Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Been reading/watching a lot about pond management, and would love to have a chunk of land w/some good hunting areas and a good 5 acre pond, and a small house to put on it... So I thought this would be an interesting thread question... All things be equal (cost wise), which would you rather do, buy a shiny new bass boat or build a private/farm pond? I guess it is somewhat based on how you like to fish... I'd like to have both, but to choose one I'd want to have the pond because I usually just like to be pretty laid back when I fish.. What are your thoughts? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Where I live, no pond can hold up to what is an hour less drive in any direction. Boat is an easy choice. 3 Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Boat first....although I'd love to have both. Or you could always get the land/pond and while you're saving up for a boat..buy a Kayak and become a co-angler for tourneys to tide you over. 1 Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond, Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married. As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat. 2 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 5, 2015 Author Super User Posted January 5, 2015 My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond, Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married. As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat. My thoughts exactly... A buddy of mine and I have both thought about this as an option to invest in together... It would take a few years of being a workaholic and taking a break from fishing of course.... But that's life, and I think it might pay off! 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Where I live, no pond can hold up to what is an hour less drive in any direction. Boat is an easy choice. Yelp Quote
Super User scaleface Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Pond. I could always pick up a good used boat. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 5 acre pond managed excellent takes time to build trophy fish. Money also. (I look at my time as dollar signs) so you put that into this body of water and HOPE the worst never happens such as people sneaking in and bucket fishing, LMB disease, varmint damage etc... Put that same money into a boat and you have 1000s of fisheries at your disposal. Now in saying that, my wife and I will be looking to build a new house in the next three years. We will be buying land outside of the city limits and hopefully in the 40-80 acre range. If it has hunting timber and a pond of two, I'll be glad to write a bigger check 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Land and a pond would also be an investment . Bass boats depreciate . 1 Quote
a1712 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond, Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married. As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat. Great advice, people do get thing out of sequence. It was great to retire fully at 45 and do whatever I want everyday, not sometime, everyday. It was hard and sometimes I felt it wasn't worth it, but it's been 3 years now and I'm lov'n it. My choice would be House, Land and Pond, if you're starting from a blank slate. Easy to choose boat if you have a roof over your head. Brian. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Land and a pond would also be an investment . Bass boats depreciate . Depends on the land and location. Quote
ThatZX14Fella Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I'd take the pond. I'd rather have a kayak over a boat. I feel like I'd have to much fun driving the boat around and forget all about fishing. Plus when I'm too lazy to hook up the trailer, drive to the river, unload the boat, fish, load the boat back up, and drive home, I could just go fish in the pond. 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Pond. I could always pick up a good used boat. For the price of a good used boat, you could get a good start on a pond. Having a pond to play in is one thing; managing a good fishery is another. I would take the boat! Quote
RSM789 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Pond, especially if I could make it a bit bigger than 5 acres and throw in a Pond Prowler. I like the solitude, so being able to control who is on the water is a plus. Living in a highly populated area may be the driving force for that. My sister moved to Texas a few years ago, about an hour outside of Austin. A few of her clients have ponds or small lakes on their cattle ranches & were gracious enough to let me fish them when I visited. The entire experience each time was incredible. 1 Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 5 acre pond managed excellent takes time to build trophy fish. Money also. (I look at my time as dollar signs) so you put that into this body of water and HOPE the worst never happens such as people sneaking in and bucket fishing, LMB disease, varmint damage etc... Put that same money into a boat and you have 1000s of fisheries at your disposal. Now in saying that, my wife and I will be looking to build a new house in the next three years. We will be buying land outside of the city limits and hopefully in the 40-80 acre range. If it has hunting timber and a pond of two, I'll be glad to write a bigger check Amen fellow bass fisherman, my wife and I are on the same plan. Quote
Don't Tell The Wife Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond, Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married. As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat. Pay cash for the boat and enjoy it even more. 2 Quote
Brnnoser6983 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Boat and hand digg a pond... but I am a cheap #&$.... 1 Quote
Alpha Male Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 up here in minnesota we may not have the same size of fish that some of you enjoy (state record LMB is 8lb 15oz. and the SMB is 8 even caught back in 1946) but they dont call us the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing. I know that around me you cant go 300 yards without hitting a lake. its a boat all day long. Quote
Brnnoser6983 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 up here in minnesota we may not have the same size of fish that some of you enjoy (state record LMB is 8lb 15oz. and the SMB is 8 even caught back in 1946) but they dont call us the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing. I know that around me you cant go 300 yards without hitting a lake. its a boat all day long. Lol.. only boating 1/2 the year if we are lucky. What I wouldn't do to move from MN to FL. But I love our lakes, and outdoors. Even in the heart of or state there are lakes everywhere. I mean where else could you go musky fishing from a dock while on an hour lunch break from your corporate desk job? Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 Why not both? A jon boat on a pond is nice but that doesn't mean you can't have a larger boat to trailer as well. You don't have to spend a fortune, as they say in the car business, " there is an ass for every seat" or is it a seat for every ass", can't get that one straight, lol. Quote
Djf3864 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I would like a nice big lot of secluded land, and a mid-range boat. I would be sick of fishing the same area all the time, takes the challenge out of it I think. The land would be a nice place to relax and enjoy the wilderness, and the boat would allow me fish a lot of different places. Quote
BaitMonkey1984 Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Gotta join the majority here and say boat. You would be able to get a nice setup for $25k. I would opt for a gently used fiberglass than opting for a new aluminum boat- unless you are subject to HP limitations in your area. It is a difficult choice, however I love hopping in the boat and exploring new waters. Also, the cost of maintaining the pond has got to be significant, both in time and money. I would rather be able to hop in my Ranger knowing I am going find fish , rather than playing biologist and trying to figure out why my pond isn't producing. I guess I am just not of a " pondmeister" mindset, yet. 1 Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted January 5, 2015 Super User Posted January 5, 2015 I'm going with the pond. 5 acres will give you a good size, build your home on the pond will def limit who decides to try and fish it. Also a few geese never hurt either. Ofcourse this depends on where you live. In the south you can manage and grow your fish with proper stocking and management. Now if it's not there, then I'll go with the boat due to regulations and shorter growing seasons for the fish. But I still think either will end up costing more then $25,000 if you want it done right and the way you want......should be the $75,000 question just to be on the safe side. 1 Quote
Don't Tell The Wife Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Does it change anyone's answer if the pond is one that Bill Dance fishes from on his TV show? 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.