Match the Boat to the Water
The best boat for you is the one that fits your home water. A big aluminum bass boat is wasted on a small pond, and a tiller is underpowered on a 10,000-acre reservoir. Be honest about where you fish most.
The Three Main Styles
- Fiberglass bass boat: speed and casting decks, built for tournament-style fishing on reservoirs
- Aluminum bass boat: lighter, easier to trailer, more versatile for rivers and small lakes
- Tiller or jon boat: simple, affordable, perfect for ponds, rivers and duck hunts
Think About the Launch
How you store and launch the boat matters as much as the boat. Can you back a trailer? Is there a ramp near your favorite lake? A boat that is a hassle to launch will sit in the garage.
Pro tipBuy used from a reputable dealer and spend the savings on a proper trailer. A good trailer makes a great boat usable.
Test Drive Before You Commit
Run the boat on the water before you buy. Idle it slow, run it wide open, and make a few casts off the deck. You will feel the difference between boats you read about and boats you fish from.
Comments (1)
Fished out of an aluminum for years on rivers. This helped me decide to stay with aluminum instead of buying a glass boat I would rarely use.