Slovins

So for my area I really need two or three boats?! That'd be nice, but not realistic for me. I kind of figured whatever I end up with would not be good for the ozarks. I know it gets pretty crazy down there. The people and the water. I am not familiar with the other lakes in the area though. I also don't honestly know how often I'd be willing to make the 3-4 drive to any of those lakes so I'm not sure I should be concerned with them as much. As far as the Meremac, I live close to the lower Meremac. Arnold or Fenton would be my closest access. I don't think there's real good fishing down this way. I wouldn't mind coming up the river and I hear there's some decent small mouth up that way, but sounds like a jet is the answer there and might not be the best for a beginner and may not do as well outside the river. I appreciate the opinions guys. I didn't know if I was overthinking this or if there was a good middle ground boat that could do both. I've been looking mostly at the 17 ft or so lowe, tracker, xpress, etc tin boats. Sounds like a flat john with a jet, a smaller tin bass boat, and nice big glass boat is the trio that'll suit this area best. Guess I have a lot more thinking to do.

Every year for the past 10 years or so I shop boats. I bank fish pretty regularly and would like to expand my options and so I start looking at boats and feel pretty overwhelmed. I started out catfishing, but the last year or two I've been getting into bass fishing. I am located in south Saint Louis. Most of my bank fishing options are local park lakes that are very pressured or some bank access on the Meremac river. I am looking for advice and suggestions on what size boat I should be looking for. Easiest water to get into would be the Meremac river. I am 3-4 hour drive to lake of the Ozarks, table rock, Stockton, mark Twain, or there are a few on the IL side. I am looking for a bass boat. I think being my first boat I would prefer an aluminum boat. Interested to hear from others on this. My thought is I'm less likely to tear it up being new to boating and that it's less maintenance on the boat not having the fiberglass hull. I am very interested in suggestions as far as length and motor size. I don't want to get into something that works pretty good in the river, but I'm under sized or under powered when I get to one of our bigger lakes. What I've been looking at, I think I want minimum 17 ft and I'm really not sure on motor. I see a lot that are 50-60 hp, but have also had people say that is the smallest they'd recommend for that length. Again, I'd rather have the power and not need it then need it and not have it. Again though, I am completely new to boats and would like to hear from everybody. I'm especially interested to hear from anyone local or familiar with the lakes mentioned above or other area lakes. Another question I have is how old is too old? I see a lot posted from late 80s and early 90s and I don't know how well these motors hold up, but that seems pretty questionable to me. I think I'd like to be somewhere close to $10k a little under or a little over. Is this realistic or what kind of price point should I be looking at/expecting? I would like something that I could have more than 2 people in. Most often will probably be myself or myself and a buddy, but I do have a daughter and would prefer to have the option to take her or more than just myself plus 1. I'm hoping to hear from some guys or gals that are from the area or are familiar with the waters out this way. I think that will give me a better idea of what the minimums are I should be looking for. Appreciate the feedback from anyone though because all experience and knowledge is more than I've got so far. My situation is I don't have friends or family who boat or fish. Unfortunately I really have zero experience here. I'm sure I'm overthinking and gathering way more info than I need, but I'd like to find something I'll be comfortable in for a couple years to gain some experience and see what I like/dislike. I'm nervous to get into something smaller than I should and have a bad experience and end up with a boat I don't want to use and don't care to upgrade to something nicer. On the other hand I realize too much boat can cause it's seperate set of issues as well. I just want something pretty versatile that I can learn on and will be comfortable in. In short, I have no boating experience and am looking for any advice while searching for a boat, but most specifically what size boat and motor would be most versatile for my local waters. Or what some may consider minimum lengths and motor sizes. Thanks guys.