Mid Life Crisis: Kayak To (Aluminum) Bassboat...is It Inevitable? What Should I Expect?

[OperationEagle]

Completing my 4th season kayak fishing and have loved every minute of it.  However, there are a few things that are becoming more problematic that are pushing me to consider buying a bass boat.  These are:

 

a. The physical strain on my back getting the boat on and off my car despite having a decent lift assist system.

b. Needing to get off or stay off the water when winds reach 10mph. And with such a short summer in MN, every fishing day counts!

c. Not being able to hold position when there is even the slightest wind.

d. Staying limited to smaller waters as boat traffic makes fishing in a kayak that much more difficult.

e. Staying limited to smaller waters as it takes too much effort and time to paddle long distances.

 

Especially with a. and e.  lifting heavy objects and paddling mid/long distances will become even more burdensome as I age.

 

I love the utility of my kayak and have fished it hard.  I want the same for a bass boat and therefore am considering only aluminum and keeping the fiberglass boats out of consideration.  Looks like these aluminums have come a long way in the past ten years. 

 

As I consider this new direction I want your perspectives on the pro's and con's.

 

Will getting a bass boat resolve the limitations of a kayak?  If not why?  If so, what are the tradeoffs (beyond the obvious like financial, garage space, car tow capacity needed)?

 

I do see kayak fishermen a lot older than I but they are few and far between.  I figured there might be a few other middle aged kayakers like me (without bassboats) that might benefit from this topic as well.  Call it a mid life crisis or call it reality.  I just want to maximize my time and enjoyment on the water with this obsession we all call fishing.

 

Thanks for your perspectives and help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[imagine29028]

just remember...boats cost gas, registration, maintenance, etc. Kayaks...nothing.

Have an anchor trolley set up? Or even a drift chute? I get frustrated by many of the same reasons, but something about being 8 inches off the water 1st thing in the morning is too much to pass up.

[WPCfishing]

When I was younger I fished a lot of tourneys. A bass boat was a must have and a fantastic toy.. 10 years after I bought a sport fishing boat and was Tuna fishing. Bass .were a thing of the past. I fished deep for about 4 years. Then I stopped fishing.. Years past and I boat a kayak and rigged it for bass fishing, long before anybody even considered them for fishing. After a couple years I sold it for the same reasons you mention. As cool as the new kayaks are they don't work for me either. I bought a canoe that I knew I could rig and be comfortable with.
The canoe eliminates the bass boat issues. I do trailer the canoe but it's light and I can store it right in my garage.
The only items I remove from it while in tow are my rods, batteries and T motors. I power it with a 55 Minn Kota and I have a 30 Minn Kota up front. It's set up like a bass boat. To totally stabilize it for standing and casting I built an easy on easy off outrigger. It's planted!
The right canoe is something you may want to consider.
Mine is a 14' fiberglass deep hull with a shallow v bottom.
It's tricked out for bass fishing. I enjoy the heck out of it.

[PourMyOwn]

That's funny, WPC, my "bass boat" is a 14' V hull aluminum boat. I also tricked it out for bass fishing. My big aluminum bass boat didn't see water this year, will probably try to sell it next spring....point is, my 14 is almost as fish able as my bigger boat, far easier to trailer(small pond ramps in NH are garbage) and can be pulled by a small pickup or even my gf's Forester.

[Catt]

Alweld 1652VJT

Hull: Mod-V 2 1/2" preformance tunnel with Smart trim tabs

Length: 16'

Bottom: 52"

Beam: 72"

Non-skid interior

Frt/rear decks

2014 Tohatsu MF40AEFTL

3-Cylinder, Fuel Injected 4-Stroke

Electric start, power tilt/trim

Hummingbird 570 DI

Minn Kota Riptide 55# 42" shaft

Easily launched & picked by myself

Freshwater, I fish shallow marshes, bayous, rivers, & Toledo Bend. Saltwater I fish marshes, Calcasieu (Big Lake) Lake, & close in on the Gukf of Mexico.

The only time I'm limited is sustained winds of 15-20 mph; then I simply move into creeks or coves. I use either a tri-fluted river anchor or a Cajun marsh achor & no I don't get blown around.

Preformance: this setup is easily runs 50 mph, doesn't bounce in chop. I've ran the length & berth of Calcasieu Lake twice (not sure how far) & burnt 1 gallon of gas.

[WIGuide]

You should definitely be able to overcome those obstacles when fishing out of a boat. There's no lifting, no paddling, no issues with holding position, no issues with traveling greater distances. If that's what you're looking for I'd say it's a no brainer. 

[A-Jay]

I'm in the process of going from a canoe to a motorized vessel myself.

 

Fishing from the Old Town has been fun and very inexpensive for sure.

 

But it's just time.  I've done all I can with it as well as where I've been fishing.

 

Time to broaden my fishing horizons.

 

As for "what to Expect" ?  I would anticipate the wallet opening up quite a bit more.

 

But you can't take it with you and I've Never seen a hearse with a trailer hitch.

 

 

 

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

Wind is always a pain but everyone is giving good recommendations.  As far as loading and unloading goes my best purchase has been my trailer.  I bought an older jet ski trailer and modified it for my kayak.  Makes loading and unloading a breeze, especially at the end of the day.

[WPCfishing]

That's funny, WPC, my "bass boat" is a 14' V hull aluminum boat. I also tricked it out for bass fishing. My big aluminum bass boat didn't see water this year, will probably try to sell it next spring....point is, my 14 is almost as fish able as my bigger boat, far easier to trailer(small pond ramps in NH are garbage) and can be pulled by a small pickup or even my gf's Forester.

 

I've been thinking about doing tournaments next year. The deal is I really don't want a big bass boat so I may give up on the idea and just keep fishing for lunkers. A boat like yours with a deck may be in my near future. Maybe?

[Turtle135]

a. The physical strain on my back getting the boat on and off my car despite having a decent lift assist system.

 

I have a pickup truck, is a small trailer an option for you?

 

b. Needing to get off or stay off the water when winds reach 10mph. And with such a short summer in MN, every fishing day counts!

c. Not being able to hold position when there is even the slightest wind.

d. Staying limited to smaller waters as boat traffic makes fishing in a kayak that much more difficult.

 

I do pick my spots based on the wind and weekend fishing pressure. I also employ a stake out pole and an anchor system with a quick release to combat the wind.

 

e. Staying limited to smaller waters as it takes too much effort and time to paddle long distances.

 

Have you looked at the Torqeedo lineup of electric motors for a kayak? They are kind of expensive but besides extending your range you can also run them on a slow setting straight into a stiff breeze to hold your position.

 

I have been chasing largemouth and smallmouth bass from a kayak since 1991. The ease of getting on and off the water has always been a driving force to sticking with a kayak. In the summertime I get out fishing 4-5 times per week. Kayaks are rather well suited to the waters I regularly fish.

 

I have several friends with bass boats. A few are diehards and fish as frequently today as they did the first year they got their boat. Others fished a lot that first year, about half as frequently the second year and then very little in the 3rd and 4th seasons.

[WPCfishing]

 

a. The physical strain on my back getting the boat on and off my car despite having a decent lift assist system.

 

I have a pickup truck, is a small trailer an option for you?

 

b. Needing to get off or stay off the water when winds reach 10mph. And with such a short summer in MN, every fishing day counts!

c. Not being able to hold position when there is even the slightest wind.

d. Staying limited to smaller waters as boat traffic makes fishing in a kayak that much more difficult.

 

I do pick my spots based on the wind and weekend fishing pressure. I also employ a stake out pole and an anchor system with a quick release to combat the wind.

 

e. Staying limited to smaller waters as it takes too much effort and time to paddle long distances.

 

Have you looked at the Torqeedo lineup of electric motors for a kayak? They are kind of expensive but besides extending your range you can also run them on a slow setting straight into a stiff breeze to hold your position.

 

I have been chasing largemouth and smallmouth bass from a kayak since 1991. The ease of getting on and off the water has always been a driving force to sticking with a kayak. In the summertime I get out fishing 4-5 times per week. Kayaks are rather well suited to the waters I regularly fish.

 

I have several friends with bass boats. A few are diehards and fish as frequently today as they did the first year they got their boat. Others fished a lot that first year, about half as frequently the second year and then very little in the 3rd and 4th seasons.

 

 

He could buy a nice boat motor and trailer for the price of one of those motors. I'd pass on the motor. There's a very nice 14' jon boat on a trailer with a 9.9 for sale near me for $1,800.00

[Turtle135]

He could buy a nice boat motor and trailer for the price of one of those motors. I'd pass on the motor. There's a very nice 14' jon boat on a trailer with a 9.9 for sale near me for $1,800.00

 

I hear you, I have friends with $ 2000.00 worth of Torqeedo electric motor and batteries attached to a $ 1300.00 kayak. I have always stayed away from adding a motor. Anything that slows me down getting on of off the water will cost me fishing trips (it is just human nature, the easier it is to use something the more frequently you will use it).

[PourMyOwn]

I've been thinking about doing tournaments next year. The deal is I really don't want a big bass boat so I may give up on the idea and just keep fishing for lunkers. A boat like yours with a deck may be in my near future. Maybe?

I love my boat. Long story short it has a tiller mount Minnkota up front, a 25 Merc tiller out back w/electric start. There's no middle seat, the front and back "decks" are level with the front and rear seats-and both "decks" lift up to become storage. You're more than welcome to swing up here during the spring and toss some jerkbaits with me.

 

Also, like Turtle says, loading and unloading is important. My big aluminum boat can be a bear to get lined up, especially when it's windy. Usually I just manhandle it after I pull it out of the water, but I'm 38 now and doubt that it's a good idea long term for my back.

[WPCfishing]

I take two batteries with me when I'm going to a big lake and will be moving around a lot or fighting wind and chop. I got caught out there once because the battery drained.. That's not happening again.

On two other occasions my Trolling motor failed.. Both were no more than four weeks old. MK replaced the 55# each time and upgraded the motor for my troubles.

The second time I was stranded I had to call for a tow. That's when I decided to finally buy the 30# motor for up front. Had I done it sooner like I wanted to for fishing reasons It would have saved me a bunch of BS..

[WPCfishing]

I love my boat. Long story short it has a tiller mount Minnkota up front, a 25 Merc tiller out back w/electric start. There's no middle seat, the front and back "decks" are level with the front and rear seats-and both "decks" lift up to become storage. You're more than welcome to swing up here during the spring and toss some jerkbaits with me.

 

Also, like Turtle says, loading and unloading is important. My big aluminum boat can be a bear to get lined up, especially when it's windy. Usually I just manhandle it after I pull it out of the water, but I'm 38 now and doubt that it's a good idea long term for my back.

 

I'd like to come up and throw lines with you.. Looking forward to it this spring. 

[Catt]

Also, like Turtle says, loading and unloading is important. My big aluminum boat can be a bear to get lined up, especially when it's windy. Usually I just manhandle it after I pull it out of the water, but I'm 38 now and doubt that it's a good idea long term for my back.

Drive on & drive off, it's so easy a caveman can do it!

[Way2slow]

I have to laugh at some of the things you want to get away from,  lifting, straining etc.  Depending on the boat and trailer, if you decide to go that route, there are times you may be doing more on something even heavier, especially if you fish by yourself.  There are times when conditions are not right, you will loose all your religion getting a boat positioned properly on the trailer.  Even the best of drive on trailers can have problems under certain conditions, like a fairly steep ramp or a very shallow ramp.  Then, if you fish rivers or areas with a current, that can create another set of problems trying to get it positioned on the trailer, and a lot of the tin cans and trailers under them I've seen are not the best for driving on in the first place.

[PourMyOwn]

Drive on & drive off, it's so easy a caveman can do it!

I know, and I hear you. I have owned and trailered eight boats of my own/my father's when I was younger. This one Tracker Pro Team is just not that easy. Our ramps here in NH typically suck, 9/10 are dirt, and have been rutted out by guys who don't have the sense to put their truck in 4WD low, but rather spin their tires like idiots...toss in current and wind and you'd need one Hell of a skilled caveman to drive on in one shot.

[Catt]

Take your guide boards & move them in til they are 1 to 1 1/2" from the side of your hull , this will position it straight every time. My guide boards are 4-5' long!

Also make sure your bottom boards are positioned between the runners (what ever y'all call em). I have 4, two on the outside & two one each side of the in the middle runner.

I have a chain with a hook welded below the winch, the bow hits the front stop (mine's a roller) I put the hook on the bow eye & exit the boat. Once on I pull out I attatch the winch hook & snug it tight.

[desmobob]

I fished in canoes and a kayak for years, but was always frustrated by the lack of space, casting while seated, dealing with wind, inability to travel far, and lately, the difficulty of loading and unloading it with two bad shoulders.   Last summer, I bought a Bass Tracker Pro170/40HP Mercury package and have never been happier.  It is very easy to launch and load by myself, is easily towed with my Subaru Forester, and runs me around fishing all day on an average of two gallons or less of gas.  And no more lugging rods and tackle back and forth; it can all be stored in the boat.  And the boat was literally ready to fish... all I had to do was load my tackle and go.  It came with a foot-control trolling motor and fish finder.

 

Now, I can invite a buddy to go fishing, or just enjoy a nice boat ride with the girlfriend or non-fishing friends/family. When I first bought the boat, I had that uneasy feeling that I might have made a rash decision about spending the money.  After two seasons of enjoyment, that feeling is long gone!

 

If you add up the cost of a kayak, all the accessories you've added, rack system for the car, and so on, you're probably a quarter of the way into an aluminum bass boat package.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Fishing Rhino]

You can expect to catch more fish in a bass boat vs. a canoe or kayak.  Not because it makes you a better fisherman, but because it makes you a more efficient fisherman.   This is particularly true on waters that are familiar to you.  You have already touched on it when you mentioned the time and effort it takes to move more than very short distances.

 

Conversely, you will miss some things in a boat moving on plane at 25mph or faster that you would see on a sounder in a canoe or kayak.  Small patches of productive bottom often go unnoticed at speed because you pass over them so quickly.  It may be a small patch or rocks, or plants that hold fish.  It's amazing how many fish can be stacked on these little spots at times. 

 

But, because you can do so much exploring you'll gain more information.  Each boat has its strengths and weaknesses.

 

I fish a pond not more than five minutes from our home.  I fish it in my canoe with a trolling motor.  It's about a mile long, and a half mile across and every square foot of it has either structure or cover.  It is strewn with rocky bottom and has huge plant beds which hold fish.  Maximum depth is about 12 feet.  It has four or five islands, depending on how you count them, and once you learn the pond, you can find fish just about anywhere on it.  They can be close to the bank or a few hundred yards from the shore in the vegetation.  Even if I could use my bass boat on the pond, I'd use my canoe.  Too many boulders in the deepest water that are only a few inches from the surface.  Some use aluminum jon boats or even small aluminum bass boats, but not me.  The canoe or a kayak are perfect for this pond.

 

Fishing is such an individual thing.  You only need to look at the endless variety of baits, combos, and boats that are available to anglers that it becomes a matter of personal preference.

 

Fish respond to a bait and its presentation, not the type of boat you may be in. 

[OperationEagle]

Wow so many great perspectives.  Thank you everyone.  I too have thought about adding (as many of you have already) a trolling motor to my kayak.

 

This just adds that much more complexity to my kayak than I am personally willing to deal with.  Maybe you all can convince me that its not a big deal?

 

If getting a bass boat is inevitable, I want to do it sooner rather than later so I can enjoy it for a longer period.  I moved to MN in 1995 and getting a boat was below the budget line.  As fishing kayaks really started to come on in 2011/2012 I was able to affordably get off the shore; this opened a whole new level of fishing. 

 

From 1995 to 2012...it took me 16 years to recognize that I was a complete fool for not taking advantage of the fishing holes around me here in Minnesota.

 

I think that a dedicated bass boat will help me explore and enjoy the waters that much more.  Thanks for all of your perspectives...agree with many of you that these two vessels do very different things...thank God I have room in the garage for both.

[Way2slow]

Trust me, I would not move out of a bass boat into a yak or canoe for an only way of getting on the water.  I have never even set my butt in a kayak and at my age, have no intentions to.  I have had canoe since 1962, which was my only means of getting on the water until 1965 when I bought my first 14' Boat with a 65hp merc.  I did have a small 1.5hp outboard I used on the canoe but once I got my first boat, The canoe was for ponds and places I could not put a big boat, and that's still the same purpose it serves today.  I would never get rid of my canoe, my wife says she will probably just bury me in it.

 

In my first post, I was just commenting on some of the things that's going to come along with getting a bass boat, not that I would not get one over a kayak, but there is a learning curve that goes along with using one.   I have boats for everything.  Three bass boats, my Javelin I keep at the house, a Stratos that stays at my brothers for a lake he lives on, and a Stratos that stays at our farm, just in case I'm there and didn't take the Javelin.  Then I have a 17' square back aluminum canoe, a 1436 Lowe aluminum jon and a 1232 aluminum jon, and probably 10 different motors between what used on the boats and hanging on a 2x12 the length of a storage shed, but no kayaks. 

[Dogmatic]

If you're on FB, may I suggest the motorized kayak group. Before dismissing a motor on a yak, you might want to check out some of the rigs these guys have, that are easily completed by a DIY'er, and not overly burdensome.

[Further North]

I stopped fishing from a a canoe as my primary method several years ago for the same reasons as in the original post.

 

The biggest reasons were:

 

• Can't get to the far end of a decent sized lake in a reasonable amount of time for the amount of time I have to fish.  What takes 5 minutes in a boat would take at least a couple hours in a canoe or a kayak...and as long on the way back.  I can't imagine fishing something like Lake of the Woods in a canoe...
• Sitting down all day killed my back and knees.
• Loading the canoe is much harder than loading the boat.  Done right there is no lifting, or much cranking.  I load in a big river with plenty of current often, side guides on the trailer and plenty of practice will make this easy pretty fast.  The first part of the first season can be a PITA...after that - easy as pie.
• Couldn't fish with winds much over the 10 MPH noted in the first post.  Can fish all day in that weather with a good boat.
• Had to spend more than half my time controlling the canoe rather than fishing.  Not an issue at all with a good trolling motor.
• No storage for my gear.  Current boat holds all my rods and tackle, below deck, out of my way.  I can't do that in my canoe.

I still have my canoe for small water and rivers, where it works great.

 

On cost of operation: Boats cost more to buy, maintain and sometimes, store.  If you go big, a tow vehicle can add to the cost.

 

...but my gas bill for this season has been very reasonable: I topped off the tank last fall, cost about $50.  Topped it off again in International Falls before our Lake of the Woods trip, $45.  Ran over 165 miles in 7 days up there, topped off the tank when I got home (no reason to tow gas), $55.  Fished on that (at least once a week, often 2 or 3 days a week on local lakes, topped it off again about a week ago, $62 and change.

 

I run a Crestliner 1850 with a Johnson (Suzuki) 140 4 stroke and tow with a Ford Escape which gets me high 20s MPG day to day, and about 17-18 pulling the boat.  Boats can be done at a reasonable cost if that's the gaol.