Starcraft Fishmaster 196 Review

Sometimes in life compromise simply isn’t an option, such as when picking a big water fishing boat. Fishing for species like walleye, salmon and lake trout that roam far offshore on big, open waters is no time for fooling around – you need to be able to get out there quickly, fish effectively using a wide range of techniques, then get back home fast in the event the weather turns and the lake gets rough. Those were the precise design criteria for the legendary Starcraft Fishmaster 196, making it the boat to have among serious offshore anglers.

It all starts under the floor with Starcraft’s proven Power Trac hull design, featuring torsion beam construction for unbeatable strength and the kind of rigidity that’s essential for a smooth ride in rough water. Stretching 19 feet, 9 inches in length, the Starcraft Fishmaster 196 rides on a beefy 100-inch beam that delivers two key benefits – greater stability, especially in lumpy water, and a massive amount of interior space. That sense of interior volume is even more enhanced by the Fishmaster’s enormous 49 inches of interior depth. Some shallow boats leave occupants feeling vulnerable in big water, like one ill-timed wave is all it takes for them to pitch forward and go for an unscheduled swim. Not so in the Fishmaster. Leaning up against the gunnels in this boat feels like you’re leaning up against a kitchen counter at home.

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The Fishmaster’s vast, open cockpit and tremendous interior depth confirm this is a serious rig for fishing big open waters.

The interior layout on the big Fishmaster echoes that of Starcraft’s other multi-species fishing boats, just on a grander scale. A massive raised casting deck in the bow provides enhanced visibility when casting, and includes provision for installing an optional bow-mount electric motor for easy hands-free maneuvering when throwing lures. The big raised deck conceals a vast amount of storage space underneath, while still leaving room for a huge 41-gallon aerated live well.

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The helm is clearly aid out and includes plenty of room for installing even huge multi-function displays like the enormous Lowrance HDS unit in our review boat.

Step aft through the Fishmaster’s generous walk-through windshield and you enter the spacious main cockpit. The open floorplan is augmented by the use of removable pedestal-mount seats that allow anglers to add or omit as many as they need for a given day on the water (the Starcraft Fishmaster 196 comes standard with four seats and five in-floor seat bases, with additional seats available from your dealer). There’s also a pair of removable jump seats in the stern corners, letting you accommodate more anglers on the ride out then pull the seats out of the way for more cockpit space once you arrive at the hot spot.

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A useful compartment in the passenger console accommodates a pair of Plano tray boxes, keeping small accessories safely stowed but readily accessible.

At the front of the cockpit, twin consoles provide good protection from the elements and a vast amount of useful storage space. The passenger console includes a convenient glove box with built-in inserts to accommodate a pair of Plano tray-style tackle boxes, providing the perfect spot to stow smaller items like planer board line clips that you’ll want to access again and again. There’s also a thoughtful grab handle on the passenger console, which is much appreciated when heading home in rough conditions.

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Pull the corner jump seats and enjoy added space in the Fishmaster’s expansive cockpit. The wide transom is the ideal spot to mount a second display screen, especially for anglers who often fish deep with downriggers.

As one would expect on a serious fishing rig, the pro-style helm console comes with full instrumentation – a speedometer, tach, voltmeter, fuel gauge and a circuit breaker panel for electronic accessories. There’s also a standard AM/FM stereo complete with Bluetooth streaming capabiity, as well as an auxiliary port for an MP3 player. A 12-volt power point goes without saying, as does the vast amount of console space left open for installing the owner’s choice of multi-function sonar display. Hydraulic tilt steering is a thoughtful standard feature, while high-back Captain’s chairs for the helm and companion seat positions are available as enticing upgrades.

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Sensibly, the Starcraft Fishmaster 196 features a full vinyl cockpit, which dries much, much faster than the traditional carpet, while also making end-of-day cleanups an absolute breeze. If the owner really wants carpet, snap-in carpet is available as an option, but the hard-wearing vinyl really is tough to beat. The cockpit also features a huge in-floor storage compartment that easily accommodates even bulky gear.

Rated for outboards of up to 200 horsepower the Fishmaster 196 rides on Starcraft’s Power Trac hull for great speed, stability and rough water handling.

The Starcraft Fishmaster 196 comes pretty much ready to fish right from the factory floor, but most owners will want to peruse Starcraft’s enticing option list for the chance to personalize their rig right from the start. The factory option list is truly extensive, with popular add-ons like a full canvas camper top, an onboard battery charger, pre-rigging for a kicker engine, stereo upgrades and a wide range of deck-mounted accessories from Bert’s Custom Tackle, including rod holders, downrigger brackets and more.

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Starcraft has been building top-of-the-line fishing boats since 1903, and in that time the company has learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. That all comes to the fore with the Starcraft Fishmaster 196 – a serious offshore fishing boat built without compromise for the most demanding anglers on the water.

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