Guys - Need some help. I am looking into getting a new boat mainly to use on the area lakes (DFW) for catfish and crappie. I mainly fish for catfish but will occasionally go hit the slabs as well.

I have been looking at getting a center console but wanted to get some different opinions out there. I want something thats able to handle the big water but also get up in the creeks for the crappie spawn.

Suggestions?

whatever boat you buy it should not have carpet in it...i regret buying my tracker because it has carpet in it

Center console-with no carpet-but nonskid on the floor will help-just wash the slime away when you catfish

As you can see in the pic I have made this 21'cc boat into a catfish boat. Definately no carpet. I take this boat up into the trees at Choke, it is tunnel drive with a jack plate and will run in maybe 10" of water. It is easy to clean and that is important. It will also go to coast for catching hard heads (joke really really). I have been so shallow the depth finder quits. Find something simular and you will be happy for what you want to do. This boat was bare except for the top so expect to spend some money to fix it the way you want to.

What kind of boat is that? It looks very similar to one I am looking at now (Mako). But it does not have the side railing, which I can see you use for rod holders. I would have to install something on it.

What else have you done to this boat?

I have an Xpress 22CC. Overall, I really like it. It handles big water well and can run real shallow...12". Great catfishing boat...lots of room and no carpet. I hate it for stripers and sandbass. It's very light and with the least amount of wind is difficult to hold a spot with a trolling motor. Slowing a drift is pretty hard too...takes really big drift socks.

Grady - How do you catfish out of it if you are not holding it into a windy bank or drifting?

I almost always drop anchor or tie up to trees / portable trees. I rarely drift. I haven't seen many folks hold a catfish spot with a trolling motor, but I suppose it's possible.

Yeah, next to impossible. I always drop anchor. Thanks.

It is an Apache bay boat, they are out of business. that boat is an 89 i believe. I had a 135 mariner on it when i bought it and blew a hole in the block on Choke Canyon. I now have a 125 Force (merc) that the boat shop in Universal City put on it. Good guys by the way. It will do 30mph on a fair day. I put all the rod holders on it, 12 total. Downriggers, gps, depthfinder, trolling motor w/deepfinder mounted on top of it. Marine radio, swing seat and 3 swivel seats and 3 ice chests, and an aray of rod holders, 2 anchors etc.$$$$$$$$ and the list can go on. we are satisfied now but my wife calls it my money pit.

Here is you a boat if he still has it!!!

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ter_Cons#UNREAD

If that publishers clearing house van would hurry up and pull into my driveway I would buy it myself!!!

sorry, not interested in a FishMaster at all.

I just got a 15 foot boston whaler and I love it. The boat is older than me but is small enough to go anywhere. Also very cheap on craigslist got my for 3500.

Travis

Yeah. I like whalers. My neighbor has an 18' that just sits in his driveway. I have asked him many many times if he would sell it. It never gets used!!

I'm running a PolarKraft MV2096CC heavy gauge aluminum (.125") throughout. Non slip - no carpet. This boat was built when PolarKraft was national sponsor of King Kat tourney trail.It was built to satisfy the needs of the tournament cat fishermen. It has 65 gallon live well in back for the big cats. 15 gallon baitwell up front. (I use the bait well as live well for crappie fishing). This is my guide boat (crappie, whites, hybrids)

I truly love this boat. I can go shallow or I can hold in big water..

You may want to give em a look..