The Keys To Your Bass Boat
Since this month’s issue is about boats and motors I will share my thoughts on what to look for in a bass boat. I run a Phoenix 920 Pro XP with a Mercury 250 Pro XS. For bass tournament fishing there are four big keys in picking out a boat.
- Storage space
- Smooth, dry ride
- Speed, hole shot
- Fishability
As much as I try to take only what I might use in a tournament I can fill up a boat pretty quick with my MHX rods, soft plastics, Mustad hooks, weights, hard baits, spare line and accessories. That’s one of the biggest reasons bass pros run 20 or 21 foot boats. Typically the bigger the boat the more storage it has. Storage space that is well-thought out is a big deal too.
I will fish from the Great Lakes to Florida to the California Delta this year. The lakes get pretty rough out there and with runs up to 90 miles at times a rough riding boat that takes water over the side would wear me out. A smooth, dry ride is very high on my list in a good bass boat. I don’t recall a wave coming over my gunwales in forever with my boat. It takes rough water very well even at top speed. A smooth ride also allows me to read my Raymarine electronics and use the touch screens as I run down the lake.
Speed and hole shot are super important to me. Any time I can shave running means more casts and that means more fish. Honestly I have passed every other brand of boat on the Elite Series this year with the exception of Bass Cats. Hole shot is key because I fish a lot of shallow water and need to get on plane quickly and on to the next spot. The Mercury 250 Pro XS Torquemaster mounted to an Atlas hydraulic jackplate from TH Marine gets the credit for that. I can get in and out of very shallow water with that setup. I use a Fury 26 pitch prop which is ideal for my rig and helps with both speed and hole shot.
Fishability is the final key. A large front casting deck that lets me spread 12-15 rods out but still have room to move around is a big deal. The front deck on the Phoenix 920 XP is just awesome. The front deck also has the right amount of cushion built into it to make a day (or 10 straight) on my feet easier. Phoenix has an optional second console that is nice for my passenger. However, on tournament days I don’t have it in to allow for easier access to the back of the boat when landing bigger fish.
So there are my keys to the perfect bass boat. Keep them in mind when you start the search for your next one.