Entry 42-2
Mark Davis
Purchasing A Boat
Editor's Note: Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas, is a three-time BASS Angler-of-the-Year winner and a Bass Master's Classic champion.
Question: Once somebody learns how to fish, and they want to get more serious about it, what kind of boat and motor do you think they need to purchase?
Davis: Buying a boat is like buying a house. You can spend a lot of money or very little money on it. You don't have to have a 20-foot bass boat with a 220 Mercury outboard to enjoy fishing. I started very humbly with a little 3-horse-power Evinrude motor on a 14-foot johnboat. You can start out very inexpensively. If you buy a good aluminum boat, a small outboard trolling motor and a battery, you are in business. That is how I started out. You can spend less than $1000 to get started.
Question: What size lakes are really great for beginners?
Davis: Big lakes can be overwhelming. They can be intimidating. I was very intimidated. If they want to take on some of the big lakes, consider Toledo Bend on the Louisiana/Texas border and Lake Guntersville in Alabama. In the Northeast, I would suggest the Finger Lakes Region. In the Midwest, I would suggest Lake St. Clair.
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Contents:
- Part 1: Teaching Novice Fishermen
- Part 2: Purchasing A Boat
- Part 3: When To Change Your Tactics
- Part 4: Finding the Bass
- Part 5: Training Conditions
