I have owned Champion bass boats for 25 years. Looking to purchase a center console 22ft boat. My question to those of you who switched from a bass boat to center console - any regrets?, can you basically fish for black bass(Shallow Water) as before?, pros/cons.

Most of the North Texas lakes like Ray Roberts is mostly open water. I would say 90% of my fishing is open water with some back creek fishing. Most CC boats advertise a 12-13" draft. Limited bay fishing planned. Mostly our fresh water lakes.

I appreciate feedback................

I've been using the Ranger 223 Caymen since 2004. Guide and tournament fish both fresh and saltwater with it. Starting to see quite a few of the regular c.c. on the larger lakes. The c.c. will draft less than a regular bass boat. Mine drafts alot less than a reg. b.b. There is some problem with wind on a reg. c.c. but not enough to worry about. Let me know if you would like more info. Will be happy to help you decide on the many different types and brands available.

The only problems I have had after switching over are, as was mentioned the wind can be a factor, make sure you have a strong enough trolling motor. The only other problem is in launching and reloading on the trailer, it's a 2 person job, at least for me.

I made that transition and will never go back. The flexibility, shallow draft and easy cleaning make it a great choice. Get the largest trolling motor you can afford. I launch mine by myself about half of the time and will never be as easy as with two people, but it is manageable.

If you get the right trailer, you should be able to launch and load alone (depending on your health of course).

Wind is the main factor, not considering top end speed. Most CCs won't get anywhere near what a bass boat hull will get, even though some still move pretty quick.

If you like positioning over a hump and working Carolina rigs deep, the CC might be a bit more mobile in wind than you are accustomed to. You might be forced to anchor and work it from that position.

You can seat more people comfortably and you don't get beat to death on rough water, mainly because you are standing most of the time while you are driving.

As far as drafting shallow, it will do that but on most lakes I fish, shallow draft doesn't come into play. It's different running across a 1 mile flat at the coast, but on a lake, you probably won't be on plane across shallow water too often and though you can get in shallow water with your TM, you can do that as well with a bass boat.

Mainly I would switch if I was tired of dealing with carpet and wanted to fish salt water or I had kids I wanted to take. The high gunnels work better for kids than do the bass boats.

I went from a 22 foot CC to a 19 foot BassBoat. I had my reasons for switching but mainly the bass boat matched my fishing uses more than the CC.

It sounds like you need a deeper V boat to cut those waves in the types of lakes you go fishing in. I would suggest a deeper V CC that drafts a lot of water and does NOT have a tunnel. Tunnels are used to plain out faster and run shallower than a V bottomed hull by allowing the motor to be further up on the transom and still get water intake. There is no use for that tunnel hull on a deep lake. I had the regular hull Kenner and it was really good about cutting waves and I could take some really big waves without any problems and it matched my fishing uses when I was living 5 minutes away from Calcasieu Lake(Big Lake) in Lake Charles, LA. For me that CC fit my needs and what I needed was a boat to cut HUGE waves that came up in the lake due to mid-day summer squals. All needs met.

I moved to Texas and didn't need that CC to fish for bass I needed a bass boat.

The only issue just like most have said is the wind. Wind catches the tall sides of the CC and it acts like a sail and you will get lots of movement. But the heavier the boat the less the wind will effect you. Also, that deeper draft will help with the drag and keep you from moving too much as well. Just something to think about.

Its just a matter of what you lakes you mostly use and match the boat to those lakes. I love my bass boat BUT I do miss my CC for saltwater. But all I do now is go get a guide at the coast and its actually cheaper than owning and maintaning a coastal boat!!

My current boat is a 17' Grizzle Tracker side console. I have been looking at center consoles lately, and I liked what skeeter said about the deeper draft. I am thinking about something in the 22' range as well. Something kinda in-between a flats boat, and a big water boat. Something I can convince the wife that its a family boat as well. I fish Palestine which can get rough, but I would like to be able to fish Tawakoni and handle some bigger waters.

CD

SIGH!!!!! I wish I would have bought a CC instead of my bass boat. It's just better suited for the kind of fishing that I want to do now, since I don't bass fish anymore. Hard lesson learned.
Steven

Best move I have ever made!!

I lamented over either a bass boat or a CC. Money really wasn't an issue at the time it was more functionality. I went with a 23' CC and have not looked back.

Wouldnt trade my bass boat for no cc anyday!!

once you get one,you will not regret it.Have owned late model Rangers,Basscats,Gamblers Bullets,Skeeters,and one Champion,but am sold 110 % on a center console.presently own a baystealth,and dont regret it.Slower yes,but best fishability and ease of keeping it clean.No comparison,

After fishing several bass boats for 25 years, I purchased a 22 ft. CC bay boat and could not be happier. It will do it all pretty well and is so easy to keep clean. Fully loaded with 2 men, 4 batteries, 40 gallons fuel, and 2 full baitwells it will GPS at 61 mph. Just get the biggest TM you can. Best of all, when it gets rough and the bass boats go in, I am still high, dry, and fishing.

I switched 5 years ago and never looked back. As stated earlier the wind can be a factor, but your high and dry in a CC. The best part for me is your not sitting down near the floor, its much easier on the knees.

Jim

I thought I would love a CC and wanted one, but I have fished out of the 22' Skeeter CC and with the high center console, I find it a lot more difficult to cast from unless you are the one at the front. From the sides and back I felt more boxed in than in my bass boat. Plus, I like the bass boat much better with the lower sides not being effected by the wind as much. It is a preference and take into consideration what style fishing you will be doing and amount of occupants, etc. Admittedly I did feel much safer on Texoma while in the CC.