littlefisher

I'm going to go look at one of these that appears to be in super good condition tomorrow after work hopefully. Everything I've read so far online seems to be fairly positive about this boat and the 150 Evinrude Intruder that's powering it. Anyone here ever own one or have any experience on something I should be warry about?

Thanks everyone this has been super helpful! I might be going to look at a Bass Cat this week hopefully. A little earlier than I planned but I'm not going to pass up on something that is clean and has been well maintained if I come across it. The main thing I think I am concerned about is the motor. Batteries/Electronics I can handle myself but I'm definitely not a mechanic. So I'll be reading up on the motor is has once I hear back more info about it and what to look for.

I've already starting browsing very lightly, but I'm definitely going to be buying a bass boat at the end of this fishing season. I'm looking in the 18-20' range and probably early 2000's. I'm leaning towards Ranger because that's what I've fished out of (my dad's) for the last 5+ years and have really enjoyed it. If not that maybe Bass Cat or even Nitro seeing as I have a Bass Pro minutes away. Anyway, what are some of the things you have learned over the years that would be useful for me to make sure to look for when I start to go out and physically look at boats? I thought maybe there would be a sticky thread or one saved somewhere, because it seems like it would be a common question, but didn't really find anything. Thanks!

That's good to hear. I've actually seen someone local pulling small boats with a Grand Prix, but it's mostly flat around my area. I don't plan on using my current vehicle to do it, but I would like to stick to a smaller SUV/Truck if possible.

I actually looked at one of these at Bass Pro Shops yesterday. Even my girlfriend liked it haha. I think if I was going to go brand new I might get the Pro Team 175 TXW. I like the red and the carpet. We'll see though, need to keep looking around and get a vehicle first.

Just bass fishing mostly. Maybe I'd do some small local club tournaments if I felt good enough eventually on any local lakes. Maybe some blue gill or crappie fishing too if I'm feeling up to it randomly. I don't think I'll be getting a "full sized" bass boat anytime soon, so I'd like to stick to smaller (<18'). I've been looking around used sites and it's almost looking like I'd be better off buying a new Nitro Z6 or the similar Triton model since they start out around $21k brand new, with financing and such my payments would almost be better than buying a used boat for less. I've also looked at new bass trackers since I live 20 minutes from a Bass Pro shops. So getting it in for work would be pretty easy/fast. I just started looking so I appreciate all the feedback so fast, it's been super helpful.

Right now I have a Grand Prix haha. But, I'm going to be buying some sort of crossover/suv before I get a boat. I'm only considering "smaller" boats so whatever I get will be capable of towing that.

Thanks for posting this! I'm just starting to look at aluminum boats as a possibility after moving and this is a good guide. I didn't even know Ranger was making an aluminum bass boat!

Hey Bass Resource, So I just moved down to the Metro Detroit area (Novi/Farmington Hills). I used to live a few hours north and fished team bass tournaments with my Dad and we used his boat. I also had access to it pretty much whenever I wanted to borrow it (hooray!). I can't afford a nice Ranger 185VS which I'm accustomed to fishing in the last 5 years or so with him, but I'd like to look into getting a small boat for the mass amount of smaller lakes that are down here. I guess I'm looking for opinions on what would be a better investment. Should I look into some of the smaller aluminum boats that I could pull with a crossover/suv that would be easy to take around to all the little lakes around here? Or should I look for an older fiberglass boat? I don't have a truck, or really want to get one anytime soon, so a full sized boat seems to be pretty much out of the question for now. I have nothing against Bass Trackers or other similar style aluminum boats especially seeing as I don't expect to be doing any tournament fishing in this, just fun fishing. I would like something I can stand up in, so I think I'm looking at the Bass Tracker "style" boats or smaller fiber boats only. So I'm staying clear of tiny john boats and canoe/kayaks. Are they any brands or models that I should steer clear of to avoid getting a boat and having to work on it constantly or having constant problems? Thanks!

This is REALLY late. Like four years. But yours is the second or third Bass Tracker from the 80's that I saw that look so awesome. What happened that made them take away the fiberglass and that overall styling. I would love to find a nice condition boat just like yours and the other I saw for a starter boat.

Nice pics. I need to start bringing my camera more. Most of my fishing this summer has been tournaments though, so not much time to take a break and use it.

What a heart breaker for this to happen to Skeet two years in a row. But, with that said, KVD is the man, and he has earned every bit of respect from everyone in the industry today. I am a huge fan of both Skeet and KVD, and it is exciting to see both of them fighting for the AOY title. I really thought Skeet couldn't lose it after the start that he had to the season. And, I have to admit, I was really hoping he was going to edge out Vandam when he came up to the scales, but that's not the way it played out. Congrats to KVD, and my heart goes out to Skeet. Looking forward to hopefully seeing those two dual it out in New Orleans in a few months .

At the Classic this year I picked up a Gill jacket and I absolutely love it. My dad got the same one and he loves it also. http://www.gillna.com/coastal/IN4J_Coast_Jacket.php If anyone was there, or seen any pictures, it's the jacket that all the Yamaha prostaff and fisherman were wearing. It's kind of a mid temp jacket though, it's meant to wear with layers underneath it. I wear a fleece underneath it when it's a little colder, or just a t-shirt if it's warmer. Best jacket I've owned so far hands down. They also have a more expensive, colder weather, jacket that I hear good things about also. I haven't actually used the hood yet, seeing as I wear a hat when I fish, and it's new and hasn't really poured on me since I bought it. Honestly, I haven't even pulled the hood out of the zipper compartment lol.

My dad doesn't seem to grasp the concept of my cell phone camera . So this is the only one that really turned out.

No pictures yet because I don't have my phone usb cable with me, but I will upload them later. Me and my dad haven't really gotten to take the boat out much up here in MI, but we stopped by a local marina tonight and flipped some docks/cattails for largemouth and caught 3 a piece. I got one about 4 or 5 so I was happy, the rest were males. It's amazing how no matter how bad my work week was or how bad a mood I am in, once I set the hook on that first fish, it all melted away . Can't wait to get out on the boat a bunch more in anticipation of tournament season to start.

I guess if I had to profile myself as one, I would probably be a power fisherman. There is nothing I love more than chucking and winding, searching for fish. But, I also love fishing with a big jig, I guess I'm not sure how you would classify that, seeing as I fish it slow, but it's a big bait...anyway. I am also trying to make myself be a better finesse fisherman, my favorite bait would have to be a shaky head jig with a 4" Big Bite Bait Finesse worm tied on. I fish a lot of tournaments that are huge recreational lakes so there can be a lot of pressure unless you are back in creeks or in a secluded bay, so finesse fishing is become more of a necessity than anything for me.

So, I'm glad someone else is as open about disposable wipes as I am lol. I freaking LOVE those things. I don't care what anyone thinks of me for using them, I can't go without them anymore. Keep it up G-Man! Love the whole video series also, can't wait to see more.

First, I wish the state opener was now, and now in a few weeks. Second, we will probably be hitting the river first to see if the smallies have started to move up to any beds, so Senkos and finese jigs will be the first thing I throw this year. If they haven't moved up, I'll probably try some cranks and drop shots on the bridge pilings and river channels to see if I can't trigger a nice pre-spawn smallie into biting . Gawd just typing this makes me want to get the boat in the water. Best weather all year so far up here in Michigan and it makes the itch oh that much worse.

Am I the only one thinking that that thing could pull me around in a kayak

I got the spinnerbait/worm rod and I am now wondering about it. The tip seems really fast for any kind of worm fishing, I might use it for smaller spinnerbaits and maybe finese worms/jigs.

Haha that was good. I met a couple of the producers/directors and a camera man from WFN at the Classic. They were really cool and down to earth, like the type of people you wouldn't mind working/hanging out with.

I should verify that it is just the video feed from the weigh in. If you are looking for the actual ESPN coverage...I'm not sure exactly where to find that.

espn360.com, go to the outdoor channel. all three days are on there.

Thanks mctech, usually if I like it I don't care, I just haven't had a chance to even hold it yet besides right before I bought it. I was just looking for opinions on how it felt/cast, etc. Thanks to everyone who posted.

Well that's good news! I picked up the worm/spinnerbait rod so I can't wait to give it a try. If I like it I will probably get a couple cranking and flipping ones before the season starts. Am I the only one who really likes his rods to all match?