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It has to be a lake by lake basis. I don't think you can paint it with a broad brush.

I never assume anything but that is why I included the little v-bottom for $455.00 (with trailer, deck and engine). Thanks for the heads up!

I have a 18'4" 1989 Champion with a 175 Merc on it. I sometimes wish I had my 20' boat back but that has only been a couple of times in the two years since I sold her (the champion is a narrow, deep boat and handles like a larger boat in the high seas). BUT, I also have a 20' war eagle with an 80lb M.G. Trolling motor (it also has a mud engine but I take it off during the summer for fishing). AND I have 3 jon boats, a 16', 14' and a 12' I use the same trailer to haul any of them or two of the three. I bought my first jon boat in 1984 with lawn mowing money and I still have her! I inherited one from my grampa and bought the 16' about 5 years ago. In addition I have pontoons and a couple older belly boats. I have been at this a long time and am not in the habit of selling anything, now I am pretty much covered anywhere inland in the U.S. I don't know your budget but I think a 16' or 18' modified V like above will work out well. A trailer is a big help. Purchase a great overpowered TM for the bow and if you don't have money left over for an engine don't sweat it yet, spend a year then buy the main power source. If you are fishing Butler, Eureka, Sedan city/county lakes you will be fine with an overpowered TM IMO. The best deals IMO for Kansas are the older tracker or similar boats that are everywhere. I just took a quick look on ebay and found 3 on the first page! There was an older v-bottom with a deck constructed in front and back with a 25hp tiller and a trailer for $455.00 right now, I am sure it will go up a little, there was a '84 tracker with center console stearing with engine and trailer for $2,500 this will probably go up a little and an '2004 Tracker Griz center console that was at $4,500.00 that will at least hit $5,000.00. F.M. good luck in your search. I hope the info helped you. Once you go boat it's hard to go back! Hydrilla

Great info and post 5 bass! The conduit is an incredible idea! Thanks for sharing your experiance!

F.M., COOL MAN you are thinking boats! My question is: where are you planning on using this boat? Large lakes like ElDorado, Marrion? or for smaller lakes like Butler CO., Eureka City Lake, Sedan new lake? or smaller private lakes under 200 acres? I think you need to ask yourself this question in order to get quality answers about which one is best because what is best in KS is in the eye of the user and that depends where he plans on using it in my in my opinion. Good to see you looking into boats! Fall/winter is the time to buy! Hydrilla

KICK BUTT BOAT REDLINE! That is an ideal MFP (mobile fishing platform)!

In Kansas it is absolutely legal to transplant fish from public or private to your own lake (owning the lake might be the key phrase). Last year after reading some posts similar to the ones above I decided maybe I was wrong and called the KS dept. of wildlife and the guy about laughed at me. No problem he said. He said I could go catch my limit in a public lake and take them to my pond and let them go or I could go to a private lake take all I wanted and let them go in my private lake. We do so much of this, we have develeoped the fish buggy (trailier with 3 big tanks, airator, cooler for storing ice, etc.) we move fish all the time. Some above concerns are very legit. A lot of subdivision lakes have plastic liners in the bottom as well. Just my experiance with it- take it for what it's worth, which ain't much! Good luck!

Jimzee79- I know! Been doing this thing called work ! Nice to be missed! Getting to be one of my favorite times to wet a line! Hope all are doing well!

Here is my lake. Heading down this weekend to cross a few eyes! from earlier this year

One of my good bassin buds runs an old 17' tracker with a 24V 80lb thrust TM on the front only. It works pretty dang good. We use this boat on watersheds, he has taken it to a few larger lakes but doesn't go too far from the ramp with it. Anyway, he has to get wet sometimes to get it on the trailer but it moves the boat pretty dang good with two fat fisherman and cooler of adult beverages. NOTE: we have an old trolling motor that does not work we attach to the back to aide as a rudder. Without it when the wind blows that tail end moves around real good and makes more work for the driver. That is my best tip. Good luck!

I would consider the size of lake you plan on fishing. You will want an 18' at the minimum IMO if you are fishing large lakes (I am saying this from experiance). It may go 60 or 70 but it won't on a lake full of high waves and chop unless you have some length. With that said, I haven't shopped Nitro but the price sounds pretty good. Just my .02

I like the layout of those boats! Especially for someone looking for an 'all arounder'. Someone makes a walleye boat simialar but a little more bass boatish. It has a nice layout!

J-hawk- she is a private lake.

Back to the Fork or maybe T-bend, but I was hoping to catch you guys at the Fork this year! I can't think of any other reasonable location, weather-boat rental-accomadations?

~ Dancin eel! Yup they got me on that one! ~ Storm swim baits- got me on that one too! The itty bitty cordell cranks - have some, may catch fish, but have never been willing to tie them on my line, they eat the big ones just fine! I will have to look in my 'other' box at home cause there is a bunch of lures I am forgetting: Mud Bugs The top water lure with the paddle wheel in the middle Classic thread!

Way to go L.R., more classic pics! Crank bait bass are great! Keep the reports coming!

A couple things to consider when buying a jon: Thickness shape - jon or modified V - Height of the gunwale - some are pretty low seat configuration welded or rivet Those are the ones that come to mind. For $1,000.00 you should be able to find one and make it what you want, I am a patient used guy myself. Those aluminum boats are pretty hard to mess up and you should be able to save quite a bit of money by utilizing some patience and looking for a used one. Good luck!

SWEEET! That is some good ol fashion elbow grease! You will be 'tuna boat'n' da fish in no time!

WOW THAT IS A CHUNK!

Sweet rig!! You will figure this little problem out, I am sure of it!

Sweet! I would throw in 3+ lbs! Nice fish and story!

Nice work! That is a nice target for you. Imagine the fish that will be your new PB! sweeeet!

S W E E T R I D E ! I miss my 21' boat! running an 18'3" and honestly it rides great but I miss the dance floor! Nice work!

My lake is about 100 miles straight South of Burlington. Very few people and lots O fish Meow!

Husker......NO PUNCHING BELOW THE BELT! Jeeeez :'(