Compared to weekend fishermen, the manner in which professional anglers rig their boats for maximum efficiency isn't measured in one or two “why didn’t I think of that?” improvements. Rather, guides and tourney pros gain their advantages from the cumulative effect of many little things done right.

The 2001 Bassmasters Classic champion Kevin VanDam’s tournament winnings total more than $1 million, and he credits his carefully rigged Nitro for much of his “luck.” Starting at the bow, VanDam is particular about his trolling motor installation. He protects his unit with a Bounce Buster — a shaft that reaches from the unsupported end of a stowed motor to the foredeck to limit movement while under way. “I mount the troller so it doesn’t stick out over the side when it’s in the stowed position,” reports the young pro. This helps keep the motor from snagging brush when driving into flooded timber.

VanDam also installs an Anchor Rein near the bow. Equipped with a spring-loaded spool of nylon line, the unit mounts under the gunwale, with only a rotating cleat visible above. He unscrews the cleat half a turn and strips as much line as he needs from the spool; another half-turn locks it in place. Although mainly used for docking or tying to stickups, one of his tricks is to tie a plug knocker to the end of the line. When a particular lure is so hot he can’t afford losing it to a snag, the cagey pro slides the knocker down his fishing line and either knocks the lure loose or snags it, then hauls it back to the boat. The automatic rewind feature saves VanDam enough time to make a hundred extra casts during an average tournament day.

TACKLE MANAGEMENT

Rod tie downs are important too, VanDam says — so much so that he mounts them himself so they are positioned exactly where he wants them. VanDam uses two-handed, 7-foot trigger sticks mostly, and secures them to the front deck with their butts not quite touching the gunwale and their tips just short of the console. If you mount the tie-down too far forward, the rods are in the way. Install it too close to the rod tips and it can’t hold the reels in place.

Top pros insist on having everything readily accessible. “It’s important to have my pliers, scissors and Super Glue where I can find them instantly,” VanDam tells Bass & Walleye Boats. “My Nitro has a neat little cup area on the front deck that lets me keep all that stuff handy.” Anglers also can install aftermarket caddies. You must balance convenience with security, however — meaning, everything should be accessible, but it has to stay put while you rocket down the lake.

“Another thing I do,” VanDam tips, “is to put my bump stick — my measuring board — in the lowest part of the boat so if I’m measuring a fish it can’t flop over the side. I screw it right to the deck, that way I never have to look for it.”

KEEPING IT TOGETHER

A rodbox organizer is something that VanDam wouldn’t do without. Besides keeping his outfits ready for quick deployment, a rack system prevents his sticks from beating together during rough rides — both on the water and while trailering.

VanDam’s 9-series Nitro, like many boats, comes standard with tackle management systems, but this pro doesn’t use them. Instead, he prefers to stand 10 or 12 flat tackle trays (such as the Plano 3700) on edge in each compartment — with their labels showing, of course.

“I also use two-sided tape to attach a piece of foam to the underside of a compartment lid. This lets me pin lures to the foam that I know I’m going to use that day,” he explains. “They stay put, don’t tangle with other lures, and I don’t have to dig them out of a tackle box when I need one.” Treble hooks eventually tear up the foam, so VanDam simply rips the damaged piece off and sticks on a new one.

FRONT ROW, PLEASE

Prior to becoming a touring pro, VanDam was a boat rigger at his family’s dealership. “One of the first things I learned about rigging,” he says, “is that everybody’s needs are different.” Certainly, a bass fisherman will rig his boat differently than a crappie or walleye fisherman — but even an angler’s size and favorite techniques must be considered.

VanDam explains, “A 6-foot, 5-inch guy needs the trolling motor pedal and his [outboard’s] foot throttle mounted differently than a 5-foot person. Fishing styles are important, too. Crankbait experts such as David Fritz like to sit down in the front of the boat. I like to stand where I’m really high off the water. As a result, I want my seat pedestal base and trolling motor pedal in different locations than where he might want them.”

Some boats come standard with two pedestal bases in the front deck. The forewardmost base is close enough to the bow to keep a hand-operated trolling motor within easy reach, while the rear base is farther aft for foot pedal operation. Some models also offer a foot pedal alcove (or well) that positions the foot pedal flush with the deck. VanDam feels this helps eliminate leg and knee fatigue, especially when stand-up fishing in rough water.

Boats sometimes arrive at dealerships without the seat bases installed, and any dealer worth his salt consults the buyer before mounting them. Obviously, tall anglers need their seats mounted farther aft from the bow-mounted trolling motor and helm than shorter anglers. During Bass & Walleye Boats’ tests, our taller drivers have slipped behind the consoles of many a boat only to have their feet hit the front of the console before their legs straightened out. In this scenario, it’s common for the driver’s thighs to dig into the bottom edge of the console — a situation that can practically draw blood in rough water.

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN

Foot throttles also need to be positioned for maximum driving comfort. If the boatowner isn’t available for a “fitting” before the foot throttle is installed, VanDam suggests choosing an adjustable model.

Typically, a walleye boat’s helm is positioned farther forward than that of a bass boat. The farther forward you sit, of course, the rougher the ride — so many anglers outfit their boats with shock-absorbing seats. These spine-savers can prevent the back problems that afflict a surprising number of anglers. Many suspension seats offer fore-and-aft adjustments to suit various sizes of drivers, and some feature spring-tension knobs that allow for fine-tuning the deflection according to the occupant’s weight.

Extra care must be taken when installing a foot throttle on a boat equipped with suspension seats, especially if it’s a multispecies or walleye model. Since walleye helm seats are typically higher off the deck than bass boat seats, each time the seat moves upward your foot tends to lift off the throttle. The solution is to mount the seat low enough that you can maintain a slight bend in your knee to compensate for seat lift. Sudden deceleration at the wrong time can cause you to spear a wave that you meant to power over.

PREFERRED POSITION

According to VanDam, professional anglers also carefully plan their electronics installations. Bass and walleye pros who sit or stand well forward on the bow to run hand-operated trolling motors usually mount sonar and GPS units out on the flat surface of the bow gunwale for maximum visibility. If these units were mounted on the carpeted portion of the deck, not only would they be underfoot, but viewing ergonomics would be poor.

Conversely, fishermen who stand farther back can mount them inside the gunwale and still maintain an optimum viewing angle. Not only does this position help protect the units from brush, but they are more likely to stay in the boat if a bracket fails in rough water. Speaking of brackets, many pros insist on bracket mounts that allow a full range of adjustment. Again, the goal is maximum visibility in all conditions.

Most pros also agree on the benefits of locating console-mounted electronics as high as practical. With your flasher, sounder or GPS mounted within your line of sight, you enjoy the same advantages of the “heads-up” displays that fighter pilots see projected on their windscreens. In both cases, this helps operators read their instruments while looking as far ahead as possible.

We tend to be a nation of price shoppers, and that’s OK — up to a point. Shaving a few dollars here and there, however, shouldn’t be the overriding criteria when rigging a boat that will embody your fishing enjoyment for the foreseeable future. The primary goal is maximum fishing efficiency and user comfort. And as we’ve pointed out, no single rigging trick will accomplish this. Rather, tailoring your rig to fit your needs and fishing style is a cumulative process of many little things done right. So, take your time, check out how the pros rig their boats, and decide what will work best for you. When all is said and done, you’ll have a rig that fits you like a glove.

Experience Speaks

Bass pro Tommy Martin has been a top guide on Texas’ lakes Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend for three decades, and has no trouble reducing the complexities of boat rigging to simple terms.
When choosing an outboard, Martin suggests buying the maximum power the boat is rated for. “If you’re looking at a boat that could get by with a 150,” he says, “a 175 would make it a little better, and a 200 would be better still.” The 200 won’t have to work as hard, will get better gas mileage, deliver faster holeshots and better overall performance. Resale value also will be higher.

Although a knowledgeable dealer should be able to determine the correct pitch for your first propeller, Martin feels water conditions dictate the number of blades you need. “I use a three-blade most often because it delivers adequate holeshot and gives me better top end,” he says. “If I’m fishing a tournament in one of the rough lakes up north, I run a four-blade. It helps stabilize the boat and allows it to accelerate quicker. If I’m climbing a 6-foot wave on Lake Erie and I’ve got another big one coming in behind me, I need to accelerate to the top of the first wave quickly. I can’t do that with a three-blade prop, but I can with that fourth blade.”

Martin feels the extra durability of a stainless wheel is worth the extra cost, especially if you fish around stumps.

Even the pros’ boats spend more time on their trailers than in the water. A trailer is the life of that boat, Martin declares. Like most pros, he prefers tandem-axle models, saying, “They don’t sway as much, have fewer flats and just present fewer problems.” Deadly serious, he adds, “I couldn’t afford to skimp on a trailer."