Hi everyone,

My brother and I are going in together on a used boat. We will mostly be fly fishing for bass off of the boat on Texas lakes. We also will take some trips to the coast for reds, specs, etc.

Our budget is under 6k for something used. Ideally the boat would have a front and back casting deck, a fairly shallow draft, and at least a 25hp motor. Aluminum or fiberglass doesn't matter to much to us.

If y'all have any advice on what to be looking for, we would love to hear it!!!

Nic

Make sure it has a very wide deck. Also visualize how much gear y'all carry and make sure there is adequate storage space. I can assure you you don't want a bunch of gear sitting on the deck trying to cast a fly rod. Also make sure there is plenty of room to mount a good tm. There is a lot to think about but you want it to be most functional for what you will be doing the most of. Also going used you will get much more bang for your buck.

Look for a good used flat bottom.

Just know going in that there is not a perfect do it all boat to fly fish from if you're looking to fish lakes and bays.

You could do a lot with a 16' welded jon boat and make the modifications yourself. Make front and back casting decks.

In my experience at that price range, you're better off investing more into a good reliable outboard and figuring out have to save on the boat.

I will second the reliable motor. You can find a used boat pretty cheap and deck it out as you desire

I agree with the statements above. get a used boat that will suite your needs and spend the money on a new or very new outboard. then you will be spending your time fishing and not "working on the boat." Then you can add things to the boat as the money comes. The key is to shop for the widest boat you can find. That's were all your stability comes in.
I have a fourteen foot flat bottom Monark with a with a twenty five horse. I bought the engine brand new in 1996 and it still runs great today - you just have to keep up with maintenance. over the years I added floors, decks, poling platform, fiberglass dry box and a center console, all of which I built, as the money came. The boat has a fifty two inch beam (measured at the floor)and is very stable. It will handle some very rough water (as a couple of guys on the forum can attest to) as long as you know how to handle a boat and are patient. I fish area lakes - Ray Roberts, Texoma, Bridgeport - for anything that will eat a fly. I also pole the flats down in South Texas for, again, anything that will eat a fly. Here are some pics that, I hope, will give you some ideas.

This is pretty much what I started with.



This is what it looks like now (except, I didn't have the trolling motor mounted on in this pic).





Here is a shot poling the flats out of Port Mansfield. This was before I built the center console but it will give you an idea of the stability. Remember, width is key.

I was hoping you would jump in here Capt. Mac!

Not to criticize your boat Capt. Mac but is it possible to repaint those old flat bottoms?

My dad has a 16' 1982 or 1983 Mon Ark flat bottom that I have some interest in fixing up for a flats boat.

I have enjoyed my Bass Tracker PT190tx. Large front deck and decent rear deck.

You can easily paint a jon boat however you want. Some guys are even redoing the bottoms with a slick coating.

My other advice is stick to your budget. When I went down the boat route, I ended up doubling my original budget number...it's easy to do and not needed.

That said, I love my boat and can fly fish tons of places I couldn't without it.