Bass Boats on Mille Lacs?

[Guest]

Never fished from a bass boats. Found a sweet deal on 17' 2001 Javelin with a 115 Merc. 8' Beam I believe. Used responsibly, how would this boat handle big/rough water like Mille Lacs??

Thanks,
MJB

[farmer boy]

Sounds like a nice boat but if you wanta
be on Millacs when she is rought you might want to consider good insurance and some scuba stuff.

[Mark Christianson]

A few years ago, a couple guys died on Mille Lacs when their bass boat took on water.
Don't leave the bays if there is any wind.

[avrg.joe]

I owned an 18.5' wit a 175hp. I would not recomend this, they take water over the front Very easily. If it is calm you obviously will have no problems (Watch the weather closely). We had pretty good scare one evening with a fast wind switch, went from 5 mph out of the south to north at 20 mph in a matter of 15 min. REAL tough getting back, took in a lot water too. By the way there was no warning.

[Eastwind]

As shallow as Mille Lacs is it will get rough very quickly. I would not go out on Mille Lacs in a bass boat on a day with no wind. Plus, your resale will be pitifull when you decide to sell it and get the Deep V you really need to fish walleye in Minnesota. Pass.

[fishfearme]

I run a 19' with a 150hp all the time up there. You just need to be smart how you run the waves. If you are good at handling your boat you should not have any problems.

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Shut up and fish!

[Guest]

Really appreciate your help guys. I think I will go with a Tuffy Esox Deep-V 1760T with a 70 Suzuki Four Stroke. Any comments on this motor or Suzukis in general.

MJB

[Guest]

Great motor in the suzuki four stroke 70.
I personally have no experience but know people that do.

[united jigsticker]

Only comment is get the HP the boat is rated for.

[Ole #1]

I have a 2003 johnson 140 4 stroke (it's a Suzuki motor) and it has been flawless.

Very light, quiet,sips gas and powerful.

You won't find a better 4 stroke than Johnson or Suzuki.

Ole

[DGS]

I have an 18' Ranger Fisherman w/150. Even though this was touted as a walleye boat, it still gets pretty wet and banged up on ML. You'll have to do a value judgement - how much of a deal are you getting? How often will you be on ML versus smaller lakes? I can tell you based on my experience that your boat will be wet and will be a rough ride. Any time I see waves that are near whitecapped I know I'm going to get wet and banged up. There's times when I won't go out to the mudflats just because the ride will be real rough/wet. Will the seller let you test drive it?

My $0.02 is: If the deal is fair and you are planning to fish ML often, look for a different deep-V, >17' boat.

Good luck,

DGS