Bass boat?

[Jeff13]

I am seriously considering buying a bass boat for my next boat. Most of my fishing is casting so it would seem to be a logical choice considering the massive decks.

I have previously owned a Ranger 620T and my last boat was close to a bass boat the Ranger 618vs.

I fish a lot on lake Minnetonka and that lake really can get rolling. How do your 20 foot bass boats handle tonka? I never had an issue fishing in anything with my 618 out there.

I was thinking about the 620 or 619 but they are so expensive! The bass boats used I've found online seem to be priced a lot better and there are so many to choose from.

I've never fished out of a bass boat but have heard they can handle waves pretty good when hopping spot to spot, but what about casting in 2 footers?

[Superduty]

A 20 foot bassboat will handle Tonka (and a lot more) just fine! Most people just don't realize how well these boats handle rough water. If you want to fish in big waves I would recommend a 52" shaft trolling motor so it doesn't blow out in the peaks and valleys of waves.

[TR21HP]

Tonka is a cake walk with a bass boat. Consider the pros fish Rayburn down in Texas, Lake Champlain and Lake Erie and they make a windy Mille Lacs look like a bath tub in terms of waves. You should have no problem with 2 footers.

[Jeff13]

Blowing out the trolling motor in waves is what I was concerned about. I had two guys tell me it happens all the time. I was thinking there shafts on the Trolling motor they have must be a little short.

[mww24]

Definitely go with a 52" trolling motor if you only fish big water. Im assuming your a muskie fisherman so you'll probably not be in a ton of really shallow water. You can always raise a longer shaft but can never extend a short one. Ive taken my 17.5' footer on mille lacs in stuff where I disappear in between waves. Id guess you need to "drive" the boat a bit more in rough stuff than a big deep boat because you cant just plow through the waves or you will spear them easier than in a deeper boat. The other thing I would recommend would be a 4 blade prop in a bit smaller pitch than the 3 blade a bass boat will probably come with. You'll give up top end but gain on responsiveness and handling with the 4 blade.