Advice First boat St. Louis area

[Slovins]

Every year for the past 10 years or so I shop boats. I bank fish pretty regularly and would like to expand my options and so I start looking at boats and feel pretty overwhelmed. 

I started out catfishing, but the last year or two I've been getting into bass fishing. I am located in south Saint Louis. Most of my bank fishing options are local park lakes that are very pressured or some bank access on the Meremac river. 

I am looking for advice and suggestions on what size boat I should be looking for. Easiest water to get into would be the Meremac river. I am 3-4 hour drive to lake of the Ozarks, table rock, Stockton, mark Twain, or there are a few on the IL side. I am looking for a bass boat. I think being my first boat I would prefer an aluminum boat. Interested to hear from others on this. My thought is I'm less likely to tear it up being new to boating and that it's less maintenance on the boat not having the fiberglass hull.

I am very interested in suggestions as far as length and motor size. I don't want to get into something that works pretty good in the river, but I'm under sized or under powered when I get to one of our bigger lakes. 

What I've been looking at, I think I want minimum 17 ft and I'm really not sure on motor. I see a lot that are 50-60 hp, but have also had people say that is the smallest they'd recommend for that length. Again, I'd rather have the power and not need it then need it and not have it. Again though, I am completely new to boats and would like to hear from everybody. I'm especially interested to hear from anyone local or familiar with the lakes mentioned above or other area lakes. 

Another question I have is how old is too old? I see a lot posted from late 80s and early 90s and I don't know how well these motors hold up, but that seems pretty questionable to me. 

I think I'd like to be somewhere close to $10k a little under or a little over. Is this realistic or what kind of price point should I be looking at/expecting?

I would like something that I could have more than 2 people in. Most often will probably be myself or myself and a buddy, but I do have a daughter and would prefer to have the option to take her or more than just myself plus 1. 

I'm hoping to hear from some guys or gals that are from the area or are familiar with the waters out this way. I think that will give me a better idea of what the minimums are I should be looking for. Appreciate the feedback from anyone though because all experience and knowledge is more than I've got so far.

My situation is I don't have friends or family who boat or fish.
Unfortunately I really have zero experience here. I'm sure I'm overthinking and gathering way more info than I need, but I'd like to find something I'll be comfortable in for a couple years to gain some experience and see what I like/dislike. I'm nervous to get into something smaller than I should and have a bad experience and end up with a boat I don't want to use and don't care to upgrade to something nicer. On the other hand I realize too much boat can cause it's seperate set of issues as well. I just want something pretty versatile that I can learn on and will be comfortable in.

 

In short, I have no boating experience and am looking for any advice while searching for a boat, but most specifically what size boat and motor would be most versatile for my local waters. Or what some may consider minimum lengths and motor sizes. 

Thanks guys. 

[Jig Man]

The boat for the river won’t be very good for lakes.  Jons with jets make great river boats.  Fiberglass glitter sleds are great for lakes.  I wouldn’t even consider an aluminum fishing boat on Lake of the Ozarks.

 

Figure out where you want to fish then look for a boat that will fit your needs.

[moguy1973]

For the Meramec anywhere above Fenton you'll want to have a jet on any boat you get.  It gets pretty shallow and a prop won't do well with the rocky bottom.  But starting with a jet boat for your first boat, especially on a river, would have a pretty steep learning curve as they handle a lot different than a prop boat, and you'll need to learn how current affects the way the boat has to move through the water.

 

St. Louis is a rather tough place to have a boat unless it's a river jet though since there really aren't many good lakes anywhere close by where you can go.  There's a few over in Illinois like Carlyle and Kincaid, but Carlyle is very limited fishing wise and when the wind picks up you definitely don't want to be out in a tin boat as it can get really large waves real quick.  Kincaid is a great fishing lake but in the summer it can get like a mini-Lake of the Ozarks with the pleasure boat crowd.  Illinois has a number of really close lakes that have excellent fishing but they are all pretty much HP limited to 25-30hp, which is probably why they have good fishing.

 

I have a 2008 17.5' bass tracker with a 60hp prop on it, it does fine on Lake of the Ozarks and the bigger lakes in Missouri as long as I get back in before the big boats come out or it's during the weekdays.  I've been out too late in the day before though and it's not a fun time once the waves get going. I have been looking for a river jet boat recently though, as I just don't like the long drives to get to lakes that are relatively close, and I have the Meramec 5 minutes from my house that has wonderful small mouth fishing in it.  My Tracker is my first boat, and it's a great first boat to get to learn how a boat works.  If there were more lakes closer to St Louis I'd have a 18-20' fiberglass boat though, just because they handle the waves and wind better.

 

As said above, a flat front jet boat for the river won't handle larger lakes well at all, and they do make semi-v river jet boats that do both lakes and rivers, but don't do either well.

 

If you want a Jet boat, they are for sale all the time on private jet boat groups on Facebook.

[Daniel My Brother]

Before you decide on a boat, you really need to decide where you're going to fish. South St. Louis is tough because you have to travel to get on the water. There is good bass fishing nearby in southern Illinois, but many of those lakes have horsepower restrictions. Coffeen has a great bass population and a 25hp limit. Baldwin has a 50hp limit. Washington County lake is quick from downtown STL, but has a 10hp limit. 17 foot, 25hp Bass Tracker style aluminum boats are what you see most often on the east side. They are small enough for the hp limit lakes, but big enough to to be safe on the larger lakes like Carlyle. However, I have fished out of a 17 foot on LOZ and it was not enough boat in the area we were vacationing. That lake is a different level of mayhem.

 

On the Missouri side, I've never fished the Meremac and don't know the regs. 

 

I know there is excellent smallmouth fishing as you head southwest towards the Black, St. Francis, Gasconade, Piney, Jacks Fork, Current River and more. A kayak is tough to beat on those waters.

 

As far as aluminum versus glass, aluminum is much cheaper to run, easier to tow, doesn't need as much power, and won't rot (though many aluminum boats do have wood in the floors and transom which can rot). Glass boats burn a lot of gas, but they are a smooth ride and don't blow around in the wind.

 

Best of luck to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[moguy1973]

41 minutes ago, Daniel My Brother said:

 

 

On the Missouri side, I've never fished the Meremac and don't know the regs. 

 

No regs on the Meramec, it's just shallow like most Ozark rivers and props don't do shallow well.  In fact, the Meramec is so low right now there's several places near my house I can walk across and it wouldn't be above my waist.  I've walked my kayak up the middle of the river before when it's been too shallow to paddle it.  A jet boat would go through that kind of depth on plane with no problems.

[Slovins]

So for my area I really need two or three boats?! That'd be nice, but not realistic for me. 

I kind of figured whatever I end up with would not be good for the ozarks. I know it gets pretty crazy down there. The people and the water. I am not familiar with the other lakes in the area though. I also don't honestly know how often I'd be willing to make the 3-4 drive to any of those lakes so I'm not sure I should be concerned with them as much. 

 

As far as the Meremac, I live close to the lower Meremac. Arnold or Fenton would be my closest access. I don't think there's real good fishing down this way. I wouldn't mind coming up the river and I hear there's some decent small mouth up that way, but sounds like a jet is the answer there and might not be the best for a beginner and may not do as well outside the river. 

I appreciate the opinions guys. I didn't know if I was overthinking this or if there was a good middle ground boat that could do both. 

I've been looking mostly at the 17 ft or so lowe, tracker, xpress, etc tin boats. 

Sounds like a flat john with a jet, a smaller tin bass boat, and nice big glass boat is the trio that'll suit this area best. Guess I have a lot more thinking to do. 

[Jig Man]

You might get better advice by using a forum with mostly Missouri guys instead of guys from all over the globe.  Phil Lilly has Ozark Anglers.  You might want to check it out.

[Daniel My Brother]

Honestly, you don't need a boat for every body of water. Research the lakes and rivers around you, pick where you'd like to fish and get something that works there. I've got two kayaks under the back deck that I use on the rivers around here. I've also got a 16 foot modified V, with a 9.9hp outboard for Cedar lake in southern Illinois. Cedar is only 4 miles long, but has 40 miles of shoreline and I never get bored. I've taken that 16 footer on Guntersville, Table Rock, Wapapello and Kentucky Lake and it's been fine. Just go early or late to avoid the pleasure boaters, wear your vest, and stay close to shore. 

[kjfishman]

A 16 t0 17 foot aluminum Deep V would work about anywhere.  If you just want to get off the shore start with a kayak and fish the numerous conservation areas and small rivers.

[K1500]

Budget is important, as is number of passengers. The little bass pro tracker classic is a low entry price that may (or may not) work for you. 

[wis bang]

I appreciate the distance problem VRS the river's need for a jet.

 

I'm 30 min to an hour from 3 county electric only lakes and a large state park with a 20 hp limit.

 

My closest river ramps are tidal and I would never go there. I picked up a 3.4 hp outboard for the 20hp lake and will look into the sections up river. The Delaware has a lot of flat water between riffles and rapids that would be fine with the 3.5 and a prop but fishing a variety would be as much of a trip as the lakes or more for a smaller area to fish for the trip compared to the big lake..

 

On the other hand I can drag it a couple of hours to the Poconos and use the deer camp as a base for more of the river and a bunch of lakes...

 

Could the OP rig an wide beam alum with the ability to add a Jet and start with a low HP outboard for lakes while finding someone to show him the ropes with a jet on the river?

[moguy1973]

On 9/1/2020 at 2:32 PM, Slovins said:

So for my area I really need two or three boats?! That'd be nice, but not realistic for me. 

I kind of figured whatever I end up with would not be good for the ozarks. I know it gets pretty crazy down there. The people and the water. I am not familiar with the other lakes in the area though. I also don't honestly know how often I'd be willing to make the 3-4 drive to any of those lakes so I'm not sure I should be concerned with them as much. 

 

As far as the Meremac, I live close to the lower Meremac. Arnold or Fenton would be my closest access. I don't think there's real good fishing down this way. I wouldn't mind coming up the river and I hear there's some decent small mouth up that way, but sounds like a jet is the answer there and might not be the best for a beginner and may not do as well outside the river. 

I appreciate the opinions guys. I didn't know if I was overthinking this or if there was a good middle ground boat that could do both. 

I've been looking mostly at the 17 ft or so lowe, tracker, xpress, etc tin boats. 

Sounds like a flat john with a jet, a smaller tin bass boat, and nice big glass boat is the trio that'll suit this area best. Guess I have a lot more thinking to do. 

Really, you could get by with one of those 17' tin boats on the bigger lakes if you stay in the coves and away from the big boat waves during the day.  When I go to LOZ it's usually on a week day or if I'm on it during the weekend I'm off the water by 10-10:30am.  Fishing usually slows down a lot by then anyways.  Doing fishing trips after Labor Day and before Memorial day works well too before the pleasure crowd gets their big boats out.

 

Until I get my jet boat, I'm happy using my SOT kayak on the rivers.  Finding an outfitter to shuttle can be a pain sometimes unless you have someone you know to pick you up and take you back to your car, but really, a kayak/canoe is one of the best ways to fish our rivers and streams.  Also, my fishing buddy has a real nice Legend SS jetboat so if I ever want to go out when the weather isn't conducive to using my kayak I can hit him up to go.

[moguy1973]

On 9/2/2020 at 8:19 AM, wis bang said:

I appreciate the distance problem VRS the river's need for a jet.

 

I'm 30 min to an hour from 3 county electric only lakes and a large state park with a 20 hp limit.

 

My closest river ramps are tidal and I would never go there. I picked up a 3.4 hp outboard for the 20hp lake and will look into the sections up river. The Delaware has a lot of flat water between riffles and rapids that would be fine with the 3.5 and a prop but fishing a variety would be as much of a trip as the lakes or more for a smaller area to fish for the trip compared to the big lake..

 

On the other hand I can drag it a couple of hours to the Poconos and use the deer camp as a base for more of the river and a bunch of lakes...

 

Could the OP rig an wide beam alum with the ability to add a Jet and start with a low HP outboard for lakes while finding someone to show him the ropes with a jet on the river?

There are a lot of low end smaller 1648 river jons with 25-40hp tiller handle jets that pop up all the time for sale on the FB groups I'm on.  Those would be great starter boats to learn the rivers.  If you bang them up no big deal.  Plus they are small and easy to get off gravel bars if you beach them.

[rangerjockey]

I'm on Table Rock . I have had a aluminum boat on it many years ago but my place is up the James river which normally isn't too bad boat traffic wise.

Would I go back to one ? no. Not after years of Tritons, Champions and Rangers. But lots of guys do.

I would say find a nice used 18 or 19 ft glass boat . Overall, They drive easy and are forgiving in the rough water.

The Aluminum will ride rougher and if its the least bit windy you will be on the trolling motor all day.