Ultimate Utah fishing boat.

[N.E.T.O.]

In todays market, you are going to purchase the boat that you can FIND.  I would start out with a few minimum expectations...such as length, material, horsepower, and most importantly, what EQUIPMENT do you want to have on it.  That said, you are going to want to hold out for one with as many of your minimum requirements as possible , and as much of the equipment already on it as possible.  If not, you will be settling, unhappy, and sell it within a year.  Ask me how I know.

It would be very nice to have an unlimited budget and be able to order a new boat, get it in 3 months, then outfit it with all the equipment you want.  But reality is that you likely don't have an unlimited budget, it's a year + to order a boat, and even then you may not get the one you want, and equipment is few and far between available on the shelves.  

There are a LOT of good equipped used boats out on KSL.com right now.

For the lakes  you mentioned...a nice 17 to 20 foot aluminum fishing boat with 115 to 150 hp main motor (4 stroke preferred), a kicker motor for trolling, downriggers (2 main brands:  Canon and Scotty), Minn Kota front trolling motor with spotlock ( not just for the spotlock, it has other features that you will use for trolling) and a good fishfinder.  35k to 50k for something a few years old.  More if newer, less if older (beware on older stuff...maintenance will nickel and dime you to death).  Look at the trailer also.  Make sure it's got good rubber and has been maintained.  Tip: Just change the wheel bearings when you get it then do it every year.

As mentioned above, I bought a "tweener" (an in-between boat, just to get me by while looking for a GOOD one) and used it for 9 months while I was looking for my "good" one.  And it took 9 months before I found one that had the size, motor and equipment I wanted. Be patient.