Here is my dilemma, I'm considering my first boat purchase, I mostly fish small lakes and farm ponds, so that kind nixed a good bass boat, plus I couldn't justify the expense with the amount of time I get to spend on the water, so I'm thinking of a bass buster boat minimal investment, seems pretty mobile with trailer, just wanted to get some opinions from everyone on it or should I grow up and become a big kid and get the bass boat? Any help would be appreciated,

If you are really planning on only fishing farm and community ponds I think anything would work. If you decide to graduate to larger lakes you will certainly appreciate a traditional bass boat. If you look at some of the smaller 16 - 17 ft. bass boats they can be pretty simple to haul around. Good luck.

I do not think you can go wrong with a buster type boat. You can fish virtually any tank (this IS the TEXAS fishing forum, thay call em tanks down there), small lakes and even coves in big lakes. I am on my second Coleman Crawdad and love it. The only other one I would consider is called Bass Hound, I believe. They are very stable and fairly roomy. My crawdad was about $575 three years ago. You can add extras a little at a time as funds come available. I added depth finder, then short pedestal swivel seats, steering rudder, lights, livewell (which the bass hound has, I think), boat cover, and a dual cig. lighter for my I-finder. I bought a boat trailer at a police auction and probably have about $1,200 total investment. I fish a lot of strip pits, county lakes and have also had it on Fork, Quitman, Purtis, Athens and many other bigger lakes countless times. Originally only 130#, but with all the extras and dual batteries around 400# now. Good Luck

SE Kansas grass grower

BPS carries a good line of small bass buster type boats. They have one that's 11 feet long with a casting deck.

go with the bass buster now and once thats paid off and you have some more money/time buy a bigger one if you want.

sure you mostly fish small ponds and "tanks" now, but you're last sentence tells us that you really want to fish the big lakes. Go with your heart - get the bass boat!

Buy the bass buster. Use it everywhere. When you get the extra $$$ buy a larger bass boat but keep the buster for the ponds. I miss my little Pond Prowler from BPS & whish I would have kept it for small trips.

I don't know how big you are, but I am a larger fellow and don't really feel comfortable in the bass buster type boats. I prefer a small aluminum jon boat. I really feel comfortable in my Skeeter though too. Lol.

There are some smaller aluminum bass style boats that are geared toward panfish series that have smaller motors and are reasonable. If you go with a "buster" boat, don't get the pontoon style with the raised center. I have pulled two pair of fisherman out of bad situations when weather came up on them fast, one was a father and son. Go with one that has a more traditional boat design with higher sides. Mostly, get what you can afford and enjoy the water safely. Good luck!

You might want to try a port-a-bote. Look at portabote.com. I had one for almost two years but eventually went to the bass boat config. I enjoy the bass boat much more so if you plan to fish metro lakes, I would say go with the bass boat. But if your thing is small all the time and to be light/portable as possible then take a look at the portabote. It'll do the job and won't weigh the 400+ lbs mentioned earlier. I had mine rigged with the Endura 30 Trolling Motor, Nissan 3.5 HP outboard, Eagle 320 portable. It worked well for calm weather and smaller bodies of water.

I would get a foot pedal operated Kayak. I am amazed at how fast those guys get around out in the middle of Lake Ray Hubbard. You dont even need to trailer it. Just put it in the truck bed and your off. Seems to me like that would be the ultimate fishing experience in small waters.