If you dream of owning the ultimate walleye fishing boat, hold onto your hat. There's never been a better time to buy or more boats to choose from.
Walleye boats are offered in various sizes, models, horsepower ranges, construction materials, and price spreads. Just like the people who buy them, these boats have personalities.
A single guy with a good job and no family to support is more likely to buy a performance product. The buyer who has a wife and two kids is apt to purchase a boat with more practical characteristics.
Whether an angler chooses to buy a full-sized pro tournament rig or a smaller mid-priced fishing boat is a personal decision. The boating market is full of excellent boats that are designed to fill every niche in the walleye fishing scene.
During my career as an outdoor writer and tournament fishing professional, I've fished from most of the major brands. As a result of the successes and failures I've experienced, I've developed some serious opinions on what makes a good fishing boat.
Just knowing what's available in the marketplace is the first intelligent step towards selecting the ideal fishing boat. It's foolish to lay down hard-earned cash without testing the waters, both literally and figuratively.
Ironically, most of the fishing boats sold in this country are purchased without the benefit of a test ride. Can you imagine buying a new car without road testing it first? Certainly not, but boat buyers do it all the time.
If you're in the market for a new fishing boat, I'd strongly suggest hanging out at a few boat shows until you get a handle on what kind of boats are out there.
During the past three years several new manufacturers have thrown their hats into the walleye boat arena. Many of these new boats are excellent buys; unfortunately, others aren't. Some of the most trusted brand names in glass and aluminum walleye boats include Champion, Skeeter, Ranger, Yar-Craft, Lund, Lowe, and Crestliner.
Try to arrange test rides in as many different boats as possible, either through marine dealers or other anglers. Trust me, it won't be long and you'll start formulating your own opinions on what a walleye boat should be.
Aluminum Versus Fiberglass
A battle between aluminum and fiberglass hulls continues to rage on in this country. In the southern states where anglers fish year around, fiberglass boats are by far the most popular and sought after models. In comparison, the northern snowbelt is dominated by aluminum hull boats.
Slowly, the sleeker, faster and more attractive fiberglass hulls are chipping away at the aluminum boat market. In the opinion of a guy who has fished for years from both glass and aluminum boats, it's hard to imagine why fiberglass has been so slow in taking off.
For the average boat buyer, fiberglass hulls provide a great deal of value for the money. Those who understand hull design would readily admit that glass boats feature the fastest and smoothest riding hulls available. Fiberglass is readily molded into reverse chine hulls that slice through rough water and force spray safely to the side. Not surprisingly, glass boats provide a much drier ride compared to similar-sized aluminum hulls.
In addition to being fast, smooth, and dry riding, fiberglass hulls are tough and built to last. Contrary to popular opinion, fiberglass is just as durable as aluminum. And if a fiberglass hull is ever damaged it can be repaired like new by any body shop.
If that isn't enough, consider that glass boats are also available in a wealth of gelcoat and attractive metal flake finishes. They retain their resale value, and are available in a wide variety of sizes and models.
With all that going for them, one might expect that fiberglass boats would dominate the marketplace. Strangely, that's not the case. Aluminum and walleye are two words that are difficult to separate throughout walleye wonderland.
In case you're wondering, price is not the reason that fiberglass boats have been slow to take off in the northern states. The most popular brands of aluminum walleye boats cost about the same as a comparable fiberglass models. Go figure!
A Word on Size
Size is one of the most important considerations a boat buyer must wrestle with.
By their very nature, walleyes are fish of open and wind-swept waters that call for large, deep, and seaworthy craft. Most of the tournament-style walleye boats are 17 to 19 feet long with a beam of 90 inches or more.
The trend in walleye watercraft is toward longer and wider hulls. Unfortunately, this also means the cost of owning a walleye boat is going up.
Some of the mid-sized 16- and 17-foot rigs available are an ideal compromise of size, cost, and options. Many of these boats also have other features that cater to the family boat buyer.
Features to Consider
A piece of glass fashioned into a walk-through or double-style windshield is the best boating investment a walleye fisherman can make.
A second feature to look for is an open floor plan that provides plenty of room to move around the bow and stern of the boat. For most walleye fishing the angler will control the boat either with a bow-mounted electric motor, a transom-mounted electric motor, gasoline kicker, or tiller engine. Having room to work is important and adds to the safety and comfort of any boat.
Walleye boats are available in both console and tiller steering versions. Tiller boats are outfitted with smaller outboards, normally in the 40 to 90 horsepower range. Console boats may be rigged with outboards delivering 90 to 200 horsepower ratings.
A raised deck in the front of the boat is desirable but avoid a raised rear deck unless you plan to spend all your fishing time casting. Having a raised rear deck in a walleye boat is a poor use of space and makes it difficult or uncomfortable to back troll or forward troll.
Any good walleye boat should also feature a transom that's wide enough to accept an electric motor and/or gasoline kicker. Most of the better boats are equipped to handle both motors, and it's amazing how often having the option to choose between the two can be important.
Next, look to be sure the boat has an adequate splash well. If the splash well is shallow, chances are the craft will take on water when backtrolling into choppy seas or forward trolling in a following sea.
The availability of dry storage is also an important feature to look for in a walleye boat. If storage is limited, the boat will quickly become cluttered with all the tackle, life vests, clothing, and food that didn't fit into storage.
Livewells and baitwells also should be located in convenient locations. The back of the boat is the ideal place for both essential items. The smoothest ride in any boat is near the transom. Boats equipped with livewells and baitwells in the front of the boat will quickly pound to death any game fish or live bait placed inside.
Some thought must also go into choosing a trailer. Surge or electric brakes are a useful trailering accessory. Trailers equipped with brakes are easier to stop on dry or slippery roads, and in general are safer to pull on busy highways. In addition, trailer brakes reduce wear and tear on the tow vehicle.
To sum it up, choosing the just-right walleye boat takes a considerable amount of time, experimentation, and soul searching. To be sure, the process of purchasing a fishing boat is a compromise. Many boating factors such as cost, size, what vehicle will be used to trailer the boat, and how the craft will be used must be taken into consideration before signing the dotted line.
The ultimate walleye fishing boat exists in the hearts and minds of those of us who live for the sport. Unfortunately, defining such a boat is a little more difficult.
Copyright (c) 1996 Mark Romanack. All rights reserved.