What Are Bass Boats?
What Are Bass Boats?
Bass boats. You may have seen them zooming across the lake or you may have no idea what they are. Either way, this Learning Hub blog is for you!
As the name suggests, bass boats are designed for bass fishing.. Now of course, you can catch other types of panfish in a bass boat, but their design revolves specifically around bass fishing. This means that bass boats are not designed for saltwater and are best suited for freshwater. Bass boats have sleek, low-to-the-water profiles, and are usually rigged with various electronics to give you the best chance to catch fish. They usually carry between 2 and 4 anglers. Bass boats have either aluminum or fiberglass hulls. Fiberglass hulls are more efficient and offer a “smoother ride”. Aluminum is lightweight, very easy to handle/trailer and tends to be less expensive to manufacture.
Let’s go over some of the defining features of bass boats:
Powerful Outboards
Bass boats are almost always equipped with ultra-powerful, outboard motors that unlock blazing fast speeds. This boat behind me has a max speed of 74 MPH. But why do they need to go so fast, you may ask? Good question. When tournament fishing - and money - is in play, every cast counts, and having a quick boat means an angler can fish more spots in less time and make it to weigh in before the buzzer.
Trolling Motors
Bass boats always have trolling motors. They are traditionally fixed to the bow and allow for slow, precise movements. It’s also much more quiet than using your outboard and allows for stealthy movement on the water. Trolling motors can also keep your boat stabilized against rough winds or choppy waters as you fish. They’re a great tool that most anglers utilize even more than their outboards when on the water.
Flat Casting Deck
Having a flat deck to fish off makes a world of a difference. Bass boats usually have two deck areas to fish off, each with a good amount of space to move and reel your catch in.
In-Deck Storage
Beneath the previously mentioned decks lie spacious storage containers for your fishing rods, tackle, and other boating equipment, such as lifejackets, scales, and snacks. You can’t forget about the snacks.
Shallow Water Anchors
Shallow water anchors, like Power Pole or MinnKota Raptors and Talons, come on many bass boats. With the press of a button, these tools quietly deploy and anchor your boat, allowing you to set up for that perfect cast while remaining in complete stealth mode.
Livewells
Bass boats are equipped with livewells, which are aerated tanks that hold your bass until it’s time for weigh-in. Livewells can constantly pump freshwater in and out, or recirculate the water already in the tank, while also regulating the tank’s oxygen level and water’s temperature. This ensures the life of your tournament-winning catch.
Fishfinding Electronics
Since the 1950s, anglers have been using sonar devices to help catch fish. Now, in 2022, active sonar has taken over. Active sonar transducers send out a signal to the water at a constant rate, where the underwater surroundings are displayed on fishfinders - all in real time! The tech has advanced so much lately that you can literally see fins on individual fish. It gives anglers the best shot at finding the fish - even in choppy waters.
Each feature I just mentioned gives anglers the best shot at catching the next tournament-winner or just creating a great day of recreational fishing on the lake. Give either of our two stores a call to learn more about how you can become an owner of a bass boat!