What is the difference between a Bass boat and a Walleye boat?

Long Lake in Saskatchewan where the “Walleye Event” takes place.

A walleye boat has a deeper V, sits higher in the water and handles rough water better than a bass boat. Walleye boats tend to have more open space inside and less compartment area. Also bass boats have a large back platform to stand on. Some walleye boats have a removable back platform but it is usually small in comparison to a bass boat.

A low hull “Bass Boat” on The Osoyoos Lake.

Walleye boats tend to be set up for trolling and for the fisherman to be able to move  round to handle the trolling rods. Bass boats sit shallower and allow the fisherman to be able to see down into the water better. Bass boats are also much faster as there is less hull so
they weigh less.

A Walleye Boat in the fore ground that is built for speed and deep water.

Bass boats will also go shallower so if you fish shallow weed flats or pad fields a bass boat would be better. So it depends on what you are fishing. If you are on big lakes like Erie a
walleye boat would probably be better. I went to the bass masters classic in Chicago years ago and most of the bass boats couldn’t go out on Lake Michigan because it was too rough.

The start of a typical Walleye event.

Walleye guys wouldn’t have thought twice about going out there because that is just  normal water for them. If you fish in-land lakes that don’t get that rough a bass boat might be better.

Early morning launch at the Last Mountain Lake Walleye Tournament. June 2009

So until next time … find the road less traveled and slow down.