Fishing Boats For Sale in Illinois & Missouri

Choosing the Right Fishing Boat

When you’re thinking about purchasing a fishing boat, you’ll want to choose one that will best suit your needs. Make sure to carefully consider some of the important factors that we have listed below. There are several options to choose from when you’re looking at fishing boats and we’re here to help you narrow them down. Cope Marine is your premier fishing boat dealer with locations in O’Fallon, IL, and Branson West, MO. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today so we can find a fishing boat that’s right for you!

Types of Fishing

The boat you’ll want will differ depending on the style of fishing you plan to do. Freshwater fish, like bass and catfish, prefer shallow water close to the bank so for this type of fishing, you’ll probably want to choose a lightweight boat with a long tail or surface drive motor. On the other hand, saltwater fish tend to be out in deeper waters and the waves can be rougher there. In this case, you may want to consider a sturdier aluminum boat. Durable boats can be more expensive but if you plan to frequently take your vessel across choppy waters, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Amenities

Fishing boats can come with only the bare essentials to get you going or they can be much more luxurious, with a variety of amenities to better serve you and help you catch more fish. You may want to add features as you become more familiar with the style of fishing you’re doing. 

For example, livewells and baitwells can keep both your catches and the bait you use alive and fresh. A rod holder is another useful accessory. It can support more rods for trolling or if you want to keep your hook in the water while you take a break. GPS, sonar, and fish finders can all help you more accurately pinpoint where the fish are biting. If you’re looking to spend a long time out on the water, you can get cabins with kitchens and even sleeping quarters for a more comfortable experience.

Size

Once you know what kind of boat you’ll need, the next step is to make sure that there’s enough room for everyone on the craft. If you’re more of a solitary fisher, you can stick with a compact vessel. These boats tend to be more economical and they travel faster since they weigh less. However, if you want to bring along the whole family or some friends, then you’ll need one of the bigger models.

When you’re ready to check out some top-quality fishing boats for sale, head over to Cope Marine at one of our locations in Illinois and Missouri. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from St. Charles, MO.