7 Best Bass Fishing Boats for Every Budget and Skill Level

The vast majority of anglers start fishing from the banks, and many never leave that way of fishing. That’s perfectly fine, but we all know the truth, even if you’re an avid bank fisherman.

Everyone wants to get out on the water and explore the lake. It’s a different experience that opens completely new opportunities up, and you won’t find an angler who would turn down the opportunity if given the chance. 

The only complicated part is that boats are expensive, take up a lot of space, and sometimes have legal requirements attached to them. 

Today, we’re going to help you overcome those challenges and get on the water with our 7 best bass boats for any budget or skill level. That way, you can finally get out on the water and see what all the fuss is about. 

1: Magellan Outdoors Pro Angler Kayak

First, we’re going to start with the most budget-friendly option that is still going to last you a long time.

While not technically a “bass boat” like the fancy, big-deck, fishing boats with all the bells and whistles, this is a reliable, relatively lightweight, fishing kayak that will get you out on the water with minimal requirements. 

For specs, it’s 10’3” and weighs 63 pounds. That’s a bit larger than some other budget options, but it’s going to give you more stability, room for tackle, and an overall better experience without being so large that it requires a trailer.

You can still strap it to the top of an SUV or some cars without too many issues, and it shouldn’t be too much for a single adult to handle. 

You also get rod holders, ample storage compartments, and a high-sitting seat rather than being sunken into the frame itself. 

All of that is available for roughly $560, and if you add up the price of the random tackle and rods you don’t use often, we bet you’ll find that getting a reliable way to navigate the lake isn’t a bad investment. 

On top of the price and decent beginner specs, there are some other advantages. 

Launching a kayak is a lot easier than launching a full-blown boat. You don’t need to worry about carefully backing your boat trailer down the ramp, getting everything unhooked, and hoping not to mess it up.

With a kayak, you can just slide it in by hand until it’s buoyant, climb in, and start fishing. As long as the lake doesn’t have any rules against it, you can also skip the ramp entirely and launch from practically anywhere. 

Kayaks also don’t require licensing at a lot of the waterways in the US. So, you don’t have to worry about getting licensed or facing steep fines and potential equipment seizures.

However, you should check all the rules and regulations for the lakes you visit before hopping in. 

The drawbacks to using the Pro Angler come down to its manual power. You don’t have an engine. So, you’ll have to paddle it around the lake any time you want to move.

For some anglers, that can be a bit too much physically. You also have to consider that while 63 pounds isn’t too much for most prime adults, it can be a lot for older folks and those who just generally lack muscle.

So, prepping for transport and launching it can also be difficult. 

With that being said, this is the cheapest, most reliable way to get on the water.

You can find inflatable options for a few hundred dollars less, but we intentionally left those off the list due to puncture risks, maintenance requirements, and quality varying dramatically from brand to brand. This list is for reliable options you’ll have for many years. 

2: Aluminum Jon Boat: Lowe Boats

The aluminum jon boat is an American classic, and while it’s not the fanciest, it has served countless anglers well for decades, and it has helped pull in more trophy bass than any other boat on the market.

At one time, it was the most popular bass boat available, thanks to its price, reliability, and ease of use. 

Today, finding an aluminum jon boat is a little more difficult, and the price is a bit higher than it was at the peak of the trend, but they’re still affordable options, and several companies still make them like they did back in the day. 

Because this is such a broad category that tends to have extremely consistent quality, this isn’t a specific recommendation. When looking at aluminum jon boats, focus on finding a size you want and the features you need. 

One company you should look at is Lowe Boats. It still makes the traditional riveted aluminum jon boats that are high-quality and bound to last a lifetime, but they only cost around $5000 on average.

That’s a huge leap from the Magellan kayak we mentioned, but it’s still cost-effective in comparison to pro bass boats, and it will get the job done. 

3: Prowler 12’

The Prowler 12’ is a Bass Pro special, and it’s a more modern jon boat.

The design is simple. It features a deep-formed hull, some mounting brackets if you want to add an engine and some boat accessories, and that’s about it beyond a neat camo finish. 

Where it sets itself apart from other jon boats is that it’s made of a rugged molded plastic reinforced with steel where it counts. So, it’s not all metal like traditional jon boats, and that makes it lighter, but it still has the structural strength to hold a motor with ease. 

While the Prowler 12’ isn’t feature-rich, it’s also only about $650, and it’s far more stable than the other budget-friendly option we mentioned.

Also, compared to the Magellan, which is only $100 cheaper, you can move around in the Prowler. With the Magellan, you’re more or less going to stay seated the entire trip, and storage is built to be accessible from the seat. 

While this is rather plain in terms of features, it is ready to mod right out of the gate, and that makes it a cheap way to build your custom setup on a budget. 

4: Pond Prowler 10

Finally, we’re going to get into some more versatile boats that cost a little more but provide a bit more functionality. 

The Pond Prowler 10 is another Bass Pro model, and it comes in at about $800. So, we’re still in the reasonable budget range. 

The way this one stands out from the Prowler 12’ is that it’s not a jon boat design. It’s still plastic with steel reinforcements, and it has the trademark camo pattern, but it’s more along the lines of a proper modern bass boat. 

This is a two-seater with swivel chairs for 360 rotations without having to get up or reposition yourself, a flat deck, and it’s even pre-wired if you want to add a motor. 

The flat deck is a great addition because it allows you to have a mobile dock to fish from. It’s a stable, flat surface to stand up and cast with unmatched maneuverability, and that’s lacking from every other option on this list. 

The boat is also built to navigate shallow water. This is crucial because a lot of waterways are shallow in the US.

Many anglers figure that out when they spend $30,000 on a boat and their local manmade lakes are only a few feet deep in most areas. With the Prowler 10, this isn’t an issue. 

The primary issue with the Prowler 10 is that we have already listed all its features. It doesn’t have onboard storage, rod holders, or any other fancy bits that sweeten the deal.

It’s easy enough to add those things, and you can bring your tacklebox along and strap it to the boat for safety, but it’s nice to have dedicated compartments. 

5: Crestliner 1700 Storm

Now, it’s time to leave the budget arena behind and step into the big leagues.

If you’ve already had one of those beginner-friendly, low-commitment, budget options we listed and want to upgrade, the Crestliner 1700 Storm is the perfect entry-level option for a proper bass boat. 

This doesn’t come with much in the way of luxury features, but you get a spacious deck, 3 swivel seats beside the captain’s chair, a 17-gallon livewell, and 20HP to get you around the water fairly quickly. You can also upgrade the Storm fairly easily. 

The best part about the Storm is that you get to move up from the molded plastic boats to a real vehicle option for just $13,000. Of course, for this option and every other one after it, you also have to consider licensing, transport requirements, and maintenance. 

6: Lowe 178 Stinger

Lowe has already gotten onto this list, but that’s for a reason. They tend to pack a lot of quality into a package that is affordable compared to similar options. The Stinger is no different. 

For $22,000, you get plenty of stable deck space, 3 seats beyond the captain’s seat, onboard rod lockers, tackle storage integrated into the hull, a trolling motor that is foot-controlled, and even two live wells.

One is a 23-gallon well at the bow. The stern has a 30-gallon well, ensuring you can store plenty of minnows or quickly secure your catch for bass tournaments, no matter where you are on the boat.

At $22,000, this is an absolute steal, and you’re not going to find another stock model that comes with that much value for less. 

There aren’t any downsides to the Stinger that you won’t find with the other proper bass boats we’re listing. You’re going to need to register it, get licensed, and make sure to take care of it. It also has more to consider when it comes to transporting and launching it.

However, the only way to avoid those things is to avoid getting into the proper bass boats entirely. So, this is easily one of the best bass boats available strictly for angling.

7: G3 Sportsman 2400

Finally, we’re going to wrap this list up with an absolute tank of a boat, and it’s also the most expensive boat on this list. With that being said, it’s still cheaper than most of the pro bass boat rigs out there. 

The G3 Sportsman 2400 is a massive 10-person vessel that’s just under 24’ long. It also features railings and a multi-tier deck. Those are two features that all the other options on this list are lacking, and the railings do increase safety around most of the boat. 

It also features a powerful F150 Yamaha motor that is paired with a spacious windscreen to protect everyone at the back of the boat while you’re tearing across the lake with all that horsepower. 

The strengths of the G3 are its capacity, versatility, and increased safety. 

Those three traits make it an exceptional option for family-oriented anglers or anglers who enjoy fishing with larger parties in general. The average bass boat only accommodates you and a fishing buddy or two, but this can easily fit 10 people happily fishing. 

The safety rails also add to the family and party-friendly benefit because you don’t need to worry about kids or friends who aren’t being responsible going overboard unintentionally. 

However, there is a major drawback. Beyond the $32,000 price, making it quite the investment, it’s also huge. It’s going to be a lot more difficult for an inexperienced boat angler to drive with this thing on the back of their truck. Let alone successfully launch it. 

That can be remedied with practice, and you essentially get a boat that is great for bass fishing but also fun for family outings and celebrations. 

Get On the Water with Any Budget

Now that you’ve got the scoop on seven of the best bass boats, you’re one step closer to chasing trophy fish on the open water.

Whether you’re looking for a fully loaded fishing machine or a budget-friendly option that gets the job done, there’s a boat out there for you.

But having the right boat is just part of the equation—timing and location matter just as much. That’s why savvy anglers turn to the BassForecast fishing app.

With real-time weather insights, bite predictions, and location-based recommendations, you’ll always know when and where the fish are biting.

So, what are you waiting for? Ditch the shoreline, fire up the engine, and make every trip count!