Whats your Commitment?

[Fishing Buds]

Sooooo, I've wanted a bigger boat but, I can't justify it because of where I'm located,

My decision is based off of all the Electric lakes around me and only one descent gas/motor 10minutes up the road.

I'm about 15mins away from the Ohio river but, I do not fish it and don't plan to.

Kentucky lake, Cumberlin River, Barkley lake and Potoka lake are about two hours away.

For me thats hard to commit too every weekend, and the bucks put out for a nice boat shouldn't be parked on the lawn.

Does anyone commit to this long of a drive or longer for their boat?

[soccplayer07]

I agree with everything u said. I am in the same situation. I think the novelty of a new boat would wear off and the long drive would no longer make much since.  

[Cajun1977]

ill go anywhere from a half hour to 3 or 4 hours a trip depending what im in the mood for  i bought so im gonna use it

[jdw174]

I think you're making a wise decision, especially with the cost of fuel, not to mention the cost of a bigger rig.  I"ve been fortunate in where I've lived in that I never had to make a longer drive than about 30 minutes to wherever I wanted to fish.

[Taliesin]

I drive 55 miles one-way to use my boat to it's fullest.

There are a couple of lakes closer that I use it at, but can't go beyond idle speed (I just use my trolling motor).

However, a boat that isn't too big for the closer lakes, is too small on the big lake (at least I don't feel very comfortable on it). The closer lakes are 75 and 750 acres, the big one is 55,600 acres. I got roped into fishing intramural tournaments at the base here and we fish the big lake. I went the first few times in a smaller boat and gave up on that.

Traded in my '05 Crossfire for a '07 Ram 1500 and picked up a new '06 Nitro 898. Now I feel pretty safe on the lake. and I am learning a lot more about it.

While I don't like the gas prices, I can afford them. I head to the big lake at least 4 times a month.

[senile1]

IMO, I would buy the bigger boat and motor as long as I could afford it.  You will take a trip now and then, whether for vacation or whatever, and the big motor will come in handy then.  For the times when you are at home, use the trolling motor.  The extra weight of the bigger rig may cost you a little more in gas money but if these lakes are close to your home this shouldn't be excruciating.  Again, what you can afford, or what you believe justifies having the bigger boat are the limiting factors.  

[surfer]

10 minutes for the decent gas motor lake is close by most people's standards.    The electric only lakes must be really close.  2 hours is long by my standards.  That burns more fuel than the day on the lake.  I am 10 minutes from my home lake and 15 to 20 from many other lakes.  But I usually stick with my over crowded over fished lake that is 10 minutes away cause it still produces and there are still 10 pounders coming out of it.  Not by me though.

You are right sitting out in the weather is not ideal for boats and motors.  If it is spending cash and not savings though it's yours to spend and enjoy.

If you can launch the bigger boat on the electric only lakes that would be a bonus.

[Guest avid]

I know your looking for input from the bass boat folks, but even though I live within a 30 min to a couple hours of some of the most famous bass water in the world I have no desire own a bass boat.

When I fish by myself I like the small lakes , meandering lake feeders, canals and ponds.

I'll fish the big water with friends and contribute for gas, but even though I could stretch out payments to afford a decent big water rig.  I like my little tricked out canoe and the silence that goes with it.

[senile1]

I have to admit that Avid has a good point.  Silence is truly golden on the water.  However, a small bass boat with a trolling motor is pretty darn silent on a small lake, yet it allows you to navigate bigger waters if necessary.  The best of both worlds is to own, both a bass boat, and a smaller vessel.  

[Lucky Craft Man]

I faced a somewhat similar situation.  I had several small lakes nearby (along with the three rivers that run through Pittsburgh) and Lake Erie is 2 hours away.  I didn't want to get a large rig just for Lake Erie and a smaller boat for the surrounding lakes (I don't have the room or money for two boats).  I found what I think was the perfect boat for my needs.  It was a 14' Crestliner that has the amenities that a large bass boat would have (trolling motor, fish finder, live well, etc), but it was small enough to fit in my garage and handle to small electric lakes just fine.  It fits two people very comfortably (and not that difficult for one person to launch) and I have taken it out on Lake Erie on calmer days and it handled it just fine.  It wasn't that much money and the 40 h.p. main engine gets it going around 30 m.p.h., which is fine with me.  So if you are looking for a boat that can handle almost everything you are looking for and you don't mind an aluminum modified V boat, then there are very good options for you.

[Jig Man]

The closest place I fish is 1 hour and 15 minutes away if I push it hard and 1 hour and 30 minutes at top of speed limit.  I figure it is only money and that is replaceable as long as I have food and shelter besides.

[Fish Chris]

I absolutely love my 14 ft aluminum. I wouldn't own a big high-per bass boat "even if I could afford to buy and operate one". They just are not me. I fish both big (25k and 40k acre) lakes, and small 60 acre electric only ponds (like today) from my boat.

My boat has a 25hp motor which pushes me about 25mph. That will get me anywhere I need to go, plenty fast enough. It only has a 6 gallon portable tank, but rarely do I use more than 3 gallons on a trip. Sometimes only 1 gallon.... and today, none :-)

I run it up onto gravel shorelines frequently, to fish from shore (often the stealthiest way to aproach big fish) and I NEVER have to wash it. It's camo'd, so it looks great anyway.

Honestly, if I hit the lotto today, I'd still bass fish from my little 14ft aluminum. It really is my dreamboat.

Peace,

Fish

This isn't a big > bass-boat..... It's a big-bass > boat ;-)

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Tin boats rule.

[Fishing Buds]

This is why I like going to the bigger lakes

I have only caught biggens on the big lakes, I swear man

I like the Tracker Targa's sports but, maybe a wider 14 jon or a 16 jon? :-?

I'd be nervuos on them big waters with me and my son with a 1436 jon let alone trying to take the wife and daughter.

But on the subject, what a drive it is!

I *** those who live close by the big ol lakes ;D

By the way nice boat Fish Chris

[Lucky Craft Man]

Honestly, if I hit the lotto today, I'd still bass fish from my little 14ft aluminum. It really is my dreamboat.

My sentiments exactly.

[Gorgebassman]

Before I got rid of my big boat I would take weekend trips anywhere from a hour to Norfork lake and as far as Lake of the Ozarks and all the other lakes in between be it for Tournaments or just fishing with the family I hated getting rid of it but I found it worthwhile just because I love to fish.

[Zel]

I live within 1.5 hours from about 20 fishable lakes that I visit, half of which are electric only.  I upgraded from a 14 foot aluminum row boat this year.  My choice was not based solely on bass fishing.  I got a used Fish & Ski with a 150 for under $4K, so I can also take the family of four out and enjoy the water. I really like it on the electric only lakes because it is more stable, and is much more enjoyable fishing in the wind.  Unfortunately I bought one that was listed at 17 feet in the ad (which would just fit in my garage), but it is actually the bigger model at 18.5 feet my mistake.  

[gatrboy53]

depends if your satisfied just fishing the little waters.i fished from a 14' jon boat for yrs.and enjoyed every minute of it.but the best investment,and the most improvement to my bass fishin was when i got my bass boat.if your content fishin from a little boat then dont make the mistake of getting something you'll be sorry for.but if your ready for the committment of a bass boat and what it can afford you ,you wont be sorry.i still have my jon boat and when i want to fish the elec. only lakes i use it ,but i love fishin from my Gambler and i wouldnt ever go back to just a little boat again.

[SDoolittle]

My rule for traveling to a fishing spot is that I must get at least twice as much fishing time as driving time. If the lake is an hours drive one way I'm going to fish for at least four hours. I have a 14' jon and take it to lakes of all sizes, but I if you're wanting to take the family out on big water you need a bigger boat.

[Hookemdown.]

Since everyone here is not going to buy a new boat when they hit the lotto.... could you hook a little kid up

[flechero]

Buy a boat based on what you do (or plan to) fish regularly... and the conditions....   buying a boat based on some what if's will probably prove to be a bad decision.

I fish big water 90% of the time, but couple that with canyon lake winds and my 19' Champion is as small as I want to go.  I used to live on a 80 acre lake but back then I always had an additional person or two with me so the bigger boat still made sense.  

Sure gas money adds up but I get to spend many days fishing that I would pass on if I had a smaller more economical boat.  To me it's worth a few bucks more to get the extra days on the lake.  But justifying the money is a decision that only you can answer for yourself.

Fish Chris-  great looking boat!

[cart7t]

I live in the St Louis area.

Within 1 hours drive are quite a few hp limited lakes, all of which have my 150hp idled or silent.

Within 2 - 2 1/2 hours are lakes where I can utilize the OB.

I'm finding it less and less economical to keep using the Champion and am seriously thinking of picking up a cheap tin boat.  It's looking like high gas prices are here to stay.  If I want to be able fish as often as possible,  a 2nd smaller boat is looking to be the way to go.  

Until I move to someplace (I'm seriously looking towards Nashville) that has water very close by this is what I'm up against.  

It's not that I don't want to fish out of my Champ, it's the gas issue towing the thing that's snarling things. I'd prefer to fish out of a fiberglass, more comfortable and more storage.

[burleytog]

I have to drive an hour just to get to a lake where I can open my OB up.  30 minutes away is a decent 200 acre lake that is no-wake the entire lake.  More often than not, you can find me on one of two 50-60 acre electric-only impoundments.

Why?  Convienence, lack of heavy boat traffic, and the price of gas.  Not for the OB, for my truck.

Have been known to drive 3 hours, fish for 2 hours, then drive 3 hours home.  Just for the hell of it.

The way I see it, plan for the biggest lake you might fish and go from there.  Myself, I would like to have a 21' with a 225, but that ain't in the cards.  So I'll be satisfied with a 19' with a 150.

Boats are a disease.  

[Taliesin]

Boats are a disease.

Ain't that the truth.

Break

Out

Another

Thousand

Since I got roped into fishing Truman lake (55,600 acres and some good winds) I was looking for a decent sized boat.

Almost went with a used, but picked up a new '06 Nitro 898 with 200hp. (20' 4")

I really like the size for Truman. We used a 16' aluminum for a few weeks before I bought the boat. It did the job, but I would not have been comfortable going very far or going out on a weekend with the big boats out there.

[Matt Fly]

Its all apples to oranges.      Just because you own a large boat doesn't mean you have to fire that engine up to go fishing.       Most large lakes I fish regularly have dozens of ramps all over the lake.

My trolling motor puts me in enough water to get- bit in without having to fire up the big motor when gas prices are too high.

I have even launched on electric lakes only, just not fired her up.        I do agree whole heartedly with Fletchero.      You gotta do whats in your budget to get the most out of fishing.

Hookem

Matt