Quick Answer
For most Lake Livingston bass anglers, an aluminum bass boat in the 17 to 20 foot range outperforms a fiberglass tournament rig on this water. Lake Livingston is full of standing timber, submerged stumps, and shallow flats that favor a hull built to take hits. The two brands we recommend most for Livingston are G3 for the smoother fiberglass style ride quality that aluminum can deliver, and Excel for the toughest all welded shallow water hulls. Tournament anglers who fish the main lake in open water may still choose a Phoenix or Blazer, and both make sense there. Big D Marine and Powersports stocks all four brands at our Huntsville location, which is the closest full service boat dealer to Lake Livingston.
Why Lake Livingston Is Different From Every Other Texas Lake
Lake Livingston covers about 82,600 acres in the Piney Woods of East Texas, right up against the Sam Houston National Forest. On paper it looks like a lot of Texas reservoirs, but on the water it fishes completely differently. This is the fact that shapes every good boat buying decision for this lake.
Three features define fishing on Livingston. First, standing timber. When the lake was impounded in 1969, thousands of pine and hardwood trees were left standing, and the tops still poke above the surface in the upper Trinity River arm. Second, submerged stumps. Where the visible timber ends, the underwater stump fields begin, and they run for miles across the mid lake area. Third, extreme shallow flats. Vast sections of Livingston are under six feet deep, and the north end of the lake near Trinity is single digit shallow across huge areas.
None of this is bad news. It is why Livingston produces the fish it does. But it changes the boat calculation completely. A boat that runs beautifully on Lake Conroe or Sam Rayburn can be genuinely dangerous on Livingston if you hit a stump at speed. Our companion post, Lake Conroe vs Lake Livingston: Best Boat for Each, covers the full lake comparison. This guide zooms into the bass boat decision specifically.
The Real Question: Aluminum or Fiberglass
Ninety percent of the Lake Livingston bass boat decision comes down to this one call. Here is how the real world tradeoff works.
The Case for Aluminum on Livingston
An all welded aluminum bass boat can take a hit against a submerged stump or a cypress knee that would crack the gel coat on a fiberglass hull. Over a season on Livingston that difference translates into repair bills, downtime, and eventually resale value. Aluminum boats also draft less, which matters on the north end of the lake where three feet of water is normal. They are lighter to trailer, cheaper to insure, and easier to sell to another Livingston angler when the time comes.
The Case for Fiberglass on Livingston
A fiberglass bass boat rides smoother in open water chop, which matters if you run the length of the lake for tournaments or if you fish the main lake body regularly. Fiberglass tournament rigs also hit higher top end speeds, which serious tournament anglers use to reach distant spots faster. The tradeoff is that you need to be more careful about where you run, and you need to accept that stump strikes and shallow strikes are part of the ownership cost.
The Four Brands We Recommend for Lake Livingston
G3 Boats
G3 is our top aluminum recommendation for Livingston. It is owned by Yamaha, which means every G3 is engineered as a package with a Yamaha outboard. The G3 Sportsman lineup covers the 17 to 20 foot sweet spot for Livingston, and the deep V models handle chop better than most aluminum boats in the class. See the full lineup on our G3 Boats brand page. Best fit for Livingston: the Sportsman 1710 for smaller anglers and the Sportsman 200 for buyers who want a full size aluminum bass boat that will not flinch at a stump strike.
Excel Boats
Excel builds the toughest all welded aluminum bass and shallow water boats in the class. The Shallow Water F4 series is what many East Texas duck hunters and shallow water bass anglers land on when they want a boat that will still fish hard ten years in. The F4 1751 and F4 1860 are the two most popular Excel bass configurations for Livingston. See the lineup on our Excel Boats brand page. Excel gives up some ride quality compared to G3 but wins on pure durability, especially in the stump fields.
Phoenix Bass Boats
Phoenix is the premium fiberglass tournament brand. If you fish Livingston tournaments in open water, do not run through the timber, and want the best ride quality in the class, Phoenix is the pick. The 819 ZXL is the model most Phoenix buyers land on. See more on our Phoenix Bass Boats page. Not the right pick for anglers who fish the north end shallows or the timber flats.
Blazer Bass Boats
Blazer is the performance fiberglass pick. The 625 Pro Tour is popular with tournament anglers who want hard driving speed and hole shot. Like Phoenix, Blazer is a main lake boat, not a timber flat boat. See the full lineup on our Blazer Bass Boats page.
Which Section of Lake Livingston You Fish Should Drive Your Choice
Livingston fishes as three different lakes in one, and the right boat depends on where you spend most of your time on the water.
- North end near Trinity: Shallow, stump filled, timber heavy. Aluminum only. G3 Sportsman 1710 or Excel F4 1751 are the picks.
- Middle lake near Onalaska and Point Blank: Mixed. Aluminum still favored, but a shallow draft fiberglass hull can work if you know the water. G3 Sportsman 200 or Excel F4 1860.
- South end main lake near the dam: Open water. Fiberglass tournament rigs work well here. Phoenix 819 ZXL or Blazer 625 Pro Tour.
- Trinity River back arms: Skinny shallow water. Aluminum only. Excel Shallow Water F4 with a mud motor or a light outboard.
Sizing and Horsepower Recommendations
Most Livingston bass anglers do well in the 17 to 20 foot range. Here is the horsepower guidance we walk buyers through.
- 17 foot aluminum bass boat: 90 to 115 horsepower Yamaha is comfortable. Great starter Livingston rig.
- 18 to 19 foot aluminum bass boat: 115 to 150 horsepower. This is the sweet spot for most Livingston anglers.
- 20 foot aluminum bass boat: 150 to 200 horsepower. Handles main lake runs and still runs skinny for the north end.
- 20 to 21 foot fiberglass tournament boat: 225 to 250 horsepower is the standard. 250 SHO or 300 for tournament anglers who fish the main lake at speed.
Every boat we sell can be rigged with a Yamaha outboard. Yamaha is what we recommend for East Texas lake use because of its long service life, dealer network coverage, and the low ownership cost over a five to seven year horizon. Current Yamaha outboard pricing is on our Yamaha outboard pricing page.
Where to See These Bass Boats in Person
Big D Marine and Powersports Huntsville flagship on State Highway 19 is the closest full service boat dealer to Lake Livingston. It is roughly 25 miles from the lake and stocks G3, Excel, Phoenix, and Blazer bass boats along with a full parts and service department. Our I 45 Huntsville location handles most of our pre owned and consignment bass boat inventory, including used Phoenix, Blazer, Triton, and Skeeter boats. Our Hitchcock location on the Gulf Coast is farther out but stocks selected models. Full current bass boat stock lives on the boat inventory page.
New Versus Pre Owned Bass Boats
Aluminum bass boats hold value especially well in the Livingston market because the local buyer pool understands and wants them. That cuts both ways: a five year old G3 or Excel in good shape rarely sells cheap, but the boat you buy today will still be worth serious money if you decide to trade up in a few years. See current stock on our new boat inventory page or browse pre owned bass boats on the pre owned inventory page.
Financing and Trade In
Bass boats finance well because they are proven collateral. Big D Marine works with multiple lenders for competitive rates and terms. Pre qualify with a soft credit check that will not affect your score on our boat financing page. If you have a current bass boat to trade, get a fair value estimate on our trade in valuation page before you visit. Trade equity often makes a big difference on the final monthly payment.
Service After the Sale
Bass boats on Livingston take hits. Stumps, timber, shallow bumps, and grass all add up over a season. Our certified service department handles hull repair, outboard service, lower unit work, and electronics installation for every brand we sell. Having the boat serviced at the dealer that sold it is one of the quiet advantages of buying from Big D Marine rather than a private party.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bass boat for Lake Livingston?
For Lake Livingston, an aluminum bass boat like a G3 or Excel typically outperforms a fiberglass tournament rig for the average angler. The lake is full of standing timber, submerged stumps, and shallow flats, all of which favor a durable aluminum hull. Serious tournament anglers who fish the main lake in open water may still choose a Phoenix or Blazer fiberglass bass boat.
Aluminum or fiberglass bass boat for Texas timber lakes?
Aluminum wins for most timber lake fishing in Texas. A hit against a submerged stump or cypress knee that would crack a fiberglass hull barely scratches an aluminum boat. Fiberglass still wins on ride quality in open water and top end speed for tournament runs, so the right pick depends on how you actually fish.
What size bass boat fits Lake Livingston best?
For Lake Livingston, most anglers do well with a 17 to 20 foot bass boat. Smaller aluminum rigs handle the shallow creek arms and back coves. Larger fiberglass tournament boats in the 20 to 21 foot range are better for running the main lake and open water at speed.
What horsepower do I need for a Lake Livingston bass boat?
For a 17 to 18 foot aluminum bass boat, 90 to 115 horsepower is comfortable. For a 20 foot aluminum or entry level fiberglass boat, 150 to 200 horsepower. For a full tournament bass boat in the 20 to 21 foot range, 250 horsepower is the standard, and 250 SHO or 300 for anglers who prioritize top end speed.
Where can I buy a bass boat near Lake Livingston?
Big D Marine and Powersports Huntsville location on State Highway 19 is the closest full service boat dealer to Lake Livingston. It stocks G3, Excel, Phoenix, and Blazer bass boats, plus a pre owned and consignment inventory at the I 45 Huntsville location just down the road. Contact our team to check current bass boat stock.
Ready to Look at a Bass Boat
Come by the Huntsville location any weekday for a walkthrough. Bring your questions about hull material, which section of Livingston you fish, and how a specific boat will handle it. Browse all current stock on our inventory page or start at the Big D Marine homepage to plan your visit.
