Carolina Rig

Hey Jig Man, Thanks for the advice. I hadn't even considered the proximity of the dealership. I'll admit, I am somewhat interested in Rangers. Since I was a kid, the epitome of a bass boat was always a Ranger. I've built a few out on their website that I'm happy with that are at a price point that I can tolerate. However, the 'build your own' process is so overwhelming with all of the options, I'm not really sure what I need and what I don't need. I do know that the majority of my fishing will be done solo and, for that reason, I think that some type of 'spot lock' feature between my GPS and the trolling motor would be pretty helpful. My dad bought one of those aluminum Rangers and I'm fine running the trolling motor, I'm just guessing the wind in West Texas will be a little more considerable and having the ability to keep the boat in one spot while I tend to other things like landing a twelve pounder (more like getting unstuck from brush, grabbing a snack, or pulling a hook out of my finger) would be ideal. Also, I've read a little bit about depth shading and even pre-selecting courses on the electronics and then having the trolling motor basically do an autopilot? These are things that just didn't exist the last time I was fishing for large mouth. So I'm hoping that, between now and when I make this purchase, I can learn a lot more about features that are currently available, what's going to suit me best for that part of the country, and what is considered 'fluff' or something that I shouldn't waste the money on. Additionally, like I said earlier, I've always been interested in the Rangers simply because my perception was that they were the best bass boat money could buy. Kinda like a kid thumbing through the Sears catalog before Christmas. Now that I'm older and I'm ready to pull the trigger on one, I'm also interested in hearing some feedback on the other brands out there and how, specifically, they compare to Rangers in regards to quality of the build, experience for the angler, and value. Thanks!

I’ve owned several boats in my day; but, this one will be the first that’s 100% dedicated to bass fishing. I will mainly be fishing in West Texas. I’ll fish a handful of tournaments each year, as time allows. I don’t really have a price range. I’d prefer to buy something new from a dealer and I’m leaning towards a glass boat that’s at least in the 19’ class. I’m not entirely sure what’s out there these days and want to get the most bang for my buck as possible. I don’t need to go super fast - I’m more interested in solid electronics and trolling motor, something that’s both comfortable and reliable, and something that doesn’t feel cramped with an extra angler on board (rare). A big deck and plenty of storage are also important. Interested to hear what you might recommend and any suggestions/pointers you have for considerations, accessories, and how the boat should be set up for fishing that part of the country. Truck is not an issue - whatever it is, I can pull it. Thanks in advance for your help! CR