I am looking at getting a smallish easy-to-use boat for general fishing, and am curious as to the cons to a boat like the Tracker Panfish Special. It seems to be a great idea to be able to conduct "all your business" from a cockpit up front but I wonder how it plays out in real life and whether you get real wet and beat to death.

I fish a lot by myself or end up "guiding" for my wife and fishing buddy so I end up having to do everything from loading/unloading etc. with little help.

Any comments are appreciated, I can't find user reviews.

I had a stick steer for several years. Worked great, did'nt get wet, easy to use.

I had one a few years ago. It had a 25 horse Evinrude and I went all over the lake with it. Just not real fast. I fished for mostly catfish and Crappie at the time, and your right,its nice to run the boat and not even have to get up to start fishing. Don't remember ever getting wet.

I had a 16 ft Crestliner stick steer with 40 hp Johnson. It was setup like the Tracker Panfish. I would not go more than 40 hp on stick steer. I did get a little wet from time to time, probably my fault, and probably would have gotten wet if standard console steering. It planed much quicker than a boat where you drive from farther back in the boat. I liked it. If you buy, and if you have any problem with torque steer (hard to turn the boat in one direction) adjust the trim tab just above and behind th prop. It fixed my problem. I enjoyed my Crestliner, but it did not have much room to walk around.

i think the stick steer is great, we had a 16 ft falcon stick steer with a 65 evinrude, new in 75 and retired in 05, it had faster response, better vision, all upfront controls, you can control the ride better being up front in the worst riding seat, never once put a wave over the bow, that was the best tube pulling boat i know of. dang, guess i should have restored it, now i miss it, i have a steering wheel boat now and it is a bit of a pain, getting up to go back and forth to fish, and i do miss the site of view from the front seat, and it's quick response for maneuverablty

I agree with most on here. If I was fishing a small lake I would definitely have a stick steer boat. Really convenient, great visibility, and safer when fishing by your self.

i got a 2006 ,154 progator , its a lot better than the aluminum, has a 10 yr stump warranty, i have a 20 ftr too and would much rather fish out of my gator, itll go all day on 6 gallons witha 40 merc

Had several from 14-16'. Had up to 50hp on a 15' and I even skied behind it. I love em. All mine were fiberglass, Ouachita, Doggett(best one I ever had) and Skeeter. friend had the same Skeeter with a 3 cyl 70hp and it would scoot. They are very convenient, IMHO.

Thanks... a lot! I can really see myself feeling comfortable fishing out of one in theory, I was concerned that in reality it would not be as convenient.

I have had a jon boat with a trolling motor up front and recall the ballet of getting to where you are going with the tiller then walking/shuffling etc past your guest to the front and back each time you move.

I regularly fish with a friend out of a regular bass boat and there is still a lot of up and down from the console to the front. But the biggest draw to me is when I am by myself it seems it would be easier to load/unload and set up once you are where you want to fish.

I want to get the smallest boat I feel comfortable and safe in.

Another thing and it takes just a little bit of time to get used to, is that when you turn, the boat turns around you. I could turn as sharp as it could go with the 50 hp running wide open but it woukld scare the begeezers out of anyone else in there, especially the ones sitting on the livewell lid directly behind me

I fish from one every time I go out. 15 foot Kingfisher w/70 horse Johnson. I wouldnt have it any other way.

Fished in a 72 kingfisher stick steering w/50 merc form 72-84 it was great to fish out of. Caught more fish out of it than any of our more high tech boats.

I loved my old 1972 15 foot Terry bass with stick steering ! Had a 50 Johnson on it and it was great on lakes with Cypress trees. You can maneuver that thing in and out of some tight spots while sitting up front. I wish I still had it. It wasnt as pretty as my Skeeters, nor as fast, but my kids had a ball catching bream out of that boat. One of the best pictures I have of my daughter is when we where anchored among the trees and she was up front with me bream fishing.

I, too, loved my old Ouachita, 15 footer with a 55 Johnson. Caught tons of fish out of it...but just wore it out and had to get something else.

Had a stick steering Sidewinder with a 65 mercury on it. I really liked that boat. Wish I had kept it; however, I got rid of it because of the rough ride up front. It was especially rough on the bigger lakes like Rayburn and Toledo. It is nice to have everything right there in front of you.
I have wished many times that I had that boat for smaller lakes.