Hi,

I just joined this forum and i am looking for a beginer boat that would suit my purposes. I won't be fishing a lot just about 10-20 all day fishing trips. And about 20 fishing trips of a couple hours that i probably won't be using a boat for. I'll mostly be fishing for bass, perch, bluegill, catfish, and maybe a little trout and salmon.j

I can spend only $1000 so i know that will limit me greatly on my choices. I was thinking that since my budget constraints i should just get a canoe and a trolling motor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would be mostly fishing on ponds, rivers(not large ones like the mississippi but a small or smaller one), and some lakes(Most likely not great lake size even though i live 3 hours away from great michigan).

Thanks  :-/

Get a jon boat. They are more comfortable and stable. Look at your local craigs list, they are for sale all the time. You can probably get a jon and trolling motor for way under a K.

Where do you live, I can try to help you find something.

Indiana

Something like this:

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/boa/388102885.html

or this

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/boa/384726608.html

Here:

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=aluminum+boat&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max  A BUNCH OF THEM!

Thanks for the advice i think i'll probably go with a jon boat.

How much horsepower do you think i'll need for it to go at a decent pace???

Anything is better than rowing LOL!  Get the biggest you can afford or the biggest allowed for the boat.  

Good luck man!  

Let us know what you get!  

Wider is betterin boats for fishing. I suggest 48"or wider if larger lakes are to be on the agenda. Most V-bottoms can serve you well coupled with a trailer and good outboard. If you are going into inaccesable places you will want something smaller especially if you are launching by yourself. The bueaty of it is you can sell your boat and buy another later.

Thanks for the advice i think i'll probably go with a jon boat.

How much horsepower do you think i'll need for it to go at a decent pace???

Well, my 1988 Evinrude 4 horse deluxe (4 hp motor with more accessories - F/N/R, twist tiller throttle, shallow water drive (mine is missing) better carrying handle, etc) pushes our 12 foot vee about 4 - 5 estimated mph with dad and me in it.  With just me, it doesn't quite want to plane, but that has to do with the weight distribution.  On a 12 footer, anywhere from a 4 to a 10 is good for many lakes and rivers.  For a smaller motor like this, I would recommend a Johnson or Evinrude from the 1950s to 1999.  Theoretically, mercs will give better speed, but reliability is what you sacrifice with them.  Unless you get into the newer motors, (I doubt you will with your budget) you should stick with a johnnyrude.  But, you could start out with just a TM (I would recommend 50 + pound thrust, even on a jon, as even though a 30 is more than sufficient for fishing, sometimes you need the extra get up and go.  (tonight we were on an elec only lake, and a lightning storm came up, and the extra 20 pounds got us to the ramp faster.  Of course, if you do have the outboard, and won't ever see any elec. only lakes, a 30 should do ya fine.  

look for a small jon, semi V or V hull, 12 maybe 14 foot. what do you drive? most cars and small trrucks can tow small trailers and these small boat do not weigh much. Look on Craigs list, your local paper, boat trader, Pennysaver, green sheet, Ect..  You can pick up a 12 footer with a trailer, small outboard and some times a Trolling motor for under $1000. haveing a trailer make it so much easier to use, you can take it by yourself and have no troble launching it. I know im my local pennysaver there are 3 or 4 small boats with trailer, outboard and TM, for right around $1000, one 12 footer for $800.

I bought my first boat in 1989, while I was in high school, it was a 12 foot starcraft Semi V with a trailer 6 HP johnson and a 28# MinKota TM, I paid $400. I still see older boats like that for under $1000 all the time.

Ps I have no problem with small Merc motors. I have a 1989 15 HP merc and it has never given me any problem. still starts on one pull. That old johnson was a great motor and so is the merc.

heres a boat I'm trying to sell. 14 foot Starcraft with 4.5 horse evinrude and 40 lb thrust minnkota trolling motor. $650.

kybassangler looks like plenty of seating there

Shouldn't have a problem sell'en that one, have you had it very long :-?

Oh yea deerhunter02 a jon would be the ticket, I particularly would settle on a flat bottom jon with what you wanna use it for(just a bit more stable) nice for a biggener

you plan packen it your self or trailering it :-?