The $25,000 Question 2024
HoosierHawgs reply :
Been reading/watching a lot about pond management, and would love to have a chunk of land w/some good hunting areas and a good 5 acre pond, and a small house to put on it... So I thought this would be an interesting thread question... All things be equal (cost wise), which would you rather do, buy a shiny new bass boat or build a private/farm pond? I guess it is somewhat based on how you like to fish... I'd like to have both, but to choose one I'd want to have the pond because I usually just like to be pretty laid back when I fish.. What are your thoughts?
J Francho reply :
Where I live, no pond can hold up to what is an hour less drive in any direction. Boat is an easy choice.
lmbfisherman reply :
Boat first....although I'd love to have both.
Or you could always get the land/pond and while you're saving up for a boat..buy a Kayak and become a co-angler for tourneys to tide you over.
Sam reply :
My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond,
Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married.
As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:55 AM, Sam said:My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond,
Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married.
As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat.
My thoughts exactly... A buddy of mine and I have both thought about this as an option to invest in together... It would take a few years of being a workaholic and taking a break from fishing of course.... But that's life, and I think it might pay off!
Catt reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:53 AM, J Francho said:Where I live, no pond can hold up to what is an hour less drive in any direction. Boat is an easy choice.
Yelp 
scaleface reply :
Pond. I could always pick up a good used boat.
gardnerjigman reply :
5 acre pond managed excellent takes time to build trophy fish. Money also. (I look at my time as dollar signs) so you put that into this body of water and HOPE the worst never happens such as people sneaking in and bucket fishing, LMB disease, varmint damage etc...
Put that same money into a boat and you have 1000s of fisheries at your disposal.
Now in saying that, my wife and I will be looking to build a new house in the next three years. We will be buying land outside of the city limits and hopefully in the 40-80 acre range. If it has hunting timber and a pond of two, I'll be glad to write a bigger check
scaleface reply :
Land and a pond would also be an investment . Bass boats depreciate .
a1712 reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:55 AM, Sam said:My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond,
Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married.
As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat.
Great advice, people do get thing out of sequence. It was great to retire fully at 45 and do whatever I want everyday, not sometime, everyday. It was hard and sometimes I felt it wasn't worth it, but it's been 3 years now and I'm lov'n it. My choice would be House, Land and Pond, if you're starting from a blank slate. Easy to choose boat if you have a roof over your head. Brian.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 10:02 AM, scaleface said:Land and a pond would also be an investment . Bass boats depreciate .
Depends on the land and location.
Slipknot_Fan666 reply :
I'd take the pond. I'd rather have a kayak over a boat. I feel like I'd have to much fun driving the boat around and forget all about fishing. Plus when I'm too lazy to hook up the trailer, drive to the river, unload the boat, fish, load the boat back up, and drive home, I could just go fish in the pond.
K_Mac reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:59 AM, scaleface said:Pond. I could always pick up a good used boat.
For the price of a good used boat, you could get a good start on a pond. Having a pond to play in is one thing; managing a good fishery is another. I would take the boat!
fisherrw reply :
A boat
RSM789 reply :
Pond, especially if I could make it a bit bigger than 5 acres and throw in a Pond Prowler. I like the solitude, so being able to control who is on the water is a plus. Living in a highly populated area may be the driving force for that.
My sister moved to Texas a few years ago, about an hour outside of Austin. A few of her clients have ponds or small lakes on their cattle ranches & were gracious enough to let me fish them when I visited. The entire experience each time was incredible.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 9:26 AM, gardnerjigman said:5 acre pond managed excellent takes time to build trophy fish. Money also. (I look at my time as dollar signs) so you put that into this body of water and HOPE the worst never happens such as people sneaking in and bucket fishing, LMB disease, varmint damage etc...
Put that same money into a boat and you have 1000s of fisheries at your disposal.
Now in saying that, my wife and I will be looking to build a new house in the next three years. We will be buying land outside of the city limits and hopefully in the 40-80 acre range. If it has hunting timber and a pond of two, I'll be glad to write a bigger check
Amen fellow bass fisherman, my wife and I are on the same plan.
Don't Tell The Wife reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:55 AM, Sam said:My thoughts are that you need to get good grades in high school; go to college; get that degree; start a good career; and then worry about a bass boat or a pond,
Of course, you do the bass boat or pond BEFORE you get married.
As for me, I will go with the bass boat. A nice, new, high end Bass Cat.
Pay cash for the boat and enjoy it even more.
Brnnoser6983 reply :
Boat and hand digg a pond... but I am a cheap #&$....
Alpha Male reply :
up here in minnesota we may not have the same size of fish that some of you enjoy (state record LMB is 8lb 15oz. and the SMB is 8 even caught back in 1946) but they dont call us the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing. I know that around me you cant go 300 yards without hitting a lake. its a boat all day long.
Brnnoser6983 reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 2:33 PM, Alpha Male said:up here in minnesota we may not have the same size of fish that some of you enjoy (state record LMB is 8lb 15oz. and the SMB is 8 even caught back in 1946) but they dont call us the land of 10,000 lakes for nothing. I know that around me you cant go 300 yards without hitting a lake. its a boat all day long.
Lol.. only boating 1/2 the year if we are lucky. What I wouldn't do to move from MN to FL.
But I love our lakes, and outdoors. Even in the heart of or state there are lakes everywhere. I mean where else could you go musky fishing from a dock while on an hour lunch break from your corporate desk job?
SirSnookalot reply :
Why not both? A jon boat on a pond is nice but that doesn't mean you can't have a larger boat to trailer as well. You don't have to spend a fortune, as they say in the car business, " there is an ass for every seat" or is it a seat for every ass", can't get that one straight, lol.
Djf3864 reply :
I would like a nice big lot of secluded land, and a mid-range boat. I would be sick of fishing the same area all the time, takes the challenge out of it I think.
The land would be a nice place to relax and enjoy the wilderness, and the boat would allow me fish a lot of different places.
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
Gotta join the majority here and say boat. You would be able to get a nice setup for $25k. I would opt for a gently used fiberglass than opting for a new aluminum boat- unless you are subject to HP limitations in your area. It is a difficult choice, however I love hopping in the boat and exploring new waters. Also, the cost of maintaining the pond has got to be significant, both in time and money. I would rather be able to hop in my Ranger knowing I am going find fish , rather than playing biologist and trying to figure out why my pond isn't producing. I guess I am just not of a " pondmeister" mindset, yet.
gulfcaptain reply :
I'm going with the pond. 5 acres will give you a good size, build your home on the pond will def limit who decides to try and fish it. Also a few geese never hurt either. Ofcourse this depends on where you live. In the south you can manage and grow your fish with proper stocking and management. Now if it's not there, then I'll go with the boat due to regulations and shorter growing seasons for the fish. But I still think either will end up costing more then $25,000 if you want it done right and the way you want......should be the $75,000 question just to be on the safe side.
Don't Tell The Wife reply :
Does it change anyone's answer if the pond is one that Bill Dance fishes from on his TV show?
scaleface reply :
On 1/6/2015 at 1:24 AM, Don said:Does it change anyone's answer if the pond is one that Bill Dance fishes from on his TV show?
I wont even watch Bill dance because hes always fishing in his private pond. Id like to see him film a show at Mark Twain lake. A monkey with a cane pole could catch bass out of his pond. LOL
tomustang reply :
I'm not a laid back person when it comes to fishing, so I would not choose the pond option. Even if I grew 20lbers in there it's still a barrel senario to me.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/6/2015 at 1:24 AM, Don said:Does it change anyone's answer if the pond is one that Bill Dance fishes from on his TV show?
I'd bathe in that pond... Lol
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/6/2015 at 1:39 AM, tomustang said:I'm not a laid back person when it comes to fishing, so I would not choose the pond option. Even if I grew 20lbers in there it's still a barrel senario to me.
Good point.. I'm kind of the opposite. I like to be laid back and relax and fish. That's why this is so appealing to me. I could go out and have adexent time on the land doing whatever.. (Hunting, Fishing, anything outdoorsy) and relax and have a good time with family/friends.
K_Mac reply :
The question is pond or boat. Having some acreage and home in a secluded location with the ability to hunt and shoot would absolutely come before a new boat. Having some sort of boat is not really optional though. It does not have to be much-just something to get on the water.
scaleface reply :
On 1/6/2015 at 2:14 AM, K_Mac said:The question is pond or boat. Having some acreage and home in a secluded location with the ability to hunt and shoot would absolutely come before a new boat. Having some sort of boat is not really optional though. It does not have to be much-just something to get on the water.
Xactly .
MassBass reply :
I just want a house on the lake. With some little lake-worthy vessel. Hard to build what nature created. Even these world class man made ponds have unnatural aerators and artificial fixtures to keep the pond alive.
Catch 22 reply :
Pond ,whats the boat going to be worth 15 yrs down the road. Virtually nothing next to a property. Where ya gonna live if you go boat===rent? No returns on rent.
I`d rather sit on my own porch,prop my feet up and have a cold one while admiring my pond rather than trying to remember how good that boat looked when it was new.
Lots of variables here ,don`t rush in
C22
Master Bait'r reply :
5 acres is a pretty decent sized pond, especially if you have a lot of cover and a varied bank. I'd love to build one of my own from the ground up so I'd probably go with that. I do suspect that I wouldn't be able to sleep until the plans were fully laid though... All the possible variables!
TyTheAngler reply :
pond. I enjoy fishing and hunting so having it all right there would be great. ive caught my biggest bass while bank fishing in ponds
blongfishing reply :
I would take the boat for sure.
Catch 22 reply :
Rough count
boat==11
pond==15
RSM789 reply :
I wonder if the choices break down along personality lines, boats for those who are more free spirited & pond for those who are more conservative?
With a boat, you have less responsibility. All you have to do is take care of the boat, someone else has to manage any & all of the lakes you fish. With the pond, you have ownership and the work involved extends beyond just maintaining a boat & fishing. Some similarity to renting a home versus buying a home.
My previous vote for the pond also reflects an interest in being an amateur biologist. Skip the schooling & dissecting, stand on the shoulders of others and have an ever changing classroom right out your front door. I do it currently on a much smaller basis with Blutarsky the bass living in my koi pond.
Rhino68W reply :
Boat, no question about it. It offers the ability to load up and fish new waters anytime. The pond would get really old really fast.
Hyrule Bass reply :
land and pond for sure.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Truck, Boat, Farm, cattle, pond, hogs, chickens, oh then my wife...
Ratherbfishing reply :
Without a doubt it would be the pond (and the land around it). A boat is just a boat but land is land.
ward131 reply :
I have both. I was lucky enough to find myself in a position to make this choice. I chose the land first. Once I was settled in I started to look at a boat that fit the pond.
I usually take the boat to nearby lakes in the spring, then set it at the dock for the summer.
The freedom of walking to the water and getting on the boat is worth the cost of the land!
My only regret is I didn't do it 20 years ago.
Buy land, they are not making it any more. Mark Twain
Boats are just holes in the water you through money into. Ward131. (USCG Ret)
a1712 reply :
Guy up here has the lake and charges $35 an hour, $120 for 4 hours, to fish it. Not a bad racket. Brian.
Bankbeater reply :
A boat.
South FLA reply :
On 1/5/2015 at 8:51 AM, jakob1010 said:Been reading/watching a lot about pond management, and would love to have a chunk of land w/some good hunting areas and a good 5 acre pond, and a small house to put on it... So I thought this would be an interesting thread question... All things be equal (cost wise), which would you rather do, buy a shiny new bass boat or build a private/farm pond? I guess it is somewhat based on how you like to fish... I'd like to have both, but to choose one I'd want to have the pond because I usually just like to be pretty laid back when I fish.. What are your thoughts?
If you are biological tinkerer than I would choose the pond with land.
If you are a competitive tournament type than the boat.
From a long-term fiscal perspective the land wins hands down (http://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/land0814.pdf)
If you are smart, which it seems you are based on your blog and interest, than why not have both, and most likely you will have both in due time.
Think BIG! Why not have the shiny new Legend, Pheonix, Bass Cat, Ranger, Triton, Bullet, etc. and the land with the custom pond that you manage, its not too far out of reach, just make sure you choose a career field where all is possible or work for yourself. If you really like pond management look into biology and be the next Bob Lusk, working for yourself doing what you like to do for others!
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5450.htm
http://education-portal.com/articles/List_of_the_Best_Wildlife_Biology_Schools_and_Programs.html
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