What boat do you fish out of? Aluminum or Glass and why? What and where do you like to fish (big lakes, timber, bridges)?

I love a good thread about the "perfect" crappie boat which we all know doesn't exist.

I currently fish a 2007 Tracker Pro Crappie. Good boat, wish it had a little more beam and wider front deck to fish from. Let's hear your veteran wisdom!

It depends on your style of fishing. I have a 17 ft bass tracker herritage and fish creeks and rivers a ton for probably 4-5 months a year so a smaller aluminum boat works great for that. I also fish big lakes a lot for the rest of the year. The issue with a smaller aluminum boat and big water is waves. Smaller Aluminum boats are not meant for big water IMO. The only thing I am needing for my aluminum boat is a spot lock trolling motor. If you go this route, a spot lock is without question a necessity. My boat drifts like no other with the slightest bit of wind. Also, I can bounce off stumps without worry of a hole in my boat.

I would have a fiberglass boat if I fished more big water because it handles it better but it is harder and riskier to use in the creeks and rivers.

It just really depends on what you like to fish.

I fish it all, all year long...rivers, small lakes, big lakes, creeks, timber, open water, etc. Aluminum is all I have ever owned. Doesn't mean glass is wrong, its just not what I fish from.

My new boat is a 2020 War Eagle 2170 Blackhawk. War Eagle will custom build it to just about anything you can imagine.

You've asked for a wide range of info in that question. Fishinaholic2 gave a good synopsis.

Big water or little water? Fish small lakes and creeks mostly, then a 15-17 ft works great. Spend most of your time on big lakes, get something at least 18 ft.

Alum vs glass? personal reference; As fa2 said, the alum drifts all over the place in any wind over 5 mph. Most aluminums have a rather flat bottom and do not hold side to side or what I call tracking straight. Those bass boat bottoms with pad hulls are not just for going fast. Those bottoms hold in the wind and track straight. Not much blowing side to side. Additionally, they are a very stable platform to fish from. Two people can stand on one side and the boat doesn't lean over. And most bass boats have at least a 90" beam and a wide front deck.

Center console is a good compromise. But most CCs have a console that is too big IMO and take up too much floor space. And for those times you might be casting for whites or lmb, the second person has very little room to cast from without hitting the console on the back swing unless you've got a 20 ft or larger.

For me, it's a bass boat 19-20 ft. When I catfish, I have an older 19.5 ft CC that I can mess up and clean easily.

I've run a big-welded aluminum boat (18' sea ark) for years. This boat was a better fit due all the needs it had to fulfill. Some key things along with fishing were hunting, skinny water, flooded timber, and big open water. It is equipped with lowrance HDS , 80# Xi5 and has been fantastic "all around" crappie boat.
If anything, I find myself wanting more deck for when my girls(4 to 5 of us fishing) want to get their "crappie jig-o-nometry" on. I also have been wanting to do more coastal water-I recently bought a glass boat, a Blue wave 19' super tunnel. I just equipped it with a mega helix 10 DI SI and i pilot link MK(mainly for crappie). We'll see how this goes...

"GET THE NET",...ready to go,....

Hmmm, so there have been some really good comments, herein. Currently, I fish easily assessable no wake creeks In a two man bass buster, creeks, coves, that that require a distance to cover, a 15 foot bass style flat bottom, and larger lakes, or rougher traveling conditions from a 17ft Pro-V style aluminum. That said, I would be happy to upgrade to Slewfoots fancy 20 ft Pro V style glass boat, rather than mine, for bigger lakes...man, what a sled!

I was looking real hard at a boat like this (actually the R188c, "c" for crappie). I like the length and seems like a nice length and wide bow for two people to jig from when needed. how does the boat handle the chop? is that the pro XS outboard? great looking rig and the umbrellas are a nice touch for comfort!

I can fish in 15-20mph but dont like to, its the ProXS 115 2 stroke,...sips gas.

I have a 1992 20" Champion. It is old, but extraordinarily nice. I bought a heavy glass boat because I have a titanium plate in my neck and I cannot take the beating of a lightweight boat. If I could change anything on my boat it would be to eliminate the port side console to open up floor space. This boat handles rough water about as good as anything ever made.

It would be nice to have an additional smaller boat to fish calm days in tight places, but it doesn't make any financial sense for me.

Duck Jerky, shame on your for posting that boat porn here. That boat makes me blush, she sure is purty! i read good things about the war eagle. their predator 861 and 961 are nice boats that might be in my price range (some day). do you have a local shop to service it or just don't mind the drive to take it to them?

I have an old fiberglass 1990 Cajun center console and love it...do crappie or cats just fine in timber and drifting in big water.

I have the same boat except it has a Yamaha SHO on it and it is a different color.

The boat handles great in chop and the deck is big enough for 2 people to fish without a doubt.

I am 6' 7" 260 and it is stable with me and my wife up there.

I have never felt like I was going over which is something that I couldn't say in my 1648 Weld Bilt that I had before this.

I am thinking about getting a Millenium Dual Seat set up with umbrella for those warm fishing days.

If you get down this way and want to run it just let me know.

Glass. I can’t stand aluminum boats, they ride too rough, they catch too much wind, they’re hard to keep locked on a brush pile in any kind of wind.

Own a new Grumman aluminum V with 50 hp motor - hate it. A buddy I fish with has another aluminum V bottom that I love. Depends on brand and design.
On the other hand I've owned a 1995 Ranger glass boat and loved it until unleaded gas messed up the Mercury 90 hp. It's been sitting in my yard for 10 years forcing me to use a 10' V aluminum for small waters or a 11'6" flat bottom that are easily transported - neither uses a trailer.

Since some good lakes are in the mountains, the Ranger being heavy takes more gas than towing aluminum up inclines. The aluminum Grumman is more prone to be at the mercy of the wind thereby requiring fore and aft anchors. The boat also leans toward the driver side when on plane or sitting in the seat. Going to try and sell it and expect to take a big loss. Better than having it sit around unused for years.

BTW, found someone who fixed the Merc on the Ranger and was told to only use leaded fuel. Only one station locally sells it and is a hassle to visit. I'll get it on the water in spring, fly like the wind ! on a lake only 20 minutes away I've fished for 40 years and remember where the shallow rocks are. Not cool when I got stuck on some with that heavy boat. But then again you can get stuck regardless glass or tin.