Outfit Your Bass Boat with Tournament-Proven Gear
January 16, 2024 6 min read
“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” goes the old saying from the glory days of stock car racing, when a win for a given manufacturer in Sunday’s cup race often translated directly into a sales spike on Monday. Of course, the relationship between competitive success and consumer sales is more complicated than that. In many industries, high-level competition serves as a proving ground for ideas and technologies that can also make consumer-oriented products better.
Bass fishing is no different; every year, top pros put new ideas to the test in demanding, high-stakes competition. The ideas that prove most valuable soon end up in the hands and on the boats of consumer bass anglers. This year, Boat Outfitters partnered with Major League Fishing pro and 2023 Toyota Series champion Christian Greico to field test a variety of new bass-specific products, many of which are now available to consumers.
Center Tackle Organizer
What it is: Developed specifically for the Nitro Z20 that Christian ran in 2023, this tackle organizer drops directly into the front centerline tackle compartment, taking the place of the stock divider system. It holds six 3700-size Plano-style trays plus two deeper 3730 trays on edge for easy organization and features an innovative sliding tray that rides on top of the main box and locks into two different positions.
The whole organizer or just the top tray can be easily lifted out of the compartment.
The pro’s take: After using the tackle organizer during the 2023 season, Christian says it made him more organized and efficient. “Right when I open my compartment,” he says, “that sliding tray is just right there so I can grab whatever I need real quick. I use it for soft plastics or whatever I’m doing for the day.”
"Right when I open my compartment, that sliding tray is just right there so I can grab whatever I need real quick."
How it can benefit weekend warriors: Keeping tackle more organized and accessible can help anybody catch more fish. Plus, the ability to simply lift the whole unit out of the compartment means more room for other gear on non-fishing days. Don’t own a Nitro? No problem; Boat Outfitters can easily adapt the design for different boats. Just give us a call.
Livewell Viewport
What it is: Another new idea that proved its worth during the 2023 season, the livewell viewport is a clear “window” that can be added to the lid of most bass boat livewells, making it easy to check that pumps are functioning and fish are healthy without opening the well. A unique UV- and infrared-blocking membrane keeps sunlight from warming the water in the well, while a special coating and air circulation vents prevent fogging.
The viewport rises less than 1/4” above the surrounding carpet and can be stepped or stood on without worry.
The pro’s take: Tournament pros are obsessive about keeping their fish alive. “Before this,” Christian says, “I was lifting the lid to check my livewells every time I got in the driver’s seat to move spots. On hot days, or if I had a fish I knew had been hooked deep, I’d also stop fishing every 20 to 30 minutes to go back there and open the lid.” All of that meant fewer casts. Now, he says, he can check the condition of his well with a glance. “I can see right away if one of the fish is starting to float up or isn’t looking healthy, and I can get some G-Juice in there, or some ice, or figure out if one of the pumps went out.”
"Before this, I was lifting the lid to check my livewells every time I got in the driver’s seat to move spots."
How it can benefit weekend warriors: While a fish rolling over in the livewell may not have the potential to cost a casual angler tens of thousands of dollars the way it does a tournament pro, the fact is that nobody wants to accidentally kill a bass. For those who use their wells for live bait — shiners, crappie minnows, etc. — the ability to quickly check pump function can prevent a ruined day. Also, bait fish tend to stay healthier with natural light than they do in a dark well.
Fish Scale Holder
What it is: For tournament pros, every hundredth of a pound matters. Each fish that goes in the livewell is carefully weighed and recorded on a digital “smart scale” for possible culling if a larger fish is caught. Having easy access to the scale is important; so is keeping it out of the way so it can’t get damaged. Modern smart scales cost around $100.
Boat Outfitters’ new scale holder mounts to any vertical surface with durable 3M peel-and-stick adhesive and securely holds a Bubba Pro Series Smart Scale for quick access.
The pro’s take: “I weigh every fish I catch,” says Christian. “I would keep my scale loose in a compartment and then when I started catching fish I’d just kind of throw it somewhere. But you don’t want your scale bouncing around too much or loose on deck where it can get stepped on.”
"You don’t want your scale bouncing around too much or loose on deck where it can get stepped on."
How it can benefit weekend warriors: Most anglers want to know what their larger fish weigh whether they’re fishing a tournament or not. But if your scale is buried under other gear in a compartment somewhere, getting to it while you’ve got that six-pounder in the net is going to be a problem. Having a scale within arms reach can make all the difference when a potential personal best is on the line. Boat Outfitters’ scale holder is custom fit for the Bubba Pro Series scale, but holders for other scales in the works. Next up is the Catch Commander.
Retro Fit Rod Storage with Glove Box
What it is: Another product originally developed just for Christian’s Nitro Z20, the Port Rod Storage with Glove Box directly replaces the panel forward of the passenger seat on several Nitro models.
It retains the six rod grommets found in the original panel but adds a locking glove box to maximize available space.
The pro’s take: The lockable glove box provides a perfect place to securely stash his wallet, truck keys, phone and other small valuables, says Christian. Additionally, he says, “If I have anybody on the boat with me, it’s right in front of their seat so they can throw in whatever they need to and know right where it is.”
"If I have anybody on the boat with me, it’s right in front of their seat so they can throw in whatever they need to and know right where it is."
How it can benefit weekend warriors: Conveniently located lockable storage is useful for every boater, and this unit provides more space than the factory glove boxes on most bass boats. Plus, if your boat doesn’t already have cockpit rod grommets, the half-dozen slots are a great place to stow extra rods that aren’t in active use. Like other parts on this list, the Port Rod Storage with Glove Box was initially designed to fit the cutout in the Nitro Z20 and several other Nitro models but can be readily adapted to fit existing cutouts on other boats.
