Thread: Best Type of boat for crappie fishing

yes, the new triton is absolutely what I want. My buddy has one and it is really the best I have seen so far. I also really like the ranger fisherman series walley boats as well.

It all depends on what you want. I needed something I felt safe to run long distances, or in bad weather. I chose an older 21 foot Stratos bass boat. It drinks gas, but nothing handles liek this boat. I have been in the roughest conditions on Grenada lake, and still felt safe in that boat. It handles well trying to tightline in the wind because it is so heavy.

I am, however, tired on being on the bow of a boat. I am ready to be inside a boat again, much like the Triton boat. My next boat will not have a casting deck, that is for sure. It iwll also have a livewell in the front and hopefully a bait well.

For crappie fishing the areas here with stumps, there is noway I would risk a glass boat. War Eagle's 861 is specifically set up for crappie, unlike some of the other that are tagged as crappie boats. Any boat will do, but some have better features than others. http://www.wareagleboats.com/more-information/promo.asp

In the process of rigging a 20' ranger cc w/200 merc now. Just bought the boat and sure hope it does well. Lots of room to move around and aereated bait well and aerated live well along with lots of storage for rods and gear, We'll see.

Originally Posted by mkalger

I'm on my second boat now. I started off with a Ranger R72 with a 90hp merc. This was a great boat for me, but I did upsize to a Triton TR20 with 200HP and have never once regretted the decision. .

My fishing buddy use to have 2000 TR20 w/ a Johnson 225 HO on it. The craftmenship and service that Earl Bentz strives for is unreal. The Triton bass boats are fast and solid as a rock. We had a full load of gear one day, and I looked down to see the spedo reading 72 mph. I currently have a 85 Ranger that is 16' 6" and the different between it and the 20ft Triton ride is unbelievable. Running 55 mph in my small Ranger can get a little hairy, but it is a walk in the park for a 20+ ft boat.

Do the Crappie TA-196s have any problem with chine walk?


For night stalking and trolling, I would have to say a pontoon would be the best option.

This is my current setup. There are three rod holders on each side, and down rigger mounts on the back for trolling. For night stalking, the seats come out, and a light pole goes in the bow seat hole. You have to use your imagination when it comes to rigging a boat.

Well Has anyone looked at the the G3's Thay are built by Yamaha and they come with the Yamaha Motor as well. I have the 17 footer and for a all around fishing boat it suites me fine the casting decks are nice and big live well it doesn't have the bells a frills on it. But the best thing is its all Alum. I have it on some windy days out in greers ferry with whites caps was worried a bit to start with didn't know how it was going to act but it done a fine job. The big plus is it doesn't draft very much. And for the money you get a good boat. Just another opinion though I am well please with it and I looked at alot of boats before I bought this one.

Here is my set up, a 20 footer with a 200 also. As for stumps and not running a fiberglass boat? Couldn't be further from the truth!!!!
If you know HOW to run your boat and do your homework on each lake shallow stumps are NO PROBLEM.

that was a lot of no info on the subjecr