I’m just wondering how many of you guys run 16′ boats on the big pond or winni. I’ve fished plenty of times in my 1650 fish hawk on some pretty big rollers but I feel like I should have something a little bigger. Is there a lot of you out there like me?
Think I should upgrade? 
I run a 1675 lund tiller and there are times when I wish it was bigger.
Anyone know where I can pick up used tuna boat with a Minnkota maxxum/300lb thrust/15foot shaft length, with 40hsp kicker?
Sometimes big isn’t big enough.
I run a 16.5 foot tin boat on both those lakes and can handle it, but if I had the dough, I would for sure have a bigger rig.
When she rolls it get’s pretty rough on a guys back in the puddle jumpers! 
I am currently in the same situation. I fished the GNWC last year out of a 16’ Lund and fished on Green Bay and Bago, can get plenty nasty on either. We took some 3 footers through the year, but saw what “real” rough water can be like on Erie (in a 18’ glass boat). I am upgrading to a 19’ glass boat.
I have three reasons for my upgrade.
1. Safety (and feeling safe)
2. The ability to make a run if needed. I couldn’t do this in my little Lund
3. The FLW Walleye League requires a minimum of a 17’ boat
Your Crestliner is a nice wide boat but is not all that deep or heavy, perhaps something in the 18’ foot range would suit the bigger water a little better. The nice thing about 18’ and over is the length helps when trolling with waves (the front end doesn’t spear as much with the longer boats). I don’t want to get into any suggestions on brands here because there are many good brands now, just that you want something designed for taking bigger waves and being comfortable in.
Send me a PM if you want a few boat suggestions, as I have looked at all of them in the last few months.
Went from a 18 foot fiberglass bass boat to a 1650 Lund tiller ( never worried about weather in the 18 footer ). There has been times I have been out that it`s gotten so rough I could not let go of the tiller to even get a rod out or move from my seat without the chance of getting into real trouble and getting soaked. When one goes down into a swell and can`t see shore IT`S ROUGH. My next boat I will be going back to AT THE VERY LEAST a 1750 or larger tin boat for comfort, safety concerns and a wheel. The longer boats will ride across the tops versus plunging into the trough of the wave.
Just My Opinion
I also have a 16.5 footer in tin. I run the pond all the time, never had a problem yet. If it starts to gets bad I get off the water.
I also run a 18 foot Yarcraft. It is my fathers.
Bigger is better in the bad weather.
I like the smaller boat as I tend to run a lot of smaller lakes. Your choice all depends on what or where you want to fish.
Ron
I thought the minimum was 16′.5 ?
Quote:
The FLW Walleye League requires a minimum of a 17’ boat
Unfortunately its 17 ft Steve. I checked as my boat is only 16′.5 long. 
Thanks, Bill
Yes the ride is better in a 18 foot boat but one thing I noticed is that at the end of the day fishing in 2-3 foot waves I wasn’t as tired.
You don’t get rocked around in the boat as much.
I used to dread fishing in 2 – 3 foot waves, now no problem.
I agree with skindog, running in a bigger boat definitely doesn’t wear on a guy as much as being in a smaller rig. I run a 19foot Pro-V now and the 2-3 foot rollers are no problem. I now experience much smoother rides going across Winni and Mille Lacs. 
Also, the bigger the boat is, the less side to side rocking and up and down you get when you’re actually fishing.
No boat is perfect for everything. That is why you need to have 3 or 4 of them 
dd
Quote:
No boat is perfect for everything. That is why you need to have 3 or 4 of them
dd
I whole-heartedly agree 100%….if the neighbors wouldn’t call the cops on me, I’d have one for every type of fishing!
A bigger boat is definitely safer on big lakes. If you can swing it, make the move. Ted
I have a 17-1/2 foot deep V Alumacraft. I’ve been on Winnebago, BeaverDam , and Michigan. Sometimes it seems awfully big, other times it seems awfully small. I went from a 14 foot deep V to this….big change. No one boat does it all…thats why I have my 14′ jon with 18 hp go-devil for the rivers… Planning on trying the big boat on Erie this spring. First trip there ever. My friends with the 19 and 20 foot glass boats laugh at me and tell me I will wreck my boat. Hope there wrong. I tend to be over cautious and not as crazy as them…you should hear some of there stories.
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