Walleye Boats

Remember, no boat is perfect. They all have advantages and disadvantages depending on the conditions you will be fishing. Just remember to do your homework and you will end up with a walleye boat that will keep you happy for years.

Key things to consider include; the location you are primarily going to be fishing. Is it the great lakes or large open waters? Maybe you will be mostly floating lazily down a river? Are you fishing with buddies? Are you going to have your kids and family with you? Or are you going to be pounding with your team through big waters as you fish competitively in tournaments?

The Big Tournament Guy

If you are going to be pounding the big water in search of your tournament winning catch you have some options to consider. Generally, walleye boats are at least 18 feet long. An 18 to 20 foot fishing boat will give you the performance you are looking for.

You need a boat to get you through windy and rainy conditions for that inevitable day on the water. An outboard pushing over 200HP is in order. You will also want at least an electric motor in the bow of the boat and possibly another on the transom. This will help you with those delicate situations when you need to dissect the water like a surgeon.

An aluminum boat will work well, but there are fiberglass options as well. You need your boat to be a beast on the water. One that will tackle big water with a vengeance and put you ahead of your competitors when that horn sounds.

Small Water Angler

A fishing boat for small water anglers can be terrific fun. They are not designed to tackle nasty waves or a big storm. Rather they are designed to get you into places the “big guys” can’t.

Shallow stretches of river can be home to a large number of walleye (particularly during the spawn). The big tournament boats often can’t get in there. Small walleye boats are also terrific for navigating weed beds, an advantage over other forms of fishing boats.

This size of small walleye boats are anywhere from a 14 to 16 foot V-hulls and have outboard motors in the 20HP range. They seat 2 comfortably, but can usually accommodate three fishermen.

They are terrific for reaching those places other boats simply cannot, and can give you a sense of adventure as you reach places that remain relatively untouched.

The “In-Betweener”

For those looking for the best of both worlds, it can be accomplished with common sense. A 16 to 18 foot V-Hull walleye boat will give you improved range and the ability to get into some tight places. Aluminum or fiberglass are options for you to consider.

An outboard motor on this size of fishing boat can range from 35 to well over 100 HP depending on the console. It will give you the ability to go almost anywhere and do almost anything. You just need to make sure you use your head.

This is not the boat to battle big open water waves on a windy day. It also isn’t the type of walleye boat to take into a shallow river when the water level is down. But in the right conditions it gives you the ability to travel medium to long distances and get into those shallow locations where fish sometimes gather.

When you are considering aluminum versus fiberglass it really comes down to a couple of things. Are you going to be pulling your boat onto shore regularly? If so, the fiberglass will scratch, where aluminum is almost like a tank. Some anglers can’t stand the thought of pebbles and rocks scratching their perfect looking fiberglass bottom.

On the flipside, fiberglass can be molded by manufacturers more easily when compared to aluminum. This means that a fiberglass boat can provide a smoother ride through rough water thanks to the better molding.

Fiberglass fishing boats can also be a touch more expensive than their aluminum counterparts.

There are a number of things to consider when buying your perfect walleye fishing boat. Talk to other anglers. Go to sporting and boat shows. Ask questions. Surf the internet.

Determine what will work best for you and have fun fishing for walleye boats. The right model will become your best friend.

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.