for a bass boat walleye fishing, you can actually troll one quite well too with the right tools.. A drift sock rigged under the boat between the two front cleats will slow the boat down quite well.. Just sayin.

[Deitz Dittrich]

And to Wayne--- I already knew you were older than dirt, way to easy a target.. LOL

[mwal]

I just ordered a Bass boat an 186 Stratos. I have come full circle on boats I fish mostly bass and walleye on smaller WI lakes. I have had a Princraft 178 DLx since 99. It is deeper than any Pro V. It is a complete pain to fish casting out of it catches way to much wind. If you are not fishing Winne , Leech, Mille Lacs frequently go with the Skeeter. If kids come into the picture your needs may change. That what happened in "87 with me and a Tuffy Esox. JR walked overboard at 18 mos old. The Mrs said that it nor more bass style boats. Yes he was in Life jacket and wanted to walk in again and again. Then to a Starcraft with walk thru then the Princecraft.

I would get from the trusted source GF dad

Mwal

[Archerysniper]

Why do you say you can't walleye fish from a bass boat? It might be a little awkward, depending on technique, but it would work. Rigging, no problem. Jigging, no problem. Casting cranks, no problem. Trolling, could be a problem but you can do some with the bow mount.

Big waves in the middle of big lakes could be somewhat an issue, so don't do that, although I have seen musky guys in bass boats out in some stuff that was nasty enough for me.

Ask Deitz this question,we had a GTG on Millacs and nothing against his fancy glitter boat but he couldn't get where he wanted to be to catch walleyes while the deep v's went right past. You could look towards a ranger walleye rig and it should serve all your uses.

[delcecchi]

I was just commenting that if the weather is too rough for a bass boat, I don't much enjoy being out there either very much. I have a 1775 pro vee.

PS pretty cool that Johnny Cash covered a Nine Inch Nails song.

You might like

http://youtu.be/gjwgYvzQWS4

[thatoneguy]

Cash's cover of Hurt is eighty-two bajillion times better than Reznor's (and I'm a NIN fan). Possibly the best song in Cash's incredible career, IMO.

[ib_jigged]

Fished in a buddy's bass boat last summer for walleyes on Upper Red, was OK until wind came up, try to stand in one of those and reach for the net when you need to land a fish (or relieve yourself). Nothing to hang on to or put your legs against, all 3 of us darn near fell in at some point. Fishing was fantastic, but had to leave when all the deeper boats were staying out. Wish we would have taken my Lund up that day!

Each style has their purpose though!

[Archerysniper]

PS pretty cool that Johnny Cash covered a Nine Inch Nails song.

You might like

http://youtu.be/gjwgYvzQWS4

Spanks, I graduated in '98 and listened to a lot of NIN