Most Underrated Boat...

[BigSkyBassin]

I grew up in WI reading about all the muskie slayers and their Tuffy Esox Magnums. Always thought they were stellar boats.

 

Strangely they never caught on in the bass world despite a cult like following among hardcore muskie/pike fisherman in the Midwest, and the use cases being nearly identical.

 

I scooped one way out in Eastern WA this past Spring and can't think of a better "bass" boat for small/medium lakes, especially those with remote unimproved launches like so many Northern fisheries have. 

 

31mph with 2 anglers and 2 dogs, 17 feet but fishes bigger than many 20 footers I've been on due to wiiiide open layout. Easily store rods up to 8'6"...and lots of em. Massive front deck, plenty of gear storage, TWO live wells. The sponsoned hull makes it ridiculously stable, basically a floating dock, but still keeps ya dry in chop.

 

Best part is you can scoop a used one fully rigged every day of the week for $8-12k

 

The 300HP 21 foot aircraft carriers are cool but totally overkill for 90% of the water lots of us fish.

 

 

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

It's a good-looking boat. Thanks for the review. 

[raydomz]

I’m a canoe/kayak fisherman myself, but if I ever move to a boat, it would have to be something like this. Not too over the top. Great rig!

[Eric 26]

I remember watching Midwest Outdoors on the tv and seeing Spence Petros fishing out of them in Minnesota and thinking one day. Also I agree with @Swamp Girl that’s a good looking boat but you really need to share some interior shots as well.

Edited December 7, 2024 by Eric 26
Added content

[A-Jay]

52 minutes ago, BigSkyBassin said:

The 300HP 21 foot aircraft carriers are cool but totally overkill for 90% of the water lots of us fish.

Nice Rig ~

Over kill is simply a decent way of being Prepared.

😎

A-Jay

 

 

[BigSkyBassin]

Interior:

23 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

I remember watching Midwest Outdoors on the tv and seeing Spence Petros fishing out of them in Minnesota and thinking one day. Also I agree with @Swamp Girl that’s a good looking boat but you really need to share some interior shots as well.

OK but only cuz you twisted my arm.

Unique hull shape in the fishing boat world: very stable and dry

24 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Nice Rig ~

Over kill is simply a decent way of being Prepared.

😎

A-Jay

 

 

Looks like an epic ride!

[A-Jay]

14 minutes ago, BigSkyBassin said:

Looks like an epic ride!

It got our attention for sure ~

https://youtu.be/jYDqRk6ghyE?feature=shared

A-Jay

[Eric 26]

@BigSkyBassin That is really sharp looking and thank you for sharing the interior picture 👍🏻 If I may ask where is the sunrise/sunset photo taken from? 

[BigSkyBassin]

3 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@BigSkyBassin That is really sharp looking and thank you for sharing the interior picture 👍🏻 If I may ask where is the sunrise/sunset photo taken from? 

Echo Lake in Bigfork, Montana. Glorious body of water

[Eric 26]

15 minutes ago, BigSkyBassin said:

Echo Lake in Bigfork, Montana. Glorious body of water

Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

It got our attention for sure ~

https://youtu.be/jYDqRk6ghyE?feature=shared

A-Jay

That’s an awesome video 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.

[Junk Fisherman]

Those are fantastic boats with an incredibly well-designed layout.  Tiller boats overall are a little underated IMO.  Removing the console opens up so much room.  I completely understand how a 17' tiller feels bigger than a 20'er.  

[gim]

24 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Removing the console opens up so much room.  I completely understand how a 17' tiller feels bigger than a 20'er.  

 

Tillers are very popular here in MN.  Mostly because people like to troll or back-troll for walleyes.  Boat control is much easier.

 

I grew up fishing out of a 17.5 foot Crestliner Fishhawk tiller.  I prefer the console bass boat I have now because I like to cast from the front deck, but I would definitely consider a tiller if I had to downgrade to a smaller boat solely for saving space on the interior.

[volzfan59]

24 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Tillers are very popular here in MN.  Mostly because people like to troll or back-troll for walleyes.  Boat control is much easier.

 

I grew up fishing out of a 17.5 foot Crestliner Fishhawk tiller.  I prefer the console bass boat I have now because I like to cast from the front deck, but I would definitely consider a tiller if I had to downgrade to a smaller boat solely for saving space on the interior.

Tillers are very popular here in south east Arkansas too. I love mine although it did take some getting used to.

 

That’s a great looking rig. Never heard of that brand.

[BigSkyBassin]

22 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

Tillers are very popular here in south east Arkansas too. I love mine although it did take some getting used to.

 

That’s a great looking rig. Never heard of that brand.

They fly under the radar for sure. Still haven't met anyone in MT that has known anything about Tuffys either. 

 

I'm a big tiller fan, the fishing space is just unbeatable.

[BigSkyBassin]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

It got our attention for sure ~

https://youtu.be/jYDqRk6ghyE?feature=shared

A-Jay

Absolutely brutal. I've been in water like that 1 time in my life, ironically also in a Lund (Mr. Pike 16). Storm blew up on Lac Seul in Ontario and we had a loooooong run back home...felt like a human railroad spike but there's no other aluminum boat I'd have rather been in.

 

Impressive boat handling in your vid too, didn't stuff a single wave... that's tough stuff in those following waves.

[A-Jay]

59 minutes ago, BigSkyBassin said:

Absolutely brutal. I've been in water like that 1 time in my life, ironically also in a Lund (Mr. Pike 16). Storm blew up on Lac Seul in Ontario and we had a loooooong run back home...felt like a human railroad spike but there's no other aluminum boat I'd have rather been in.

 

Impressive boat handling in your vid too, didn't stuff a single wave... that's tough stuff in those following waves.

Thanks.

I've had quite a bit of practice in some pretty sport conditions.

Night time & zero visibility in fog is fun too.

A-Jay

[Swamp Girl]

10 hours ago, BigSkyBassin said:

Lac Seul in Ontario

 

^Big water^

 

Musky fishing?

[GaryH]

13 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks.

I've had quite a bit of practice in some pretty sport conditions.

Night time & zero visibility in fog is fun too.

A-Jay

Normal fishing day for you Andy..😁

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, GaryH said:

Normal fishing day for you Andy..😁

LOL ~

That was Big Fish Jeff First/Maiden Voyage across Lake Menderchuck in the Pro-V Bass.  

#bigeyes

😅

A-Jay

[BigSkyBassin]

3 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

^Big water^

 

Musky fishing?

Just lowly walleyes that day

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, BigSkyBassin said:

Just lowly walleyes that day

 

Catching rock bass that far north would still be Heaven. 

[BigSkyBassin]

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Catching rock bass that far north would still be Heaven. 

On that same trip I did catch my PB smallmouth. 22" hog on a firetiger shad rap. I don't think anyone targets them around there!

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, BigSkyBassin said:

On that same trip I did catch my PB smallmouth. 22" hog on a firetiger shad rap. I don't think anyone targets them around there!

 

22" that far north would be an OLD, OLLLLDDDDDD fish. What a catch!

[BigSkyBassin]

4 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

22" that far north would be an OLD, OLLLLDDDDDD fish. What a catch!

Yup can't even imagine. I was only 13 years old at the time and couldn't figure out why my Godfather was losing his mind while I was fighting the fish. That fish was on the brag board at the Ear Falls tackle shop all summer as the big bass of the year. I know there are pics floating around of it somewhere up at my folks house but no idea where. If I ever stumble across them I'll be sure to upload. Have a caught a couple since that are close, with Fort Peck and Flathead Lake pumping out bigs...might finally top it soon 

[DaubsNU1]