need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

[b0horman]

I have been looking for boats for a few months now and have been trying to narrow down a good model of boat for my needs. There are so many different types out there it has been hard to sort through all of the different makes to find only a few specific models and years that work. What I am looking for is a dual console deep v 17 - 20 ft. Length with a beam length greater than 8 ft. (8.5' is preferred). And a gun wall to floor length of at least 30 inches (above the knee) I would primarily be trolling and using 2 down riggers. Want a live well and bait well. Year range newer than 1996. At most I want to spend is $14k but that would have to be a newer boat. The boat that I have found that fits this is a StarCraft pro-elite. The one I have found the dealer is asking too much for, like $2000 over retail. I wanted see if anyone could point me in the right direction for not only the make but the model of boat that would fit the bill. I know Lowe, Lund, alumacraft, smoker craft, polar craft, fisher all make the type of boat that I am looking for but trying to nail down the specific model.

 

[Watermann]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Try this... show up at the dealership with the cash on hand and stand tall on your offer for the Starcraft. If they turn you away, leave them your name and number with a promise that the cash money offer stands. As September looms so does the close of the boating season. Dealers gouge customers the worst during the boating season.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Of those builders you mentioned only Lund comes close to what you want -- the Baron. Best tin boats made, also the most expensive but you should be able to find one in the price/year range you want. If it has the 4 cyl I/O make sure it has enough power for you. The Lund Baron is the ONLY tin boat I'd take on Lake Erie or the ocean regularly.
You did not mention Sylvan-- they make a great tin boat-- I owned a couple including a 22' cuddy I fished on Lake Erie.

 

[Pony]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Of those builders you mentioned only Lund comes close to what you want -- the Baron. Best tin boats made, also the most expensive but you should be able to find one in the price/year range you want. If it has the 4 cyl I/O make sure it has enough power for you. The Lund Baron is the ONLY tin boat I'd take on Lake Erie or the ocean regularly.
You did not mention Sylvan-- they make a great tin boat-- I owned a couple including a 22' cuddy I fished on Lake Erie.

The Alumacraft Trophy would be pretty close as well........but the Baron is a little bigger. There is a Lund Baron that is for sale right by my work (I am only a mile or so from Lake Michigan), its a 1991 with a 5.7 Volva and they are asking 10k. I had also seen a custom Baron on craigslist recently in the area that was apparently custom built for a Lund exec.....but that was going for 30k,

 

[roscoe]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

I have been looking for boats for a few months now and have been trying to narrow down a good model of boat for my needs. There are so many different types out there it has been hard to sort through all of the different makes to find only a few specific models and years that work. What I am looking for is a dual console deep v 17 - 20 ft. Length with a beam length greater than 8 ft. (8.5' is preferred). And a gun wall to floor length of at least 30 inches (above the knee) I would primarily be trolling and using 2 down riggers. Want a live well and bait well. Year range newer than 1996. At most I want to spend is $14k but that would have to be a newer boat. The boat that I have found that fits this is a StarCraft pro-elite. The one I have found the dealer is asking too much for, like $2000 over retail. I wanted see if anyone could point me in the right direction for not only the make but the model of boat that would fit the bill. I know Lowe, Lund, alumacraft, smoker craft, polar craft, fisher all make the type of boat that I am looking for but trying to nail down the specific model.

All I can say, is that you must be tall.

Asking price is asking price.

Offer him 3 grand less, be prepared to leave.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

OP -- grab your cash and head to WI for that Lund. I had a 2050 Baron and am sorry it was sold. Not too many around as not many sold as you can often buy 2 new tin boats for the price of a new Baron. See one and you will know why.

 

[Pony]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Here is the Baron. Definitely a big water boat to be sure.....makes my 17 1/2 footer look like a baby

1991 Lund Baron Gran Sport2100

 

[b0horman]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Might have had a bad measurement for the knee length. 24? should work. I offered $2000 under asking price. And he said he will hold until he gets $14k. I don't need it that quick. I would rather have an outboard. But the baron is a great big lakes boat. I use to have a StarCraft center counsel 18' deep v and have taken it miles offshore in superior. So it doesn't have to be huge.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

I ran a Baron with 2 downriggers and a planerboard mast too. I trolled her in Lake Erie out 30 miles. The one in the ad even has a kicker. I had a bowcover made and installed out of heavy canvas-- my daughters walked on it but it deflected water off the boat instead of inside.

 

[Pony]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

I would rather have an outboard. But the baron is a great big lakes boat.

They make them with outboards....I have seen a few of them as I have been perusing the "for sale" ads looking for a new boat myself. In my area there are quite a few big tin boats around. I am super close to Lake Michigan and only 30 mins from Lake Winnebago which is much smaller but sill 130,000 acres. Both lakes are trolled often, so a lot of boats are set up like that Baron.

 

[Pony]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

LUND BARON OVERNITER!! Excellent!

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: need help finding a good fishing boat model for walleye, salmon, catfish.

Now-- that is the ULTIMATE tin boat! The cost to build THAT one new I could get a new 21' Edgewater--

LUND BARON OVERNITER!! Excellent!